The review committee on the reappointment of Dr. Noreen Golfman as dean of the School of Graduate Studies has recommended to the provost that she be renewed for a second term. Dr. David Wardlaw subsequently recommended renewal to the president and Dr. Golfman’s reappointment for a five-year term, effective June 1, 2013, was approved by the Board of Regents at its meeting on July 4.

“Dr. Golfman has a consistent track record of accomplishment and of strong, effective leadership with the School of Graduate Studies,” said Dr. Wardlaw, provost and vice-president (academic). “An outstanding member of the community, both inside and outside Memorial, I am confident that her commitment to the school and enthusiasm for her work will continue to serve the university well.”

Under Dr. Golfman’s leadership, the School of Graduate Studies has recently experienced tremendous growth. Enrolment was up again by more than six per cent this year, and during the past 10 years, there has been a doubling of the number of graduate students to a total of just under 3,400 graduate students. Several new programs have been created during her first term as dean, including five new doctoral programs and eight new master's programs.

Dr. Golfman has served as dean of graduate studies and professor of English at Memorial since her appointment June 1, 2008. She holds a PhD from the University of Western Ontario. She recently served two terms as president of the Canadian Federation of Social Sciences and Humanities, a national education advocacy group. She is currently president of both the Canadian Association of Graduate Studies and the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools, and a member of the advisory committee to the Canadian Studies program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Active in Canadian cultural issues and experienced with the media, Dr. Golfman is the founding director and chair of the St. John's International Women's Film Festival, vice-chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation and chair of the board of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. In addition to publications in scholarly journals, Dr. Golfman writes on the arts and culture in popular venues, and she has worked as a commentator, reviewer/performer for CBC radio and television.