Susan Knabe appointed as Acting Dean of FIMS

Head shot of Susan Knabe in a black, graphic tee and wearing glassesMay 2025

The Faculty of Information and Media Studies is pleased to announce that Associate Professor Susan Knabe has accepted a one-year term as Acting Dean of FIMS beginning on July 1, 2025. Professor Knabe will step into the role at the conclusion of current Dean Lisa Henderson’s six-year term on June 30.

“There is no one I’d rather hand off to than Susan," said Dean Lisa Henderson. "We’ve worked together for a long time and I have heartfelt regard for her leadership skill, her creativity, the trust she engenders, and her commitment to the Faculty.”

Professor Knabe brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Acting Dean role. In addition to previously serving as Acting Dean of FIMS from July 1 – December 31, 2018, Knabe has spent a total of 11 years as a core member of FIMS’ academic leadership team, primarily as Associate Dean, Undergraduate.

"I am honoured to have been trusted to take on this role, and I look forward to continuing to serve the FIMS community over the upcoming year," said Knabe.

As Associate Dean, Professor Knabe has led key initiatives, including the development and launch of the Creative Arts and Production program, in conjunction with the Associate Deans in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the Don Wright Faculty of Music. Under her leadership, FIMS has achieved important milestones, including the renaming of its undergraduate program to Media and Communication Studies (MACS), a change already demonstrating strong benefits through enrolment growth. She was also instrumental in piloting a Supported Learning Group model for first-year MACS students.

Professor Knabe, who also holds a joint appointment with the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies (GSWS) in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, is widely recognized for her institutional knowledge and cross-campus collaboration, having worked closely with numerous governance committees and working groups. She has served on several Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP) review panels across campus and has seen FIMS’ MACS program through its own successful IQAP reviews in 2018 and 2025. She is also a founding member of Western’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Council.

An accomplished scholar in feminist media and cultural studies, Professor Knabe continues to publish and supervise graduate students across FIMS and GSWS. She is a dedicated educator, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in feminist theory and methodology. She has been a tireless advocate for FIMS and the community looks forward to welcoming Professor Knabe in July.