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I am writing to share an important update regarding our OISE academic leadership team.

As I approach the 3-year mark as OISE Dean, I am proud of the work we have accomplished together, and I know that this good work is the result of our collective commitment to OISE and to education and human development.

As I mentioned at OISE Council last week, the energy and enthusiasm I sense at OISE, particularly every fall as we start the new academic year, inspires me greatly. It helps me carry out my work as Dean and invigorates my own thinking about my research and teaching. Being here with all of you generates creativity and purpose, and while the main focus of my work has been on ensuring that OISE is thriving, my research across Canada and the United States is also flourishing. Coming to OISE is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

It is thus with some reluctance that I share with you that as of January 2026, I will begin a year’s leave from the Deanship while I attend to some personal and professional matters south of the border. During my leave, I remain committed to our community and will continue, as appropriate, to stay connected while we move forward on key plans and initiatives.

I have had productive discussions with U of T Provost Young and our outstanding academic leadership team here at OISE to ensure the Institute is in a strong position to keep moving forward. We will continue our efforts to implement our new OISE Academic Plan, with its focus on enhancing student experience and faculty development, advancing our academic programs and research excellence, growing our local, national, and international partnerships, and increasing our community engagement.

Academic Administrative Appointment

In light of my coming leave, and in accordance with the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, I am delighted to share , that the following academic administrative appointment has now been approved by the University:

Appointment of Professor Creso Sá as Acting Dean

Professor Creso Sá of the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education will begin a one-year term as Acting Dean of OISE on January 1, 2026.

Professor Sá has served as Vice-Dean of OISE since January 1, 2024. His previous leadership roles included Chair of the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education and service as Associate Chair and as Program Coordinator of the Higher Education Program. Professor Sá was the inaugural Director of the Centre for the Study of Canadian and International Higher Education (CIHE). At the divisional level, he has served as Chair of OISE Council and as Academic Director, Graduate Education. Professor Sá was recently re-appointed Distinguished Professor in Science Policy, Higher Education, and Innovation and is an interdisciplinary social scientist whose research agenda is situated at the intersection of science policy and higher education studies. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journals Studies in Higher Education and previously the Canadian Journal of Higher Education. Professor Sá has a strong record of graduate supervision and teaches courses in the areas of innovation in higher education, organizational change, policy analysis, and case study research methodology. In 2015, he was awarded the Research and Scholarship Award, conferred by the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education.

I thank Vice Dean Sá for taking on this role, as well as extend my gratitude to Associate Deans Joe Flessa and Becky Chen, CAO Helen Huang, our Department Chairs, and our senior leadership colleagues and staff for their support and for working with me to facilitate a smooth transition as I depart for the year. I know OISE will be in very good hands as I take this time. As always, I look forward to seeing all of you—students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends—at upcoming events, meetings, committees, and other gatherings as we celebrate our many accomplishments, share updates on ongoing initiatives, and embark on new projects. I am honoured and delighted to be part of this incredible OISE community and will be eager to return.