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a headshot of Diane Hiebert-Murphy

Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy, UM's next Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

Diane Hiebert-Murphy is new Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at UM

May 4, 2021 — 

The following is a message from President Michael Benarroch:

I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy as the University of Manitoba’s next Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

Dr. Hiebert-Murphy [BSW/82; MA/87; PhD/95] will assume her new portfolio on July 1, 2021. She currently serves the University as Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs), a position she has held since 2016.

An accomplished researcher, clinician, mentor and administrator, Dr. Hiebert-Murphy is an experienced consensus builder who leads and empowers others with her trusted and confident voice.

As Provost and Vice-President (Academic), she will become the senior academic officer at the University of Manitoba, responsible for providing academic vision and leadership in all matters relating to students and academic staff, including academic programs, long-range academic planning, and enrolment management.

As the chair of the President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Hiebert-Murphy will also continue to help advance equity, diversity and inclusion at UM. She is also co-chair of the Sexual Violence Steering Committee, and so has been integral in drafting initiatives and policies to address sexual violence. Dr. Hiebert-Murphy will also help UM in its process of decolonization and Indigenization, work that is deeply important to every member of the University’s leadership.

As a Professor in the Faculty of Social Work and the Faculty of Arts’ Psychological Service Centre, Dr. Hiebert-Murphy is trained to look at how she can improve the interests of the whole community. And in 2019, she was honoured in a Star Blanket ceremony, which recognizes a person who humbly dedicates herself to the service of others.

Dr. Hiebert-Murphy is a passionate and dedicated educator and researcher who has advised more than 60 graduate students, has participated on advisory committees for another 60 students, and continues to advise students.  She has co-edited three books, published over thirty-five peer-reviewed articles in addition to research reports and book chapters, and has been engaged in dissemination of her work at scholarly meetings, including international conferences. She is also a registered clinical psychologist who continues to engage in clinical practice while sustaining her research program. Dr. Hiebert-Murphy’s research and scholarship focuses on intervention with families of young children with disabilities and families impacted by violence. Since 1998 she has received funding for the Couples Project, a service/student training/research program addressing intimate partner violence.  

Throughout her career at this university, Dr. Hiebert-Murphy has served in increasingly complex leadership roles, including as Associate Director of the Psychological Service Centre; Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Programs in the Faculty of Social Work; Associate Dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies; and as Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs). During her time as Vice-Provost, she also assumed the position of Acting Dean, Faculty of Social Work. In every role she has shown her passion for building an inclusive community, and her deep commitment to this University’s vision of being a university that serves the interests of all Manitobans.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Dr. Janice Ristock for her exemplary leadership as Provost and Vice-President (Academic).  Dr. Ristock’s transformative approach to her role is evident in her focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning and the important interrelationship of teaching with research, and in her critical role in the development and implementation of a series of important initiatives that position the University of Manitoba extraordinarily well moving forward.  These include her commitment to advancing our goals and priorities associated with Indigenous achievement, such as dedicated support to hire Indigenous scholars and through the establishment of the committee to review the role and mandate for Indigenous senior leadership at the University of Manitoba.  They also include her proactive approach to equity, diversity and inclusion as seen for example in her development of a strong and more diverse team of deans; her vision for the development and expansion of experiential learning opportunities; and in her commitment to enhanced support for students, ranging from enhanced scholarship and bursary programs to student mental health supports.

In addition, I would like to thank the members of the Presidential Advisory Committee for their valuable contributions to this search process, along with the many members of our community who shared their input. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Hiebert-Murphy on this new position, and in thanking her for all she has done for this university, and for all she is about to help us accomplish.

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