Introducing the Faculty of Arts newest leadership

Join us in congratulating our newest and renewed directors and department heads. Dr. Aidan Hollis (Economics), Dr. Martin Wagner (School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures), Dr. W. David Walls (Economics) and Dr. Nicole Wyatt (Philosophy) have been recently appointed to new leadership roles. We have also extended the terms of Dr. James Ellis (Calgary Institute for the Humanities) and Dr. Andrea Freeman (Geography) in their current roles.

We'd like to thank our outgoing Associate Dean (Academic), Dr. Melissa Boyce, Department Heads, Dr. Mark Conliffe (Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures), Dr. Mark Migotti (Philosophy) and Interim Head, Dr. W. David Walls (Classics and Religion), for their exceptional service.

Leadership appointments

Dr. Aidan Hollis, PhD,  
Department Head, Economics

Two-year term, effective July 1, 2026
Aidan Hollis is a professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and has been Interim Head since November 2024. He is focused on strengthening academic programs, bringing innovative courses to students, and consolidating the exceptional gains in research reputation of the department. 

Dr. Martin Wagner, PhD 
Director, School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures

Five-year term effective July 1, 2026
Martin Wagner is a professor of German in the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Culture and has served as Director of the Language Research Centre from 2019 to 2022. He is committed to strengthening SLLLC’s undergraduate and graduate programs and to deepening ties to the wider community in Calgary. 

Dr. W. David Walls, PhD 
Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives 

Twenty-month term effective April 1, 2026
David Walls is a professor in the Department of Economics and has served as Interim Head of Classics and Religion since January 2024. He will continue his work in the Faculty of Arts with a commitment to advancing the strategic priorities of the faculty and the university. 

Dr. Nicole Wyatt, PhD 
Department Head, Philosophy 

Five-year term effective 1 July, 2026
Nicole Wyatt is an associate professor in the Department of Philosophy and previously served as Department Head for two consecutive terms from 2013-2023. She will continue her work in the department with a commitment to facilitating the successful move of the Religious Studies programs to Philosophy, strengthening transdisciplinary connections across campus.

Leadership renewals 

Dr. Andrea Freeman, PhD 
Department Head, Geography 

Two-year term, effective July 1, 2026
Andrea Freeman is an associate professor in the Department of Geography and has served as Department Head since July 2021. She will continue her work in Geography with a commitment to program recasting and renewal, increasing research revenue and creating a departmental succession plan.  

Dr. James Ellis, PhD,  
Director, Calgary Institute for the Humanities 

Two-year term, effective July 1, 2026
James Ellis is a professor in the Department of English and has been serving as Director of the CIH since 2015. He will continue to work on supporting humanities scholars, promoting the value of humanistic research and building relations between the university and the larger communities it serves.