Dr. Catherine McGregor appointed Acting Dean, Faculty of Education

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Catherine McGregor has accepted the appointment to serve as Acting Dean, Faculty of Education from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Catherine was ratified for this appointment with an 84.8% vote of acceptance. 

“I am very pleased to have received the support of my colleagues in the faculty as I take on the role of Acting Dean. We have a strong legacy of teaching and research excellence in our faculty, and are renowned as knowledge mobilizers and professionals who enable and support educational transformation across communities and systems. I look forward to working with staff, students, alumni and faculty in continuing to build a thriving and productive community of learners.”

Dr. McGregor is an Associate Professor, Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies. She is on leave from her current role as Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Research in the Faculty of Education.

During her administrative leave (2021-22) Dr. McGregor was recruited by the BC Minister of Education to conduct an audit of the Prince George School District. The audit resulted in a report with 50+ recommendations designed to ensure the school district becomes more equitable through valuing the diversity of its learners, and by re-designing decision-making processes so that Indigenous rights holders and communities become active and valued partners. The report, co-authored with Kory Wilson, BCIT Director of Indigenous Programs, has been reviewed by school districts across BC and Canada and is becoming an important benchmark for guiding districts in their efforts to Indigenize and decolonize their structures, policies, procedures and approaches to educational services. 

Faculty and students familiar with Dr. McGregor’s career research will recognize her focus on transformational leadership. 

“The most important part of research is considering the true potential for transformation in educational systems. We can create better systems that are rooted in equity and equality so that every learner has the opportunity to succeed within an educational setting.”

To that end, she is also finalizing a book co-edited with Dr. Shailoo Bedi (recently appointed UVic Director of LTSI), for McGill-Queens Press that explores social justice leadership in educational settings. “The focus of this book is examining why educational systems have not become catalysts for advancing equity and inclusion—to explore the barriers to systemic change and outline strategies taken by diverse, socially just leaders who are engaged in resisting the status quo and finding ways to transform systems, schools and communities."

Please join us in congratulating Dr. McGregor!