Dean’s Office

Associate Dean of Research, Graduate, Postdoctoral and Strategic Initiatives

Portfolio: Provides leadership and oversight for the Faculty’s research, scholarly, graduate, and postdoctoral activities, as well as strategic initiatives that advance research development, program growth, and community engagement. The portfolio supports strategic planning and partnership development aligned with Faculty and institutional priorities, including reconciliation and the public good. The Associate Dean is responsible for fostering an excellent and diverse research and graduate community through recruitment, retention, career advancement, recognition, and sustained success of faculty members, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.

Faculty and Strategic Support:

• Leads the development, implementation, and assessment of the Faculty research plan and strategic priorities related to research and graduate education.
• Identifies, promotes, and facilitates research funding opportunities and strategic partnerships with domestic and international academic, government, Indigenous, and community partners.
• Guides the development and implementation of complex, cross-cutting strategic initiatives that advance research, graduate programming, and community engagement.
• Provides leadership in program development, including professional degrees and certificates, in response to emerging academic and societal needs.
• Fosters alignment and collaboration across Faculties and units at UBC Okanagan and UBC Vancouver, and with regional institutions of higher learning.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Support:

• Advocates for high-quality disciplinary and interdisciplinary graduate pedagogy and curriculum.
• Oversees coordination of Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (IGS), including themes, course scheduling, and budget planning.
• Chairs the FASS Graduate Awards Committee.
• Provides guidance on the management of postdoctoral fellowships and fellows.
• Addresses graduate student concerns related to academic and non-academic misconduct, supervision, and appeals of grades and academic standing.

Colin McKay
Manager of Research, Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
colin.mckay@ubc.ca
LM4, 6th Floor

• Supervises grant funding setup and management at the faculty level;
• Manages administration of IGS and research programs;
• Provides guidance and training for department faculty and staff related to IGS, postdoctoral, and research programs.

ASSOCIATE DEAN, Undergraduate Students

Donna Senese
Associate Professor, Geography
donna.senese@ubc.ca
250.807.9372
ASC 404

Portfolio: Provides leadership to develop, implement and sustain a strategic and holistic framework that ensures undergraduate students are successful throughout their life-cycle – from prospective students to graduates.

Associate Dean, Teaching, Learning and Curriculum

Julien Picault
Professor, Economics
julien.picault@ubc.ca
250.807.9406
ASC 450

Portfolio: Provides leadership for the development, implementation, and sustenance of a strategic approach to teaching, learning, and curriculum.

Supports Faculty:

• Manages curriculum submission and related consultation, approval, and implementation processes;
• monitors curriculum effectiveness;
• coordinates formal, regularly-scheduled self-studies and external reviews of academic programs;
• supports innovative teaching and learning initiatives.

Learn more

Supports Students:

• coordinating undergraduate awards and recognitions unrelated to research.

Learn more

Laura Wyllie-Dupont
Curriculum Development & Academic Programs Manager
laura.wyllie@ubc.ca
fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca
ASC 452

Ashley Loura
Curriculum, Awards and Academic Programs Coordinator
fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca
ikbawardsandevents.ubco@ubc.ca
ASC 452

Please submit all forms to fasscurriculum.ubco@ubc.ca

For assistance with research-related finance or student hiring questions and transactions, please email fass.finance.ubco@ubc.ca.

Jordan Turner 
Finance Manager
jordan.turner@ubc.ca
250.807.8342
ASC 431

Barbara Stein-Zarchikoff
Finance Assistant
barbara.steinzarchikoff@ubc.ca
250.807.8394
ASC 453

Jane Fedyk
Research Finance Assistant
jane.fedyk@ubc.ca
250.807.8501
ASC 453