As a respected scholar with a distinguished record of administrative service—much of it in graduate education—Fred brings a wealth of experience to the position and is ideally suited to the role of Vice-Provost (Graduate Education). In addition to impressive academic achievements, Fred is currently president and a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies, an organization that promotes graduate education and research in Canada.

In his role as Vice-Provost and Dean, Fred will provide university-wide strategic leadership for Graduate Studies during a period of planned expansion of student enrolment, while enhancing the academic quality of graduate programs. The Vice-Provost will be responsible for administrative and service functions in Graduate Studies and will work with central and faculty-based colleagues to enhance the University's ability to attract outstanding graduate students, both nationally and internationally. Fred and his team will also focus on developing strategies to promote timely student success.

Fred is currently the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, a position he has held since 1999. During his 34 years at McMaster, he has served in a variety of capacities, including in the offices of both the President and the Provost. In 1997 he served as the founding director of McMaster's School of Geography and Geology.

Fred holds a BA in mathematics, a MSc from MIT's Sloan School of Management, and a PhD in geography from the University of Chicago. His research focuses on highway capacity and quality of service; earlier research dealt with the effects of transportation-related noise on residential communities.