Dear Colleagues,
In a world that’s constantly changing, the power of collective vision and shared commitment to supporting higher education research is what anchors us and moves us forward as society.
It is both an honour and a privilege to serve as the President of the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education. Year 2025 marks a significant milestone for our society as we celebrate the 55th anniversary of CSSHE. This achievement is a strong testament to our continued growth, resilience, and impact as a society. It also serves as a reminder of the incredible work our CSSHE volunteer community continues to contribute, full of energy and fresh ideas. This year, we have the exciting opportunity to not only celebrate the past but to shape the future of higher education research in Canada and beyond.
In May 2025, we are thrilled to host the CSSHE Annual Conference in Toronto, where we will come together to reflect on our shared commitment to advancing higher education research, policy, and practice. The conference promises to be a vibrant gathering of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, providing an invaluable space for dialogue, learning, and collaboration.
This year, the conference will feature a special focus on community colleges – our partners who have not always received the credit and recognition that they deserve.
Let’s embrace this year as an opportunity to celebrate the strength of our CSSHE community, the power of knowledge exchange, and our collective commitment to shaping the future of higher education in Canada and globally.
Looking forward to seeing you in Toronto this May!
Warm regards,
Merli Tamtik
President, Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education
The Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education is a Registered Canadian Charitable Non-profit organization that is largely run by volunteers. We are proud of all that has been accomplished over the past 50 years as a Society and especially over this difficult past year. That said, we do have expenses related to an outdated infrastructure that is challenging for long term remote delivery of services, a secretariat that supports our membership services, and software that needs updating. We are partnering with the associations that are sharing out secretariat’s operating expenses to find grants and donations and hope to meet some of the needs in that way. Further, we are deeply committed to supporting the participation of graduate students, new professionals, precarious workers, and people from underrepresented backgrounds, and that commitment requires funding for bursaries, stipends, internships, and when safe again, travel.
We appreciate those who have donated in the past and again we invite you to make a charitable donation to the CSSHE and will gladly provide a tax receipt for any amount over $20. Your support will make a huge difference in the functioning of our society and the next generation of professionals in our field! If this year is not a good year for making a financial contribution, we invite you to continue your support through your membership, to consider us in your future plans, and to contribute your time and expertise, as you can.
Former Presidents
2020-2024 – Michelle Nilson
2018-2020 – Kathleen Matheos
2017-2018 – Anne Charles
2016-2017 – Robert Shea
2014-2016 – Anne Charles
2012-2014 – Walter Archer
2010-2012 – Alan Davis
2008-2010 – Keith Archer
2006-2008 – Esther Enns
2004-2006 – David Kirby
2003-2004 – Alenoush Saroyan
2001-2003 – Sheila Brown
2000-2001 – Geraldine Woodford
1999-2000 – Pierre Roberge
1998-1999 – Valerie Grabove
1997-1998 – Bryant Griffith
1996-1997 – Glen Jones
1995-1996 – Roy Bonin
1993-1995 – Alice Boberg
1992-1993 – Dan Birch
1991-1992 – Terry Hogan
1990-1991 – Janet Donald
1989-1990 – Norman Uhl
1988-1989 – Paul Gallagher
1987-1988 – Naomi Hersom
1986-1987 – Alexander Gregor
1985-1986 – Charles Balanger
1984-1985 – Max von Zur Muehlen
1983-1984 – Bernard Sheehan
1982-1983 – John Daniel
1981-1982 – W.A.S. Smith
1980-1981 – Jeffrey Holmes
1979-1980 – Grant Clarke
1978-1979 – John Dennison
1977-1978 – W.M. Sibley
1976-1977 – André Cãté
1975-1976 – Ronald Baker
1974-1975 – Malcolm Taylor
1973-1974 – Lucien Michaud
1972-1973 – R.M. Clark
1971-1972 – Pierre-Paul Proulx
1970-1971 – Edward Sheffield