The Provost’s Office at Trent University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Mark Skinner as the dean of Arts & Science – Social Sciences, effective July 1, 2019 for a five year term.

Professor Skinner came to Trent in 2006 as an assistant professor of Geography and is currently a full professor in the Trent School of Environment and is the acting dean of Arts & Science – Social Sciences. Prof. Skinner also holds the Canada research chair in rural aging, health and social care and was the founding director of the Trent Centre for Aging & Society. Prof. Skinner has extensive experience at Trent, serving on major University committees including senate, coordinating undergraduate and graduate programs, and launching new initiatives such as the Collaborative Specialization in Aging Studies.

A leading international scholar, Prof. Skinner’s research draws on collaborative approaches to build our understanding of aging in rural communities. Prof. Skinner is an expert in creating opportunities for community-engaged scholarship, leading more than $2,000,000 in CIHR and SSHRC funded rural aging projects across Canada and internationally. He has experience in teaching courses in qualitative methods, community-based research and rural community sustainability, and supervising more than 100 community-based projects at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels. In 2016, Prof. Skinner was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artist and Scientists.

“I am passionate about Trent’s small-but-mighty reputation as one of Canada’s premier undergraduate universities. It is truly a privilege to be named Trent’s dean of Social Sciences, where our faculty, students and alumni push the boundaries of what it means to be critically-informed, community-engaged scholars,” stated Prof. Skinner.

As dean of Arts & Science – Social Sciences, Prof. Skinner will have primary responsibility for providing academic leadership in the Social Sciences, encompassing programs in Anthropology, Business, Economics, Indigenous Studies, International Development Studies, Political Studies, Social Work and Sociology. Prof. Skinner’s experience in the dean’s role this past year and in his previous leadership roles provides him with the skills and knowledge to build capacity for cohesion and growth in the Social Sciences. As dean, his priorities will be placed on enhancing the quality and reputation of Trent’s Social Science programs by building on areas of strength and identifying opportunities for expansion in alignment with the strategic directions of the University.