Don Cyr

Don Cyr, a familiar face on both the academic and administrative sides of the Faculty of Business, will serve as the Faculty’s Interim Dean for the next 18 months.

The announcement came Tuesday, Jan. 17 from Murray Knuttila, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. The appointment takes place immediately and is effective through June 30, 2013. The need for an interim dean arose last month when Phillip Kitchen stepped down as Dean of Business due to personal family reasons.

“We are extremely pleased that Don has agreed to take on this role,” said Knuttila. “He has been a significant, consistent contributor to the Faculty in numerous roles, including as Associate Dean and as associate professor of Finance.”

Cyr, who joined the Faculty of Business in 1995, is an associate professor of Finance, teaching courses in corporate finance, international finance and investments. He also served as the chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance in 2001 and the Faculty’s Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research from 2002 to 2009.

He holds a Master of Business Administration (University of Saskatchewan), a masters degree in Economics (University of Alberta) and a PhD in Finance (University of Alberta). He is the recipient of a number of teaching awards and has authored several professional training programs for the investment industry.

Knuttila also expressed thanks to Business faculty members Danny Cho and Deborah Zinni, who had managed the Faculty during the transitional period of the past five weeks. Cho served as Acting Dean while Zinni oversaw preparations for the Faculty’s upcoming re-accreditation process for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Knuttila said the University will now prepare for the search for a permanent Dean. The process to establish an advisory committee for the selection of a new Dean is underway, and once the advisory committee is established, the search process will begin.