Dear members of the Federation,
Following the announcement of President and CEO Gabriel Miller’s departure from the Federation, the Board of Directors has been taking steps to ensure the organization continues operating well, and serving our members effectively. To that end, we are pleased to announce that effective March 11, 2024, Dr. Mike DeGagné will serve as the Federation’s interim Chief Administrator. As part of accepting this voluntary position, Mike has stepped down as a member and Vice-Chair of the Federation’s Board of Directors.
Mike is the President and CEO of Indspire, Canada’s largest Indigenous-led and Indigenous-focused charity, and served as the sixth President and Vice-Chancellor of Nipissing University from 2013 to 2020. He holds a PhD in Education focusing on Aboriginal post-secondary success from Michigan State University, and Masters degrees in Administration, Law, and Ethics.
Mike's experience and knowledge of the humanities and social science community will guide the Federation, its staff, and its members until the summer. Recruitment for a permanent President and CEO is underway.
On March 8, the Federation will say goodbye to its departing President and CEO Gabriel Miller, as he prepares to begin a new role with Universities Canada.
Under Gabriel’s leadership since 2017, the Federation revitalized its culture, governance, and member services, and overcame extraordinary challenges to become a more innovative and impactful organization.
During the past seven years, the Federation overhauled its governance system to improve Board recruitment and increase diversity; reinvented the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences during the global pandemic to welcome 11,000 virtual participants over 2021 and 2022; strengthened its commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization; advocated for new research investments, increased graduate scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships; and expanded support for French-language researchers.
Gabriel has been an outstanding team leader for the Federation, and someone who cared greatly about his colleagues, peers, and the community he served.
On behalf of the Board and staff, I would like to express our deep appreciation for his contributions, and offer a warm welcome to Mike as our new leader during this transition.
Sincerely,
Annie Pilote
Chair, Board of Directors
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences