Sean Corner has been appointed Acting Dean for the Faculty of Humanities for a one-year term while a search for a new dean is conducted.
A professor in the Department of Greek and Roman Studies, Corner has been with McMaster since 2004, and has been the Faculty’s associate dean of undergraduate studies since 2019.
“Sean is highly regarded for his academic leadership, deep understanding of the Faculty of Humanities, collaborative leadership approach, and strong commitment to academic excellence and collegial governance,” says Maureen MacDonald, McMaster’s provost and vice-president, Academic.
“His taking on this role will ensure continuity of leadership within the Faculty, and I am looking forward to working with him as he helps to guide the community through this period of change.”
As associate dean, Corner was responsible for the development of the Faculty’s innovative Skills for Life Certificate, which enables students to develop and articulate the value of career-relevant skills, including critical thinking, communication and digital literacy.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the Faculty’s move to online learning, and has also led projects to develop key cross-faculty programs, including the Wilson College Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Civic Studies, and the Bachelor of Health Sciences Integrated Rehabilitation and Humanities program.
Corner received his undergraduate degree in Ancient and Modern History from the University of Oxford, and his MA and PhD in Classics from Princeton University.
His research focuses on the political society and culture in Archaic and Classical Greece, drawing on social theory and integrating literary and material sources to analyze the social structure and political values of the Greek polis or citizen-state.
Corner is also interested in exploring the bridge between antiquity and the present, bringing ancient political thought into the present and illuminating contemporary politics with historical experience and philosophical moral psychology.
“I’m honoured and excited to work with the faculty, staff and students in the Faculty of Humanities as we evolve and adapt through this time of transition,” says Corner. “Our community is one of our greatest assets, and I look forward to working together both to carry forward work already underway and to explore new directions that build on our collective strengths.”
Education in the liberal arts has been a part of McMaster since the university’s inception in 1887. The current Faculty of Humanities is now home to more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and more than 100 full- and part-time faculty members researching and teaching across nine departments.