Professor Gretchen Kerr, a world-renowned kinesiology and physical education scholar and expert on the treatment of youth and women in sport, became dean of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) on July 1, 2021.
Being named dean of KPE marks yet another milestone for Kerr at the university. She earned both a bachelor’s degree and PhD degree from U of T before going on to establish herself as a leading researcher in areas such as safe sport in Canada, ethical coaching practices and women in sport.
Kerr’s research on the treatment of women and youth in sport is widely acknowledged to have had a tangible and lasting impact on Canada’s sports landscape, particularly through her collaborations with organizations such as the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport and the Coaching Association of Canada.
She also played a key role in developing the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, which all Canadian national sports organizations must adopt, and chaired U of T’s Expert Panel on Sexual Violence Education and Prevention, helping to lay the groundwork for many of the programs offered by U of T’s Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre.
Recently, Kerr was awarded a grant to create a new Canadian Gender Equity in Sport Research Hub.
Kerr brings a wealth of administrative experience to her new role. As vice-dean, programs and innovation at the School of Graduate Studies, Kerr set up a Dissertation Working Group to support graduate students and revamped the school’s Graduate Professional Development program. Prior to that, she served as vice-dean, academic affairs at KPE, where she oversaw the development of the Bachelor of Kinesiology program and Master of Professional Kinesiology program – the first master’s-level program of its kind in Ontario
