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Dr Joanne Wright named UNB dean of arts

Author: Communications

Posted on Apr 12, 2017

Category: UNB Fredericton

Dr. Joanne Wright has been named the new dean of arts at the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus.

Dr. Wright, a professor of political science, has previously served as acting associate dean of arts, associate dean of arts, and, most recently, acting dean of arts at UNB. Working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff, she believes in the value of the humanities and social sciences and is committed to raising their profile on campus and in the wider community.

She has a long history with UNB as a graduate student, residence don, professor, and administrator.

Her teaching and research interests include early modern political thought, feminist political theory, politics of the body, and North American cultural politics.

She has a PhD in political science from York University, an MA in political science from UNB, and a BSc in chemistry from Mount Allison University.

Dr. Wright is the author of Origin Stories of Political Thought: Discourses on Gender, Power, and Citizenship and co-editor of Feminist Interpretations of Thomas Hobbes. She is currently writing an SSHRC-supported book on the political thought of the 17th-century writer Margaret Cavendish. In 2015, she was a Frederik and Catherine Eaton Visiting Professor at Queen’s University Belfast, where she began a research project on the history of reproductive rights in Northern Ireland.

In addition to her research, Dr. Wright has served on UNB’s Senate, the university’s strategic planning committee, the board of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre, as co-director of gender and women’s studies, and as director of graduate studies for political science.

“I’m thrilled that Joanne will be taking on the role of dean of arts,” said Dr. George MacLean, UNB’s vice-president academic on the Fredericton campus. “She has a deep knowledge of arts as a student, faculty member, and administrator. Joanne is passionate about her faculty’s contribution to what we do at UNB and is a strong advocate for her colleagues.”

Her five-year term begins on July 1, 2017.

Media contact: Kelsey Pye