UM welcomes Peter Donahue as new Dean of Social Work

The University of Manitoba is pleased to announce that Dr. Peter Donahue has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Social Work, effective August 1, 2024.

Dr. Donahue is currently the Director and Graduate Program Chair of the School of Social Work at King’s University College at Western University. He started his academic career at the University of Calgary in 2000, and later moved to Renison University College at the University of Waterloo in 2008, serving as Chair of the Department of Social Development Studies from 2013 to 2015. He holds a PhD and Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, and a BA (Gerontology) and BSc (Biology) from McMaster University.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Peter Donahue to the University of Manitoba in the role of Dean of the Faculty of Social Work”, says Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “Dr. Donahue’s commitment to collaborative and collegial leadership, student experience, Indigenous achievement, EDI, and research excellence will well serve the Faculty of Social Work and the University of Manitoba.”

Dr. Donahue has made many contributions to leadership in social work education and to strengthening the social work profession. His research focuses on the health and well-being of older adults, including work and retirement, caregiving, 2SLGBTQIA+ aging, knowledge transfer, and issues relating to homelessness and those at risk. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses throughout his career, bringing an innovative approach to teaching and learning that generates excitement and curiosity from his students.

Before moving to academia, Dr. Donahue worked with numerous community organizations serving the older adult population. He worked as a Program Coordinator for the Toronto Association of Neighborhood Services – Seniors Program, a Program Coordinator for the Ontario Coalition of Senior Citizens’ Organizations, and a Research Fellow at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He is a founding member of the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), its first Network Manager and a long-time board member.

Throughout his career, Dr. Donahue has served on many professional organizations, such as the Alberta and Ontario Associations on Gerontology, as well as the Canadian Association on Gerontology where he was Chair of the Education Division and on the board executive. He was a member of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education’s (CASWE) Commission on Accreditation from 2010 to 2016 and co-chaired the Commission from 2014 to 2016. He recently completed his final term as the President of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of Social Workers, and currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Canadian Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work.

“The Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba has long been known as a leader and innovator in our field. Therefore, I am both excited and honoured to have the opportunity to offer my skills and leadership to this next chapter in its history,” says Dr. Donahue. “I was born and raised in Manitoba, so I am also looking forward to coming home after many years and giving back to the province and the people that were instrumental in shaping who I am today.”

The University of Manitoba looks forward to Dr. Donahue’s leadership in the Faculty of Social Work.