New dean to take office in July
Robson Hall has appointed a new Dean.
Effective July 1, 2016, Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch will take office as Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba.
The announcement from Dr. Joanne C. Keselman, Provost and Vice-President (Academic):
I am pleased to advise you that at its April 12, 2016 meeting the Board of Governors approved the appointment of Dr. Jonathan Black-Branch as Dean of Law effective July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021.
Dr. Black-Branch is currently Professor and Chair in International Law and Associate Dean, Education (teaching and learning standards) for the faculty of Management, Economics and Law at Royal Holloway, University of London. Dr. Black-Branch has held several academic leadership roles including Head of the School of Law and Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Bedfordshire; Dean and Head of School, ATV Business in Copenhagen, Denmark; and Director of Law at Grey Friars Hall at the University of Oxford.
While at Royal Holloway and in his role as Associate Dean, Dr. Black-Branch has been responsible for academic oversight of the faculty’s undergraduate and postgraduate programs, overseeing the development of new programs and fostering flexible and blended learning opportunities. Dr. Black-Branch is actively engaged in the profession, serving as Chair of the International Law Association Committee on Nuclear Weapons, Nonproliferation and Contemporary International Law; launching and subsequently convening five Round Table Forums on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in International Law; founding and serving as executive director of The International Society of Law and Nuclear Diplomacy and Disarmament, and as the British representative to the International Law Association’s Arms Control and Disarmament Law Committee, to name just a few. He is the co-editor of two refereed journals and co-editor of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation in International Law peer-reviewed book series.
Prior to commencing his academic law career, Dr. Black-Branch was trained as an educator and taught in Manitoba’s K-12 education system, in addition to other Canadian provinces. In 1993, Dr. Black-Branch received his PhD from the University of Toronto and was then offered a fellowship at the University of Oxford to examine comparative human rights. He received his MA in Law in 1996 and a doctorate in Law from the University of Oxford in 1998. He is a practicing Barrister as well as a Justice of the Peace sitting as a Magistrate in Oxford. He is a fellow of the British Higher Education Academy and he completed a postgraduate diploma in teaching and learning in Higher Ed at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Black-Branch’s teaching and scholarly work examines the implementation of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty, human rights and arbitration dispute settlement. He widely disseminates his work in books, chapters, publications in refereed journals, and reports, and he regularly shares his scholarly work at national and international conferences and through visiting professorships. Dr. Black-Branch is a Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal recipient for his ‘worth and devoted services to the community’.
Given Dr. Black-Branch’s demonstrated accomplishments in administrative leadership, his highly collaborative approach and his extensive achievements in teaching, research, and service to the profession, I believe the Faculty of Law can look forward to a very promising future under his leadership.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in the appointment process, including members of the Presidential Advisory Committee and the many individuals who provided valuable input into this appointment.