Trent University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sarah Twomey as the new dean of Trent’s School of Education. In this role, Dr. Twomey will provide strategic leadership to the School, as well as the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and Trent Online. 

Dr. Twomey is an accomplished and creative educational leader with extensive experience in research, teaching, and administration. She brings extensive experience in teacher education, having held previous administrative leadership roles in Education programs at both a small liberal arts and science university, and a large research university in the U.S.  

“The committee was impressed by Dr. Twomey’s depth of experience in leading program development, aligning program goals with institutional strategies, developing assessments, producing exemplary accreditation reports, mentoring award-winning research, and bringing stakeholders and faculty together in a commitment to a common vision. I’m so pleased to be able to welcome her to campus,” said Dr. Michael Khan, provost and vice president, Academic. 

As dean of Education at St. Mary’s University in Calgary she oversaw the development of a new secondary certification program and a Master of Education.  Prior to this, she was the director of the Education Doctorate Program in Professional Practice at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Education. She has demonstrated strategic and innovative approaches to administrative leadership focusing on continuous improvement in all areas of teacher education to achieve targeted outcomes for students and institutional goals. Her wealth of teaching experience across five countries and three provinces, in K-12, undergraduate and graduate settings, will add incredible value to Trent’s leading School of Education. 

Dr. Twomey received her Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education from the University of British Columbia and a B.Ed. and M.Ed. from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. While completing her doctorate at the University of British Columbia in 2006, she accepted a tenure track acting assistant professor position at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in the Master of Education in Teaching (M.Ed.T.) program, beginning her journey as a professor with a strong research trajectory in social justice pedagogies, teacher learning, and transformative practices of research and teaching.  

“Education is a shared journey, and I will work diligently as dean to examine the needs of my faculty within an ecological understanding of leadership that is grounded in an ethics of care and listening,” said Dr. Twomey upon her appointment. “I follow my curiosity and am looking forward to learning from my colleagues, students, and the Trent community. I can’t wait to get to work.” 

Trent would like to extend its gratitude to the search committee for their time spent working with KBRS Executive Search on this important hire for the university. 

Dr. Twomey will begin her role as dean of Education starting on July 1, 2023.   

Congratulations and welcome to Trent, Dr. Twomey!