Ellen Perrault reappointed dean of Faculty of Social Work

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Ellen Perrault has been reappointed as dean of the Faculty of Social Work for a second term. After Dr. Perrault expressed her interest in continuing her role, an advisory review committee was formed to assess her performance. The committee examined her accomplishments during her initial term and collected feedback from faculty members and the broader community. The committee’s recommendation was then presented to President Ed McCauley who accepted and approved her reappointment.

Dr. Perrault has served at UCalgary since becoming a sessional instructor in 2002. Before her academic career at the university, she spent over two decades in a professional career leading human services, conducting research, and consulting for various community organizations. 

In 2008, she transitioned to a full-time instructor role and, shortly after, assumed an acting director role with the Faculty’s Office of Field Education. Her previous roles included serving as the vice-dean for the Faculty of Social Work, and in 2014 and 2018, she was senior director at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. 

She is a proud alumna of UCalgary, earning her BSW, MSW, and PhD here after completing two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Alberta.

Serving as dean of the Faculty of Social Work since July 1, 2020, Dr. Perrault has consistently demonstrated her ability to blend compassion and strength as a social worker with academic leadership. Her commitment to students, faculty, staff, and our community has been a cornerstone of her tenure.

In her first term, Dr. Perrault stewarded the development and implementation of the Faculty of Social Work’s new strategic plan, led the successful reaccreditation of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, oversaw the development of a new Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) curriculum, and supported faculty members in significantly increasing research funding within the faculty. 

In her second term, Dr. Perrault will continue to foster a culture of belonging and collaboration. She will continue to enhance the faculty’s global reputation as a significant partner in transformative social work knowledge, education, research and practice. She will ensure the faculty champions the collective solutions needed so that vulnerable and marginalized people can thrive alongside all others in an ever-changing world. 

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the advisory search committee for their outstanding contributions: Penny Werthner (chair), Susan Skone (vice-president (research) representative), Jessica Ayala (tenured academic staff), Gina Dimitropoulos (tenured academic staff), David Nicholas (tenured academic staff), Beth Archer-Kuhn (tenured academic staff), Kent Donlevy (TUCFA representative), Kristin Baetz (decanal representative), Theresa Eng (MaPS representative), Amy Fulton (AUPE representative), Lorraine Ndovi (SU representative), Susan Graham (GFC representative), Jennifer Lock (GFC representative), Katie Black (community representative) and Francis Boakye (community representative). 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Ellen Perrault on her reappointment as dean as she continues leading the Faculty of Social Work.

Dr. Sandra Davidson
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)