Insights made retiring Brock prof a media favourite
David Siegel started as a political-science professor in 1978
A Brock University professor whose insightful analysis of local politics made him favourite with the media has retired, but is anything but retiring.
David Siegel started as a professor at Brock in 1978 in the political science department and forged a long and varied career in both academia and administration.
“I’m enjoying being retired, and I am still staying busy,” he said.
“I’m removed from the day-today issues, so that is good — you kind of know when you are ready to retire.
“I always enjoyed teaching when I was there. Life is composed of many different experiences, and I’m enjoying this experience I’m having now.”
His last day at the university was June 30. As part of his community engagement, one needs to look no further than the Niagara Community Observatory.
The observatory is a publicpolicy think tank working in partnership with the Niagara community to “foster, produce and disseminate communitybased research on current and emerging issues.”
Siegel served as founding director in 2008. Last year, the observatory held “policy briefings” open to the public on popular topics such as the province’s local governance review and an upswing in Niagara’s manufacturing sector.
The briefing on regional government had the cheeky title, Under the Knife & Under the Gun: An Overview of Regional Government in Niagara.
“I am still keeping busy researching and writing, but I’m spending more time going to concerts and theatre,” Siegel said. “I’ve always wanted to spend more time doing those things.”
Siegel served the university in an administrative capacity. He was the chair of political science department; associate vice-president, academic, and dean of social sciences and education.
During his time at the school, he watched the university’s enrolment soar to more than 19,000 students and the campus transform with an ever-growing array of facilities.
In 2014, he published a study of the leadership qualities of municipal chief administrative officers in Canada, “Leaders in the Shadows.”
“A lot has changed in 40 years, and I’ve enjoyed it all,” Siegel said.
“It’s good being around the university. You never do the same thing twice. There is always something new to do. It makes it interesting.”
Siegel’s specialty is in Canadian politics, local government and public policy and administration. Those subjects meshed well with the interest of local political reporters. “We are all waiting to see what happens with the report on governance,” he said.
Asked if he had a prediction on what Doug Ford’s government has in store for Niagara, Siegel laughed, and said, “Actually, no, I wouldn’t try to do that.
“I think the premier has said there wouldn’t be anything until the house starts sitting, and that won’t be until after the federal election.”
Siegel was asked if in retiring from Brock, he was also bowing out of the punditry business as well.
“Once you start following politics, it’s hard to get out of it,” Siegel said.
“I am still going to be around, and I will still be following things. You have my number, obviously.”