Communication expert takes lead in SBS Faculty

International communication expert, and former Deputy Executive Dean and Research Director in UQ's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Professor Cindy Gallois, has been appointed to lead the Faculty into the coming year.

She succeeds Professor Deborah Terry, who is now in the newly created role of UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning).

Professor Gallois has extensive experience in research and teaching in the fields of psychology and communication, as well as leadership roles at UQ for over a decade.

She will undertake the role for the next 12 months while an international search for a new Executive Dean takes place.

Recognised as one of Australia’s outstanding scholars in communication, Professor Gallois last year became the first Australasian to be made a Fellow of the International Communication Association. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

Professor Gallois is a former President of the UQ Academic Board, and has been President of two international, and one Australasian, academic societies in social psychology and communication.

Professor Gallois said she was looking forward to building on the excellent work Professor Terry had done to establish a strong and vibrant Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SBS) at UQ.

“2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year for us in both teaching and research, with developments across the whole spectrum of the social and behavioural sciences," she said.

Professor Gallois said top priority would be given to establishing new programs in primary and middle years education, and to programs in human services at UQ Ipswich.

"The achievements of the Faculty would not be possible without partnerships with other faculties and institutes at UQ and with government and industry," she said.

"Our aim is to build on these partnerships to enhance the relevance and quality of our teaching and research.

"We are very proud of our strong association with the Institute for Social Science Research, which will increase UQ's performance in social science research and enhance its reputation.

"The recent decision by the Queensland Government, through Disability Services Queensland, to partner with UQ in the $10.5 million Centre of Excellence for Behaviour Support at UQ Ipswich is evidence of our growing stature as a premier social science research hub.

“We are now very well positioned to move the Faculty forward to realise the goal of being an internationally recognised centre of excellence in both teaching and research in the social and behavioural sciences.”

Professors Robyn Gillies from the School of Education, and Zlatko Skrbis from the School of Social Science will both act as Co-Directors of Research for the year in Professor Gallois’ absence.
Media: More information, Melinda Kopanakis, marketing and Communications Manager, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, UQ, tel 07 33658820.