Faculty of Arts & Science Dean's Office

Prof. Matthew G. Letts has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science since 2020. Matt has been a member of the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Lethbridge since 2003. He previously served as Interim Dean (2019-20), Associate Dean (2012-19) and concurrently as Academic Program Director of the Destination Project (2016-19), the first phase of which is a spectacular science and academic facility, now known as Science Commons. Matt also served as Interim Associate Vice-President Research (2014-15) and as Coordinator of the Environmental Science Program (2010-12).

The Dean is responsible for providing strategic and administrative leadership to the Faculty of Arts and Science. The Dean leads the development of programs and community partnerships, including opportunities for Indigenous students. As a member of the University senior leadership team and reporting to the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), the Dean works in collaboration with the other academic leaders, senior administrators and staff, and other key stakeholders to implement and advance the University’s Academic and Research Plans, as well as other University initiatives and priorities.

KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

• Lead the development and implementation of the Faculty’s Strategic Plan, in alignment with the University’s plans and objectives
• Initiate the development of new and responsive academic program directions at the undergraduate level that respond to the evolving needs of society
• Lead and champion the growth, development, quality and continuation of programs at the graduate level
• Promote the Faculty in the broader community; foster and grow existing and new strategic alliances and interdisciplinary opportunities
• Support the variety of disciplines and foster collaboration across the programs and units within the Faculty
• Engage with and learn from Indigenous scholars, students, and community members, leading the Faculty towards more expansive and innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and scholarship
• Build a vision that champions equity, diversity and inclusion as an integral component of all Faculty business and foster a supportive and respectful working environment
• Evaluate and measure the quality of programming, curriculum, research and student services offered within the Faculty
• Ensure that the appropriate technology, infrastructure, facilities and resources are in place to support faculty, staff and students in delivering academic programming
• Advocate internally, provincially and nationally for Faculty and University funding; identify new, creative and sustainable funding sources and actively participate in fundraising activities
• Set priorities for growth and expansion initiatives within the Faculty that build on existing capacity, systems, structures and strengths

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Leadership

• Lead the development of and articulate the strategic vision and plan for the Faculty to the University and the wider community
• Inspire, build, engage and support a positive environment for faculty, staff and students across campuses in which open and transparent communication is a hallmark
• Lead the academic planning process for the Faculty, initiating discussions and defining priorities through collegial decision-making processes
• Recognize, communicate and support the differences in programming that exist within the Faculty to foster an environment of collegiality, creativity and collaborative initiatives
• Represent and interpret the interests of the broader University to the Faculty

Academic Programming, Research and Teaching

• Identify, lead and promote the development of innovative teaching and research opportunities and collaborative networks for the Faculty that are grounded in excellence, integrity and creativity
• Lead initiatives aimed at broadening and deepening the engagement of departments and faculty members with their programs and offerings, particularly with respect to Indigenous epistemologies and theoretical frameworks
• Promote the use of educational technology and blended learning to enhance pedagogical methods that support a diversity of learners and expand the reach of the Faculty
• Establish priorities and performance measures and metrics for Faculty programming
• Respond to the significant demands on graduate programming and the resources required to support the growth with meaningful opportunities

Student Services, Experience & Recruitment

• Support and participate in student engagement opportunities, including regular and transparent communication and enhanced opportunities for collaboration
• Set direction and establish priorities for student recruitment to attract a high quality and diverse student body, in alignment with the University’s enrolment strategies and international recruitment objectives
• Recognize and address the unique needs of students, including lifelong, non-traditional and international learners
• Provide general oversight of strategic enrolment management with a student-centered approach
• Facilitate discussion and strategy development in response to enrolment trends and the potential impact on the Faculty’s infrastructure and resources
• Support initiatives to advance opportunities for international recruitment and partnerships

Management and Administration

• Ensure the appropriate operational structure and systems are in place to support and streamline faculty performance evaluation
• Oversee resource planning through a centralized budget system and make effective requests and decisions regarding resource allocations
• Support the development and/or acquisition of appropriate technology and infrastructure to best meet the needs of staff, faculty, program delivery and students
• Work effectively and demonstrate a good understanding of working with collective agreements

Faculty and Staff Relations

• Facilitate open and transparent communication and collaboration with faculty and staff, to focus on and model enhanced collaboration, Faculty integration and community building
• Provide and support leadership and professional development of faculty members and staff, building a culture of collegiality and collaboration in a unionized environment
• Plan and prioritize personnel needs, to ensure competitive and sustainable hiring plans for high-calibre faculty and staff that are supported by equity, diversity and inclusion practices

Internal and External Relations

• Lead and promote fund development activities for the Faculty; identify new opportunities and/or sustainable sources for Faculty revenue
• Represent the Faculty and University on various internal and external committees, councils and institutional and/or community initiatives
• Establish and maintain contacts with government and community leaders
• Develop and enhance relationships with relevant provincial, national and international organizations and granting agencies to promote the interests of the Faculty and the University

Robert earned his B.A. (honours) in Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University in 1994. He earned an M.H.K (Master of Human Kinetics) from the University of Windsor in 1996, and Ph.D. (Health Sciences-Kinesiology) from the University of Western Ontario, now Western University.

