For Michelle McGinn, the new year also started with a new title: Brock University’s Associate Vice-President, Research.

“McGinn has already done remarkable work in support of Brock researchers and the scholarly enterprise in a range of roles including that of Interim AVPR,” says Vice-President, Research Tim Kenyon. “Her appointment is excellent news for the Brock research community and for the research community across Ontario and Canada.”

McGinn was appointed Interim AVPR in May 2018. In that role, her key accomplishments included heading up efforts to create and implement the Canada Research Chairs Program’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policy, co-creating the Strategic Research Plan and updating research policies and procedures, among other activities.

“I’m excited to be working with staff who provide direct, frontline services to researchers and with the faculty we are here to serve so they can focus their efforts on their research,” says McGinn. “Our institution has excellent supports in place to facilitate research.”

Prior to her term as Interim A-VPR, McGinn was Associate Dean, Graduate Student Services, Research, and International in the Faculty of Education. Her expertise in higher education includes the formation and implementation of research teams that operate across subject matters and disciplines.

Her early dissertation work focused on the sociology of science, where she interacted with a range of scientists and documented their work practices. Her more recent work has focused primarily on social science research teams and the broader research policy landscape in Ontario. The Academic Researchers in Challenging Times project is attuned to the expectations for accountability and productivity within an ever-spreading research culture.

Last year, she completed a continuing education Certificate in Research Administration from Mohawk College. The program, developed in partnership with the Canadian Association of Research Administrators, covers grant writing, research contracts, research finance, ethics and governance, and research project management.

“This program gave me a broad appreciation for the various staffing positions and roles that support research,” says McGinn, who added that the foundation will allow her to respond to the “often time-sensitive needs of researchers and coordinate the efforts of teams across campus.”

“I congratulate McGinn on her appointment, and look forward to collaborating with her over the coming months and years,” says Kenyon.

In addition to announcing McGinn’s new title, Kenyon also shared that Dawn Zinga will continue her position of Acting AVPR into April 2020.