Lieverse, Wright take on Arts and Science leadership roles

College of Arts and Science faculty members Dr. Angela Lieverse (PhD) and Dr. Laura Wright (PhD) will join the college’s leadership team for a six-month period in 2025.

From Jan. 1–June 30, 2025, Lieverse—a professor in the Department of Anthropology—will serve as interim vice-dean faculty relations in the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Arts and Science. Wright, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, has accepted an appointment as acting associate dean student affairs during the same period.

Lieverse takes over the position of interim vice-dean faculty relations from Dr. Pamela Downe (PhD), who completes her 13-month appointment and begins a sabbatical at the end of 2024. During her term, Downe led multiple transformative projects that included updating the duties and scope of the vice-dean role, improving college processes, and developing peer mentorship and information-sharing initiatives.

A former department head with experience chairing and supporting numerous governance committees, Lieverse has a strong record of leadership and service at all levels of the university. She is also a respected instructor and graduate student advisor with a successful history of externally funded research.

Wright will step into her new role while Dr. Darrin Oehlerking (DMA), the College of Arts and Science’s associate dean student affairs, begins a six-month administrative leave to pursue a research opportunity. Wright recently served as chair of the college’s Academic Affairs Committee and has extensive knowledge of academic regulations, policies and procedures related to academic integrity.

More information about the College of Arts and Science’s leadership can be found on the Dean’s Executive Committee page.