Dr. Graham Holloway has been appointed as interim dean for the College of Biological Science (CBS) at the University of Guelph. He will be in the role effective May 25, 2026, to fill the vacancy left by Dr. Mazyar Fallah’s appointment as vice president (research and Innovation).
Holloway has been a faculty member at U of G for over 19 years. During this time, he has developed and taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses and has held key leadership roles, including graduate program coordinator and associate dean, research and graduate studies at CBS.
In his four years as associate dean, Holloway has championed transparent decision-making and collaborative governance, strengthening both the institutional research environment and graduate student support systems. He intends to bring this same inclusive and strategic approach to the role of dean.
A U of G alumnus, Holloway completed his PhD at U of G in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences and holds an MSc in Kinesiology from Waterloo and a B.Kin from McMaster University.
Holloway is a highly productive independent scientist with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications. He has maintained continuous funding through NSERC Discovery Grants and has secured numerous additional research awards as both principal investigator and co-applicant, including support from CIHR, the Canadian Cancer Society, OMAFA and private contract partners. His research looks at how different tissues manage and control energy, with the goal of identifying novel lifestyle-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Huntington’s disease and cancer.
“I am excited and honoured to be able to serve CBS,” says Holloway. “Having been part of it for almost 20 years, I am deeply committed to the success and growth of our college and community and look forward to continuing the important work of enhancing our programs and producing sought-after graduates.”
As interim dean, Holloway will continue to build on Fallah’s strategic vision to enhance the reputation of CBS both nationally and internationally as a hub for biological science education and research and expand graduate studies offerings in medical and health sciences.
Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, professor in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Canadian Research Chair in Human Gut Microbiome Function and Host Interactions, has been selected to fill Holloway’s vacated position and serve as acting associate dean of research and graduate studies for CBS.
“With his longstanding tenure at U of G and experience as associate dean, Holloway is well-suited to lead CBS,” says Dr. Byron Sheldrick, interim provost and vice-president, academic. “We are pleased to have Grahams’s expertise and experience leading the college and also look forward to Emma supporting our graduate students, faculty, and staff in CBS.”
About the College of Biological Science
CBS is a globally recognized academic faculty that produces innovative research in a student-centred learning environment. It offers 12 undergraduate and 13 graduate degree programs across three departments: Human Health Sciences, Integrative Biology and Molecular and Cellular Biology.