Divisional Structure at Brock

The Division of Mathematics and Science came into existence in 1975. Before that, the University had appointed a Dean of Arts and Science. The first such appointment was Geoffrey Davies in January of 1966. Following his death in March of 1966, John Mayer (Department of Philosophy) held the position of Acting Dean of Arts and Science, and then Associate Dean of Arts and Science, until 1969, when Colin Plint (Department of Physics) was appointed to the position of Dean of Arts and Science.

The University adopted its present divisional structure in 1975, and Colin Plint became Dean of the new Division of Mathematics and Science for one year. The new Division contained the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Mathematics and Physics. This arrangement continues today, except that the name of the Department of Geological Sciences changed to Department of Earth Sciences in 1992. (Note that by 1969 all departments but Computer Science were in existence. In 1968, a Computational Center under the Directorship of Ray Skilton was set up, but it was not until 1975 that the Department of Computer Sciences was first in operation.)

 

Figure 2: The Brock Tower with the new Deans. From left to right; Colin Plint, Martin Gibson, John McEwen and Bill Matheson. (Fall, 1976)

In 1976, Martin Gibson (Department of Chemistry) took on the job of Dean of Mathematics and Science. He was followed by Arthur Houston (Department of Biological Sciences) in 1984 and then Bill Cade (Department of Biological Sciences) in 1989. In 1999, a search led to the appointment of Ronald Brown, a chemist and the first Dean of Mathematics and Science appointed from outside the University. He had been at the University of Northern British Columbia and, before that, at McGill University. He was Dean until his death on June 19, 2001. In the fall of 2000 Ian Brindle (Department of Chemistry) was appointed Acting Dean of Mathematics and Science.