New Dean of Law: Colleen Flood

Meghrig Milkon Assistant News Editor

Colleen Flood has a vision for Queen’s Law, and she’s committed to making it a reality.

Appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Law for a five-year term effective July 1, Flood is committed to increasing research opportunities for law students, eliminating inefficiencies, and promoting opportunities for graduates. Flood sees her role as preparing students for the future, whatever it might entail.

“I want to help students see that a Queen’s Law degree is an investment in their future that will pay off,” Flood said in an interview with The Journal.

“I see my role as Dean to really accelerate and support excellence in teaching, in research, and in service. So that’s my job—to make all of that happen.”

A long-term goal of Flood’s is to provide law students with more research opportunities.

“When I look at our strategic plan and our organizational chart, being lonely. we don’t have enough resources devoted towards the research part of the mission, which in turn, would give a lot more opportunities for both undergrad and graduate students to work on research. We plan to accelerate that a lot,” Flood said.

“Social and personal identities influence many aspects of wellbeing, highlighting the continued need for specific, targeted resources that support students with intersectional identities,” Gibney added.

Gibney told The Journal SWS is collaborating with other University offices, including Athletics & Recreation. SWS created a TransCare team, increased equity education for SWS staff, and expanded sex-positive programming.

In terms of new programming, the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies is launching a pilot program this fall called First-Year Learning Communities.

“The program aims to support student transition to university life, support academic skill building, enhance students’ sense of belonging [...], and connect students with supportive resources on campus,” Gibney said.

While settling in as dean, Flood will continue her own research focusing on governance of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Having previously collaborated with the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Jane Philpott on a book about COVID-19, Flood expressed eagerness to collaborate on research opportunities across faculties.

“We can definitely be more together, we’re more than the sum of our parts,” Flood added.

Flood spent time getting to know Queen’s through meeting professors and staff one-on-one. Eliminating inefficiencies is a priority, even though it may sound like a small task.

“We’re working to really elevate everybody. That’s the secret. I think I’m someone who sets very clear objectives, and then I go for it. But I’m someone who will listen to what people have to say,” Flood said.

Bringing people together is important to Flood; joy is one of her core values. She emphasized wanting to get to know faculty and staff working within the faculty.

“I am planning events with staff and faculty where the