People at Laurier

Dawn Buzza has been appointed dean of the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work for a three-year term. She had served as acting dean since 2016. As acting dean, Buzza led the development of a new online, part-time master of social work program, supported the creation of Laurier’s Centre for Indigegogy and created a visiting scholar-in-residence program. Buzza first joined Laurier in 2007 as an associate professor in the Faculty of Education.

Lauren Eisler has been appointed dean of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences for a three-year term. Eisler served as acting dean of Human and Social Sciences from 2015 to 2017. During her tenure as acting dean, she successfully shepherded Laurier’s first fully online program, a bachelor of arts in policing, through its initial years and led the development of several new program initiatives. Eisler first joined Laurier’s Brantford campus in 2004.

Robert Gordon has been appointed provost and vice-president: academic. Since joining Laurier as vice-president: research in November 2015, Gordon has significantly advanced research initiatives while integrating research, teaching and community engagement. As provost and vice-president: academic, Gordon will lead the university in implementing priorities outlined in Laurier’s Strategic Academic Plan, including advancing academic excellence, expanding experiential learning and enhancing diversity.

Pat Kitchen has been appointed general manager of the new Laurier-YMCA athletic complex in downtown Brantford. Kitchen joins the YMCA from her previous role as associate director, athletics and recreation, at Laurier’s Waterloo campus. She also previously held positions at Western University and George Brown College.

Bruce McKay, an associate professor of psychology, has been appointed senior advisor to the provost and vice president: academic for a two-year term. McKay first joined Laurier’s Psychology Department in 2008.

Heidi Northwood has assumed the role of interim senior executive officer, Brantford campus, in addition to her duties as dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts. Northwood possesses a strong record of external partnership development and leadership, including with Conestoga College, Nipissing University and Six Nations Polytechnic.