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People on the Move

Announcements – February 2015

BY NATALIE SAMSON | FEB 06 2015

Hewitt_TedTed Hewitt has been named the next president of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The announcement came from the federal government on Feb. 12. Dr. Hewitt has served as SSHRC’s executive vice-president since 2012. He joined the agency from Western University, where he was vice-president of research and international relations from 2004 to 2011. Among his academic achievements, Dr. Hewitt was a public policy scholar at the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., and worked as a professor of sociology at Western. His most recent research has focused on national and international innovation systems, with an eye to the roles of universities, industry and government. He is the Canadian co-chair of the Canada–Brazil Joint Committee for Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation and has been a member of the boards of ISTP Canada and the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Hewitt’s appointment begins on March 1. He succeeds Chad Gaffield, who stepped down from the role on Aug. 31 with two years left in his tenure.

Barton_Bruce_WEBPlaywright, director and dramaturge Bruce Barton will be the first permanent director of the University of Calgary’s school of creative and performing arts. The school is a multidisciplinary research and performance hub formed in 2013 through the consolidation of the departments of dance, drama and music. Dr. Barton, who was most recently director of the undergraduate theatre, drama and performance studies program at University of Toronto, says it’s the new school’s collaborative spirit that has drawn him out west. “There have often been difficulties understanding the relationship between scholarly research and the performing arts,” says Dr. Barton. One of his main priorities in taking the new role is to “better articulate what we do so that its research value is understood by the rest of the university and the public at large.”

Anderson_David_WEBEffective July 1, David Anderson becomes dean of Dalhousie University’s faculty of medicine. Since 2011, Dr. Anderson has been head and district chief of Dalhousie’s department of medicine. He’s been a faculty member for more than 20 years, with stints in the division of hematology and cross-appointments in the departments of pathology, and of community health and epidemiology.

Krane_William_WEBWilliam Krane was appointed vice-president, academic, and provost of the University of Northern British Columbia. He begins his new role in May. For more than 10 years, Dr. Krane served as associate vice-president, academic, and associate provost at Simon Fraser University. He has also been involved with a wide range of Ministry of Advanced Education and university committees, including SFU’s senate committee on enrolment management and planning.

Hamilton_Jennifer_WEBThe Canadian Association of College and University Student Services, or CACUSS, has reappointed Jennifer Hamilton executive director for a three-year term that began Jan. 1. Ms. Hamilton was hired as the association’s first executive director in 2011. Her prior experience in higher education includes appointments in student affairs at OCAD University, University of Toronto, and Portland State University. Ms. Hamilton is currently working on a PhD in higher education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at U of T.

McPherson_Moira_WEBAfter serving as Lakehead University’s acting provost and vice-president, academic, since April 2014, Moira McPherson has assumed these roles on a permanent basis. From 2011 to 2014, she was associate vice-president, academic, and deputy provost and oversaw the implementation of the university’s academic plan. Before that, Dr. McPherson spent seven years as director of the school of kinesiology. She started her career at Lakehead in 1987 as an assistant professor in the department of physical education and athletics.

Dauvergne_Catherine_WEBOn July 1, Catherine Dauvergne becomes dean of the faculty of law at the University of British Columbia for a five-year term. Dr. Dauvergne, a full professor with expertise in refugee and immigration law, served as senior advisor to the president of UBC from 2009 to 2011, and as associate dean of graduate studies and research in the faculty of law from 2007 to 2008. In 2012, she was named a Fellow of the Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation.

Keiller_Karen_WEBKaren Keiller was appointed university librarian at Lakehead University, starting in May. Ms. Keiller moves to Lakehead from the University of New Brunswick Saint John, where she is currently director of information services and systems and chair of the Council of Atlantic University Libraries. She brings with her nearly 25 years of experience in academic librarianship, including time spent as head of electronic technologies and services at the University of Manitoba and as acting university librarian at the University of Winnipeg.

MacKinnon_Peter_WEBPeter MacKinnon has had his contract extended as interim president of Athabasca University to June 30, 2016, with the possibility of an additional extension. He was originally named to a one-year appointment starting on July 1, 2014. Prof. MacKinnon was president of the University of Saskatchewan for 13 years and dean of the school’s faculty of law for 10 years before that. He served as chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada from 2003 to 2005.

Wittenberg_Karin_WEBThe University of Manitoba named Karin Wittenberg dean of the faculty of agricultural and food sciences, effective Jan. 1. She had been interim dean since July 2014. Her prior roles at the university include associate dean, research, and head of the animal science department. Dr. Wittenberg is a researcher in sustainable animal production systems and was instrumental in developing the university’s Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre.

Vitkauskas_Cathy_WEBCathy Vitkauskas has been hired for the newly created position of vice-principal, advancement, at Brescia University College, affiliated with Western University. She takes on the job after 16 years as director of annual giving and donor relations at Western’s Richard Ivey Business School. Ms. Vitkauskas will also become a member of Brescia’s new Principal’s Cabinet, consisting of the institution’s vice-principals.

Green_Karen_WEBLawyer Karen Green, who has worked with the federal Department of Justice for more than 15 years, is Carleton University’s new director of equity services. A member of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ms. Green has also served as chief executive officer of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, executive director of the Odawa Native Friendship Centre and as president of the Minwasshin Lodge, Aboriginal Women’s Support Centre.

