CAGS Welcomes New President and Directors to the Board

The Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Philippe-Edwin Bélanger as President for a two-year term. The decision was made by a unanimous vote held at the 60th CAGS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 16 December 2022. Philippe-Edwin takes on the role of President from Dr. Josée Bastien, formerly the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and currently the President of the Commission des études at Laval University. Josée will remain as a director of the board. 

Philippe-Edwin has served as Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Services at the National Institute for Scientific Research (INRS) since 2012. Trained in political science and public administration, he has a distinguished track record of mobilizing diverse stakeholders to advance excellence in graduate studies, both in Canada and internationally. From 2002-2012 he served as Head of Fellowship Programs and France-Québec Partnerships at the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature and Technology. He contributed to the development of the Council for Franco-Québecois Cooperation in Higher Education in 2008, before undertaking a three-year term as a Member of the Québec Council on Education’s Committee on University Teaching and Research. A highly engaged and respected member of numerous professional associations related to higher education in Canada and the United States, Philippe-Edwin has served terms as director and Treasurer of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS), as President of the Québec Association of University Research Administrators (ADARUQ), as President of the Association of Deans of Graduate Studies of Québec (ADESAQ), and as President of the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS). A strong proponent of inclusive excellence and educational accessibility, Philippe-Edwin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as President of CAGS, and we look forward to setting a course together over the next two years.

The 60th CAGS Annual General Meeting also featured the election of two new members to the CAGS board of directors. Dr. Michele Jacobsen, Professor at the Werklund School of Education and a Teaching Scholar at the University of Calgary, will undertake a two-year term as director. Dr. Mabel Ho, Director of Professional Development and Student Engagement at Dalhousie University, will undertake a two-year term as director representing administrators. CAGS extends its gratitude and best wishes to Dr. Angela Rooke, University of Waterloo, and Dr. Doug Welch, McMaster University, both of whom concluded their terms as directors. 

The CAGS board of directors extends a warm welcome to these new appointments, and looks forward to working together in pursuit of our mission and vision.