Dr. David Danto has been appointed dean, Faculty of Health and Community Studies (FCHS). His initial five-year appointment takes effect on June 1, 2022. Dr. Danto will hold a concurrent appointment as a professor in the Department of Public Safety and Justice Studies.
An accomplished instructor and researcher, Dr. Danto is currently a program head at the University of Guelph-Humber, a position he has held since 2010. His academic career has provided him with experience across a variety of community and health contexts including hospitals, federal corrections and community-based services including services within Indigenous communities in the far north.
“It is my absolute pleasure and honour to join the Faculty of Health and Community Studies – and MacEwan University,” says Dr. Danto. “With its emphases on teaching excellence, hands-on learning, community, diversity and human rights, this university stood out to me as a rare opportunity to engage a dynamic group of students, staff and faculty who are already doing outstanding work in supporting and enhancing lives in local, regional, national, and international contexts. I am humbled by the appointment and I can’t wait to meet our students and my colleagues!”
“Dr. Danto received glowing feedback from everyone with whom he interacted throughout a comprehensive recruitment process,” says Dr. Craig Monk, MacEwan’s provost & vice-president, Academic. “We all found with him the background and experience to help extend the faculty’s long and distinguished record of innovative programming. And his proven success in building relationships with Indigenous partners aligns with MacEwan’s commitment to reconciliation.”
Dr. Danto will play an important role in guiding the Faculty of Health and Community Studies as the university implements its strategic vision, Teaching Greatness: Strategic Vision 2030. He takes an applied, community and health-related approach in his work, bringing with him invaluable experience in areas such as curriculum development (including microcredentials, study-abroad opportunities and experiential learning), expanding student funding opportunities and developing partnerships with international universities.
An extensive, nationwide search was conducted by recruitment firm McDermott + Bull. The search committee, which was chaired by Dr. Monk, included Christina Burrows, administrative assistant, FHCS; Jenny McGrath, associate professor, FHCS; Angelo Paredes, student representative; Dr. Christy Raymond, dean, School of Nursing; Tara Stieglitz, librarian; Tim Tang, associate vice-president, Students; Tim Williams, associate professor, FHCS and Dr. Tara Winsor, associate professor, FHCS.