As of July 1st 2012, Dr David Watt will be the new Director of the Institute for the Humanities. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, Film and Theatre. He is also a fellow of St John's College. His teaching and research interests are connected by his curiosity about books as well as the people who make them and read them. He is particularly interested in Thomas Hoccleve, a fifteenth-century poet and scribe whose work survives in books that he made himself. He is also keenly interested in the Manuscripts and Rare Books held in the Archives & Special Collections in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library at the University of Manitoba. He has helped to organize several public exhibitions of its holdings and has taught a number of courses focused on the medieval and early modern books held in this unique collection. He is looking forward to serving the Institute for the Humanities as its director. His main objective as director will be to foster dialogue about the purpose and place of the humanities in the University and the broader community.