Robert joined the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Lethbridge in 2002. In addition to teaching courses in the humanities including sport history, philosophy of sport, and literature and physical activity, Robert served as his department’s Co-Chair from 2021 to 2025. Most recently, he served on the Executive Committee of the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association. Robert has also coached with the Pronghorns Women’s Rugby Team since 2003. 

In January of 2026, Robert joined the Dean's team in the Faculty of Arts & Science as an Associate Dean.

Communications
•    Oversight of the planning and implementation of communications and marketing strategies

Timetable Management (Lethbridge and Calgary Campus)
•    Tracking workload
•    Reviewing capacity
•    Overseeing program delivery
•    Drafting the summer school program
•    Monitoring enrolments
•    Drafting and issuing sessional and overload contracts

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
•    Liaise with the Director of Co-operative Education and Applied Studies to enable and support WIL work within the Faculty of Arts & Science
•    Work with Department’s Chairs and Program Coordinators, to ensure the optimal, efficient and fair application of Independent Studies

Indigenous Student Success Cohort
•    Collaborating on the development and revision of admission policy
•    Collaborating on the development and revision of academic programming
o    Hiring and monitoring the progress of instructors, in collaboration with the ISSC Coordinator
o    Indirectly supervising support staff associated with ISSC

Financial Approvals 
•    Act as Dean’s designate, where needed, for one-over-one signing authority for expenditures by faculty members, Chairs, and Coordinators

Searches
•    Representing the Dean at teaching, research, and interview sessions for academic candidates
•    Ensuring that all searches are conducted with adherence to the Faculty of Arts and Science Search Guidelines.

Public Relations/Advancement 
•    Attending, and occasionally hosting, public events on behalf of the Faculty and the University

Teaching 
•    Instructing and supervising graduate students (at discretion, and in accord with needs of the program of research)

Research 
•    Maintaining an active research program, including publications and conference presentations 
•    Coordinate with the Office of the Vice-President Research on matters of importance, including involvement in major funding application selection and review processes 
•    Promote research productivity and creative activity across all disciplines in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Other Duties 
•    Miscellaneous duties assigned and undertaken as needed, for the efficient functioning of the Dean’s Office

Trushar is an emerging leader in the biophysical characterization of viral nucleic acids- human protein complexes that are at the heart of viral infections. He graduated with BSc and MSc degrees in Biotechnology from India. He joined the University of Nottingham, the UK for his PhD where he studied solution structure and interactions of plant polysaccharides. 

Trushar started his career as an independent researcher at the University of Lethbridge in 2016.  In recognition of his early career success, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. 

Student and Faculty Issues 
•    Managing academic and non-academic offences and assessing appeals 
•    Managing grade appeals 
•    Assessing exam accommodation requests 
•    Liaising with the Accommodated Learning Centre and Counselling Services 
•    Resolving miscellaneous complaints
•    Approving grades and tracking distributions 
•    Approving and tracking grade changes 
•    Consulting on teaching, assessment, and student discipline policies 
•    Consulting on miscellaneous classroom management concerns

Faculty Space Planning and Space Assignment/Renovation 
•    Short-term decisions regarding space needs (temporary hires/graduate students/visiting scholars, Risk and Safety Services issues) 
•    Medium-term decisions concerning departmental growth, and moves triggered by new buildings and the inevitable shuffle which follows 
•    Long-term planning and providing advice to the Dean regarding space planning for new additions and new buildings 
•    Oversight of research equipment and related renovations, as well as interfacing with the Office of Research Services 
•    Consideration of equipment purchases, and equipment placement, supplies to buildings, and in many cases, renovations to floor plans 
•    Working with the Office of Research Services as new projects are developed

Research
•    Coordinate with the Office of the Vice-President Research on matters of importance, including involvement in major funding application selection and review processes
•    Serve as the Dean’s delegate and/or chair of search committees for all research chair appointments in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
•    Support research productivity and creative activity across all disciplines in the Faculty of Arts & Science.
•    Work with the Director of Science Operations to support and promote core research facilities.

Outreach 
•    Oversight of and liaison with various outreach groups in the Faculty of Arts & Science 
•    Providing guidance and direction to these groups in line with the university’s Strategic Plan regarding outreach and community involvement 
•    Development of new initiatives 
•    Supervising outreach staff

Financial Approvals 
•    Act as Dean’s designate, where needed, for one-over-one signing authority for expenditures by faculty members, Chairs, and Coordinators

Searches
•    Representing the Dean at teaching, research, and interview sessions for academic candidates
•    Ensuring that all searches are conducted with adherence to the Faculty of Arts and Science Search Guidelines.

Public Relations/Advancement
•    Attending, and occasionally hosting, public events on behalf of the Faculty and the University

Teaching 
•    Instructing and supervising graduate students (at discretion, and in accord with needs of the program of research)

Research 
•    Maintaining an active research program, including publications and conference presentations 
•    Coordinate with the Office of the Vice-President Research on matters of importance, including involvement in major funding application selection and review processes 
•    Promote research productivity and creative activity across all disciplines in the Faculty of Arts & Science

Other Duties 
•    Miscellaneous duties assigned and undertaken as needed, for the efficient functioning of the Dean’s Office