Anna Ferenc Appointed Acting Dean, Faculty of Music

Aug. 27, 2020

Wilfrid Laurier University has appointed Anna Ferenc, associate professor of music theory, as the acting dean of the Faculty of Music. She will succeed Glen Carruthers, who has served as dean since 2010. Ferenc, who was associate dean, internal, will serve as acting dean until June 30, 2021.

“I look forward to welcoming Dr. Ferenc to her role as acting dean,” said Tony Vannelli, provost and vice-president: academic. “We are confident that her academic expertise, as well as her experience as an instructor and associate dean, will benefit students and faculty members in the Faculty of Music.”

Prior to joining Laurier, Ferenc was an assistant professor of music theory at Dalhousie University and music director at St. Mary’s Basilica in Halifax, NS. She holds BMus and MA degrees in music theory from McGill University, an ARCT diploma in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, a Musicology Certificate from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, and a PhD degree in music theory from the University of Michigan.

During his time as dean of the Faculty of Music, Carruthers played a significant role in the faculty’s Making Space for Music capital campaign and successfully enhanced the reputation of Laurier’s Faculty of Music and the quality of its programming. His many accomplishments include introducing an MA in 2013 and BMus in Community Music in 2016, acquiring the Beckett School of Music to form the Laurier Conservatory of Music in 2015, and establishing Laurier as the summer home of the renowned National Youth Orchestra of Canada in 2013. He was appointed an honourary member of the Canadian University Music Society in 2016 and received the Academic Leadership Award from the Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans in 2018.

Prior to his position at Laurier, Carruthers served as dean of the School of Music at Brandon University from 1998-2008 after teaching for 10 years at Lakehead University, where he was the founding chair of the Department of Music.

“On behalf of the Laurier community, I offer my gratitude to Glen for his ongoing leadership as dean and his significant impact on the Faculty of Music,” said Vannelli.

Ferenc will begin her term as acting dean immediately. The search for a new Dean of Music will commence in the fall of 2020.