Zolfaghari_Saeed_WEBIn January, Saeed Zolfaghari became vice-provost, faculty affairs, at Ryerson University. He was in the role on an interim basis since August 2014. From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Zolfaghari was the provost’s senior advisor on academic space planning. He joined the university in 1999 as a professor in the department of mechanical and industrial engineering.

Tiidus_Peter_WEBPeter Tiidus will join Brock University as dean of applied health sciences on July 1. He comes to Brock from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he is a professor and program co-ordinator in the department of health sciences. He has been a faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier since 1989 and before that spent eight years in the school of physical and health education at the University of Toronto.

Adem_Alejandro_WEBAlejandro Adem was appointed the new chief executive officer and scientific director of Mitacs, starting on Feb. 1. Prior to his appointment, he was director of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and a professor at the University of British Columbia, where he held the Canada Research Chair in Algebraic Topology. He has been director of PIMS since 2008, was co-chair of the scientific advisory committee for the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute at the University of California, Berkeley from 2003 to 2007 and chair of the department of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1999 to 2002.

Kneale_Douglas_WEBOn March 1, Douglas Kneale begins his tenure as provost and vice-president, academic, at the University of Windsor. He moves to Windsor from Brock University, where he was dean of humanities. For 25 years, Dr. Kneale was a professor of English at Western University, and eventually chair of the department.

Dawson_Michael_WEBMichael Dawson was named associate vice-president, research, at St. Thomas University. A history professor and former department head, Dr. Dawson has previously served as interim assistant vice-president, research. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and is on the Council of the Canadian Historical Association.

On March 30, Katharine Harrold steps into the role of vice-president, communications and advancement, at Royal Roads University. The move is a homecoming for Ms. Harrold, who, as campaign manager, led Royal Roads’ first fundraising efforts in 2000. Among her other previous positions, she was director of philanthropy at the Nature Conservancy of Canada B.C. Region; national campaign director for the David Suzuki Foundation; and director of advancement for the faculty of environment at Simon Fraser University.

Andersen_robert_WEBRobert Andersen has been appointed to a five-year term as Western University’s dean of social science, beginning July 1. He will also temporarily serve as special advisor to the provost starting June 1. He comes to Western from the University of Toronto, where he is currently Distinguished Professor of social science and chair of the department of sociology.

Donahue_Peter_WEBKing’s University College at Western University has appointed Peter Donahue its new director of the school of social work. Dr. Donahue arrives from Renison University College at University of Waterloo, where he is an associate professor and chair of the department of social development studies. He previously was an associate professor of social work at the University of Calgary. His appointment takes effect July 1.

zietsma_david_WEBIn January, Redeemer University College launched its new marketing and enrolment division, headed by David Zietsma. As vice-president of this division, Dr. Zietsma oversees recruitment, communications, financial aid, marketing and enrolment management. Dr. Zietsma has been a member of Redeemer’s faculty of history since 2007. He was most recently associate-provost, curriculum, and dean of humanities.

Shanks_Pamela_WEBPamela Shanks is heading to Brock University as the school’s new executive director of development and alumni relations. Ms. Shanks previously worked as executive director of development at Ryerson University, executive director of development and alumni relations at York University’s Schulich School of Business, and director of fund development at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary. The appointment takes effect Feb. 23.

Jacobs_Ira_WEBIra Jacobs was reappointed dean of the faculty of physical education and health at the University of Toronto for a second five-year term beginning July 1. Dr. Jacobs is president of the Canadian Council of University Physical Education and Kinesiology Administrators and a past president of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Dr. Jacobs has also served as chief scientist at the federal government’s human performance laboratory operated by the Department of National Defense.

Coffin_Rex_WEBAt Memorial University, Rex Coffin was named director of ancillary operations. He comes to Memorial from University of Waterloo, where he was assistant director of food services. Prior to that, Mr. Coffin was director of ancillary services at the University of Prince Edward Island. He also spent 10 years with the University of Alberta’s department of ancillary services as director of conference services. He started at Memorial on Jan. 26.

Belbin_Bruce_WEBIn January, Bruce Belbin assumed the role of director of student residences at Memorial University after serving as interim director of housing, food and conference services. He is a former assistant deputy minister, postsecondary, with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and a former associate vice-president of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He is pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education at the University of Calgary. Previously, Mr. Belbin worked at Memorial as director of student success and manager of residence life at Grenfell campus, among other roles.

Lemieux_Robert_WEBOn June 30, Robert Lemieux will become dean of the faculty of science at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Lemieux is currently a professor of chemistry and associate dean, research, at Queen’s University’s faculty of arts and science. In 2012, Dr. Lemieux was recognized for his contributions to the field of liquid crystals research by the International Liquid Crystal Society with the Samsung Mid-Career Award.

Keefe_Dale_WEBAfter a one-year interim term, Dale Keefe will become vice-president, academic, and provost at Cape Breton University on July 1. Dr. Keefe first came to CBU in 1996 as a professor of physical chemistry and has served as dean of research and graduate studies at the university. He was inducted into the Science Atlantic Hall of Fame in 2012.

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