Office Of The Associate Deans
Meet the Associate Deans
Your academic allies behind the scenes
The Associate Deans in the Faculty of Social Sciences play a key role in shaping your student experience – from the courses you take to the research opportunities you pursue. They oversee undergraduate and graduate programs, support faculty research, and help ensure that your education is inclusive, innovative, and aligned with your goals.
Whether you’re navigating your degree, exploring research, or planning your next steps, the Associate Deans and their teams are here to support your journey and help you thrive.
Faculty Of Social Sciences Associate Deans
Meet the academic leaders who shape the direction of the Faculty. Associate Deans oversee key areas like research, graduate studies, and undergraduate education – ensuring programs stay innovative, inclusive, and responsive to student needs.
Jim Dunn
PhD
Senator William McMaster Chair in Urban Health Equity | Professor, Health, Aging & Society | Associate Dean, Research - Office of the Associate Dean | Director, McMaster Institute for Health Equity | Director, Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative
Melanie Heath
PhD
Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Office of the Associate Dean
Professor, Sociology
Adjunct & Associate Member, Institute on Globalization & the Human Condition
Office Of The Associate Dean: Research & Graduate Studies Staff
This dedicated team supports graduate students and faculty researchers across departments. From program coordination to research facilitation, they help drive academic excellence and make sure students have the tools to succeed in advanced study.
Aysha Akhtar
Interim Graduate Administrative Assistant, Health, Aging & Society
Manuela Dozzi
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Political Science
Doreen Drew
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Religious Studies
Pat Fraser
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Indigenous Studies
Corinne Jehle
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Sociology
Laura Johnson
Administrator, Master of Public Policy and Digital Society Lab
Rhiannon Muirhead
Leora Sas van der Linden
Program Manager, Community Research Platform, Office of the Associate Dean
Darlene Savoy
Graduate Administrative Assistant/Director's Assistant, Social Work
Danielle Schumacher
Graduate Administrative Assistant/Field Assistant, Social Work
John Silva
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Anthropology
Megan Stokes
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Labour Studies
Matt Wyman-McCarthy
Research Support Facilitator , Office of the Associate Dean
Cynthia Zhao
Graduate Administrative Assistant, Economics
Office Of The Associate Dean: Undergraduate Studies Staff
Your go-to team for academic advising, experiential learning, and student support. These staff members help undergrads navigate their degrees, access career-building opportunities, and feel confident throughout their academic journey.
Students with questions about their academics should contact socscfac@mcmaster.ca.
Mark Busser
PhD
Manager, Careers & Experiential Education
Sessional Instructor, Political Science
Lynn Giordano
Assistant Dean, Office of the Associate Dean
Isabella Herrera
Administrative Assistant, Office of the Associate Dean
Christopher Talbot
Administrative Assistant, Office of the Associate Dean
Ruthanne Talbot
Experiential Program Manager, Careers & Experiential Education
Karen Thorburn
Co-op & Internship Student Manager, Careers & Experiential Education
