The University of Western Ontario has announced the reappointment of Ted Hewitt as Vice-President (Research & International Relations) for the term July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2015.
Hewitt earned his Ph.D from McMaster University and also studied at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. He has been a member of Western’s Department of Sociology since 1989. Prior to joining Western’s faculty, he held professorial positions at the University of Lethbridge and McMaster University.
He has served as Vice-President (Research & International Relations) since 2005, and was Associate Vice-President (Research) from 2001-2005. Prior to this, he was Associate Dean (Student Affairs) in the Faculty of Social Science.
Recognized as a leading Canadian authority on Brazil, Hewitt has published extensively on issues related to social movements, local government, and international cooperation for urban development in Latin America. His work has appeared in a range of academic journals including Cities, Journal of Latin American Studies, Journal of Developing Areas, Third World Quarterly, and Habitat International.
In 2002, he was named Commander of the Order of Rio Branco by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Relations. That same year, he completed negotiations with the University of Calgary, York University, and the Université du Québec à Montréal to establish the Canada Visiting Research Chair in Brazilian Studies, the first of its kind in the country.
As Vice-President (Research & International Relations), Hewitt has primary responsibility for all aspects of research support and promotion at the University, including development and implementation of the university’s Strategic Research Plan and Strategic Plan for Internationalization. Units within his portfolio include Research Development & Services, WORLDiscoveries, Research Ethics, and Animal Care and Veterinary Services.
“We are delighted to announce Ted Hewitt’s reappointment,” says Western President Amit Chakma, Chair of the Selection Committee. “Over the past five years, Ted has proven to be a highly creative and visionary academic leader and his ability to advocate effectively to all levels of government and to all major funding agencies on behalf of the university is second to none.”
“Ted is a deeply committed leader who is positioning Western at the forefront of research innovation. He understands the value of collaboration of private and public sector partners and he brings top researchers together to identify and take full advantage of important opportunities and common goals,” says Michele Noble, Western’s Board Chair.