SuppliedLesley Cormack always thought she was going to be an actress.
She grew up in a “theatre family,” and launched her prospective acting career at the University of Alberta in 1975 in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting program. She performed in the rock musical Spring Awakening and was cast as the female lead, Mrs. Smith, in the French play, The Bald Soprano.
Cormack then transferred to the University of Calgary in 1976 to finish her Bachelor of Arts — but with a major in history. She wasn’t cast as a lead actress anymore, a “black sheep” in a family that expected everyone to delve into theatrical careers.
It was clear to Cormack that English history was a critical component of her parents’ heritage, who were first-generation Canadians, and of her grandparents, who migrated from the United Kingdom. The importance of English history to her family enticed Cormack to pursue the arts, but in a completely different direction from acting.
After Cormack completed her undergraduate degree in Calgary, she relocated to the University of Toronto to complete an MA and PhD in history and philosophy of science and technology. Cormack then moved back to Edmonton, where she taught at the U of A for 17 years, while serving as associate chair, then chair of the Department of History and Classics.
While performing administrative duties as department chair from 2003 to 2007, the thought of serving as the U of A’s Dean of Faculty of Arts crossed Cormack’s mind.
“It probably did make sense when I was serving,” Cormack said, recalling her tenure as professor at the U of A. “Being dean is a position that allows you to learn about all that’s going on in the faculty. Try and make strategic decisions about how you can support things that are really important and students are interested in.
“It’s an exciting opportunity.”
Cormack will have that opportunity again, as she was reappointed by the U of A’s Board of Governors for a second five-year term as Dean of the Faculty of Arts on March 16.
Cormack has served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts since 2010. She said her proudest moments while serving as dean include launching the Arts Work Experience Program, which develops the suite of experiential learning for the Bachelor of Arts, and increasing the size and enrolment of the Community Service Learning program. She also highlighted the eHUB entrepreneurial student network in partnership with the Faculty of Business, as half of eHUB participants have an arts background.
But what really stands out to Cormack in her five-year term has been the university community, she said.
“I have so enjoyed getting to know the faculty, staff and students,” Cormack said. “We have an amazing group of people and they work so hard and they are so dedicated to the work they’re doing. It’s been a pleasure.”
U of A Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Olive Yonge said Cormack’s leadership has strengthened the faculty in the last five years.
“Cormack has guided the Faculty of Arts through a great deal of change and has been an articulate and respected voice for the faculty,” Yonge said.
Cormack said she looks forward to the changes she can commandeer throughout her next term. She said she hopes to ramp up the Arts Work Experience Program and transform it into a BA co-op, which students could receive on their transcript as an accredited program. Needs of graduate programs in the Faculty of Arts and new research clusters are also on Cormack’s agenda when she steps back into office next year.
And although she’s spent 22 years of her professional career at the U of A, Cormack said she feels like she’s “just getting started.”
“Arts is so relevant and important to the problems of society … we can do great things in the community,” Cormack said, looking ahead to her new five-year term. “We already are, but I really look forward to taking that next step when I get back.”
Cormack’s reappointment begins July 1, 2016 after she completes an earned one-year administrative leave, which runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts Lisa Gotell will serve as interim dean while Cormack is on leave.
