McGill appoints new Dean of Education

Principal Heather Munroe-Blum and I are delighted to announce that the Executive of the Board of Governors, at its June 19, 2008 meeting, approved the appointment of Professor Hélène Perrault as Dean of the Faculty of Education for a five-year term, renewable, starting August 15, 2008 and ending August 31, 2013.

Hélène Perrault is currently the Associate Provost (Planning and Budgets) since 2006. Holder of a Ph.D.in Exercise Physiology (1983) from the Université de Montréal, she is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education and an Associate Member of the Department of Medicine Division of Respiratory Medicine of the MUHC. She came to McGill in 1984 as assistant professor of physiology and exercise physiology in the Department of Physical Education and was promoted full professor in 1999. Between 1996 and 1998 she was Professor in the Laboratoire de Bioénergétique Fondamental et Appliquée of the Université Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France. She has been Chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education since 1999 and has been instrumental in the implementation of major undergraduate and graduate academic program revisions, academic renewal as well as fostering cross-disciplinary interactions across several University faculties. She served as McGill senator between 2001 and 2005, contributed actively to several subcommittees of Senate and has chaired or served on numerous University academic, selection and administrative committees.

She has pursued a research career in Clinical Exercise Physiology, first as a research associate in the Department of Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine of Ste-Justine Pediatric Hospital (1985-1998) and since 2000, as a Medical Scientist in the Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit at the Montreal Chest Institute. A past-president of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (1993-1996), Dr. Perrault has, and continues to foster academic and research collaborations between exercise sciences and medicine for health promotion, advancement of knowledge, and the development of therapeutic modalities and applications. Through funding as principal or co-investigator from several national and provincial granting agencies she has contributed to a large number of scientific publications and has supervised the work of numerous graduate students, which focused primarily on the physiology and/or the functional repercussions of chronic heart or lung disorders.

The advisory process for the selection of a Dean of the Faculty of Education has been a thorough and comprehensive one. Many outstanding candidates were considered. Professor Hélène Perrault was recommended because of her proven commitment to exceptional academic standards in research, teaching and service, her vision of leadership, her international, national and provincial network as well as her ability to lead in an innovative and collegial manner.

On behalf of Principal Heather Munroe-Blum and myself, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Jamshid Beheshti who has served as interim Dean of the Faculty of Education since September 2007. I greatly appreciate Dr. Beheshti’s dedication to our students and to McGill University. Please join us in wishing him continued success.

I am sure that you join me in welcoming Professor Perrault to her new role and wishing her well.

Sincerely,

Professor Anthony C. Masi
Provost