Mike DeGagné, president of Nipissing University, is one of 13 recipients of the 2018 Indspire Awards celebrating excellence in the Aboriginal community in Canada. Dr. DeGagné is a member of the Animakee Wa Zhing First Nation, in Ontario, and is being recognized for his public service as founding executive director of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, a national organization created to address the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Two other honourees have an academic connection: University of Victoria professor emerita Lorna Wanosts’a7 Williams of the Lil’wat Nation in B.C., who introduced a mandatory course in Indigenous education for all teacher education programs in B.C.; and Paul Chartrand, a Métis professor emeritus of law who helped develop the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indspire Award recipients will be honoured at a ceremony in Winnipeg on March 23, 2018.
The University of Ontario Institute of Technology has named Steven Murphy its new president and vice-chancellor, starting March 1, 2018. Dr. Murphy, an award-winning professor, accomplished researcher and academic leader, was most recently dean of the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. He earlier held the position of associate dean, research and external, at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University, where he earned a PhD in organizational behaviour.
OCAD University has named Jaime Watt, executive chairman of Navigator Ltd., chair of the board of governors for a one-year term that started on Nov. 11. Mr. Watt has received numerous awards for his service to the community, including Out on Bay Street’s Leader to be Proud of Award and the inaugural recipient of Egale’s Lifetime Achievement Award for equality rights. He joined the board in 2015.
Brandon University’s chancellor, Michael Decter, began his second term on Nov. 1. Mr. Decter, is president and CEO of the investment company LDIC Inc., a former deputy minister of health for Ontario and cabinet secretary in the Government of Manitoba. A native Manitoban and recipient of the Order of Canada, he served on the Brandon University Foundation and continues to serve with numerous non-profit health-care organizations.
Patricia Elliott was named the new director of employee relations at Vancouver Island University in October. Ms. Elliott previously worked as a lawyer, with a focus in labour, employment and administrative law; as an industrial relations officer and team lead with the B.C. Ministry of Labour; and as a senior policy analyst for the B.C. Ministry of Justice.
Wilfrid Laurier University has appointed Mark Pecen chair of the Lazaridis Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprises. Mr. Pecen was senior vice-president at BlackBerry, Ltd., where he founded the Advanced Technology Research Centre and developed much of BlackBerry’s wireless and networking patent portfolio. Currently, he is CEO of Approach Infinity, Inc., chief operating officer of ISARA Corporation, and chair of Quantum Safe Cryptography, in France.
Saint Mary’s University has appointed Scott Gray director of athletics and recreation, effective Nov. 6. Mr. Gray led the Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology’s athletics department and managed the college’s recreation facility since 2006. He has been a leader in both the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association and the Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association, where he was president from 2014 to 2017.
Athabasca University has appointed Jennifer Griffin Schaeffer vice-president, information technology, and chief information officer. She began in her new role on Nov. 6. Ms. Schaeffer brings over 15 years of executive management experience and over 20 years of digital strategy and information and communication technology expertise to the position. She was recently associate vice-president, university relations, at the University of Alberta.
The University of Lethbridge has reappointed Craig Cooper dean of the faculty of arts and science, effective July 1, 2018. Dr. Cooper has served as dean since 2013. He joined U of Lethbridge from Nipissing University, where he was a professor of classical studies and dean of arts and sciences. He spent the majority of his academic teaching career at the University of Winnipeg, eventually serving there as associate dean of arts.
Paula Wood-Adams has been reappointed dean of graduate studies at Concordia University, a role she has held since 2013. Her new five-year term starts on July 1, 2018. Dr. Wood-Adams joined Concordia in 2001 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and was the graduate program director in the department of mechanical, industrial and aerospace engineering from 2006 to 2010.
Lakehead University has named Elizabeth Birmingham dean of the faculty of social sciences and humanities. She will begin serving as Lakehead’s dean on July 1, 2018. Dr. Birmingham is a full professor and chair of the English department at North Dakota State University, with a cross-appointment to the department of women and gender studies. She has held several administrative positions at NDSU, from director of upper division writing to associate dean.
The University of Lethbridge reappointed Ed Jurkowski dean of the faculty of fine arts, effective July 1, 2018. Dr. Jurkowski joined the U of Lethbridge in 1996 and has served as chair of the department of new media, chair of the department of music and associate dean of fine arts. He was formerly president of the Canadian University Music Club and treasurer of the Canadian Association of Fine Arts Deans.