UNews - professor and Chair

U of L researchers among Venture's Top 50

trevor.kenney — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 22:14:53 +0000

Two ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers from vastly different disciplines have been acknowledged by Alberta Venture Magazine as being among the province's 50 most influential people for 2013.

Drs. David Naylor (Physics and Astronomy) and Robert Sutherland (Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience) made the 2013 list for their achievements in the lab -- outer space, in Naylor's case, and for Sutherland, advocating for the academic community as the President of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations.

Dr. David Naylor

As an instructor with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's physics department since 1981, David Naylor has taken his lab to the upper echelons of experimental astrophysics. Practically speaking, that means he designs and uses instruments that can measure incredibly small amounts of radiation and light.

His primary project for the last four years has been the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE), a telescope on the Herschel Space Observatory, which was launched in 2009.

The Herschel is winding down its mission as it runs out of liquid helium to cool its instruments, but its 25,000 hours of studying the universe have already led to 250 peer-reviewed articles, a better understanding of the galaxy and spin-off businesses in the Lethbridge area.

Naylor himself was instrumental in establishing Blue Sky Spectroscopy, a private company that has won several contracts from the European and Canadian space agencies and delivered complex instrumentation to leading research teams across the planet. And the SPIRE's legacy is still in its infancy. Astronomers will analyze the prolific telescope's legacy of data for years to come.

Dr. Robert Sutherland

Rob Sutherland's day job is as a professor and chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's department of neuroscience, but his public profile this year has come as a result of his role as president of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations.

CAFA represents academic associations at the province's four research-intensive institutions (��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ).

They were all hit hard in the provincial budget in March, with cuts to their operating budgets of more than seven per cent. Sutherland was suddenly thrust into the limelight as a defender of tertiary education from both the budget cuts and the mandate letters sent to the institutions from Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk.

You can be sure the battle will continue for years as the provincial government continues its austerity measures and the universities fight to get their funding back up to – and beyond – prior levels.

The complete list of Alberta Venture's 50 most influential people for 2013 is available here.

Weeks reappointed with five-year term

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:03:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors today reappointed Dr. Daniel J. Weeks to a second five-year term as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's research vice president. The Board of Governors, as well as the review committee struck to make a recommendation to the Board, unanimously supported Weeks's reappointment.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues to evolve as one of Canada's leading comprehensive research and teaching universities of its size," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon. "Dr. Weeks has played a significant role in promoting and supporting the many research strengths in all of our faculties and has helped position the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for much future success."

In the past five years, the U of L introduced its first comprehensive research plan, has undertaken a renewed effort to focus its international activities and was recently named Canada's Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Year (Undergraduate Category) by Research Infosource.

Weeks was also instrumental in the creation of the Association of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities (ACCRU) - a new strategic partnership amongst small and medium-sized universities from across Canada that aims to improve collaboration amongst researchers and programs, allow universities to share best practices and enable institutions to respond to system-wide developments in a co-ordinated and timely fashion.

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Weeks is a cognitive psychologist and an internationally recognized expert on human motor control. He also has a research program focused on skill acquisition in persons with Down Syndrome.

Weeks has pioneered new brain imaging techniques to determine the impact of cerebral specialization and information processing on health and behaviour, among other projects. He previously served as a professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he also operated the PsychoMotor Behaviour Laboratory.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community mourns loss of Aoki

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:57:13 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community expresses its most sincere condolences to the family, friends colleagues and many former students of Dr. Tetsuo (Ted) Aoki, a respected teacher, school administrator, researcher, sessional faculty member at the U of L and a 1988 Honorary Degree recipient, who passed away August 31 in Vancouver, BC at age 92.

Dr. Aoki was the first Japanese-Canadian teacher in Southern Alberta, and a former school administrator with Lethbridge School District #51. He received his doctorate from U of Oregon and was a professor and Chair of Secondary Education at U of A. He also taught at UBC and at the U of L in summer courses.

The national "Aoki award in Canadian curriculum studies" is named for Dr. Aoki, who was a very influential Canadian curriculum scholar and a wise, humble and thoughtful mentor to many curriculum scholars and practitioners.

He was also a renowned and deeply loved teacher to many generations of students, student teachers, graduate students and professors at the U of L, in Alberta and British Columbia, and beyond.

Dr Aoki's memorial service will take place Sunday, September 9 beginning at 1 p.m. at Oceanview Funeral Home, 4000 Imperial St., in Burnaby, BC.

The family has asked that in lieu of floral tributes that a donation be made in the name of Dr. Aoki to the Department of Secondary Education, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G5.

McCormick the go-to resource for political information

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:20:10 +0000

Dr. Peter McCormick is a professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

In this episode, McCormick describes his involvement with the Tripolis Senate as well as his research and study of the Superior Courts of Canada and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

McCormick is one of Canada's foremost experts on the political process and is routinely featured in media circles when election issues come to the forefront. He is an excellent example of the expertise residing on the U of L campus.

U of L celebrates Fall 2011 Convocation

trevor.kenney — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:05:04 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Fall 2011 Convocation ceremony takes place Saturday, Oct. 15 in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, beginning at 10 a.m.

Among the honoured guests at this ceremony are the 358 graduands eligible to convocate, along with Honorary Degree recipients George Gemer and Dr. John Kloppenburg and Alumnus of the Year Michael Miltenberger. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.

Convocation will be streamed live on the internet for those not able to attend the ceremony. View a live webcast of all convocation ceremonies by following this link to the Convocation website. The web link is live approximately 10 minutes prior to the ceremony.

Following are brief biographies of our special honourees.

Dr. George Gemer, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa

A well-known Lethbridge track and field and fencing coach, Gemer is also an author and survivor of Second World War prisoner of war camps who fled Hungary for Canada in 1956. Gemer has coached and officiated at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and other world-class sporting events while retaining close ties to the Hungarian community in Lethbridge and beyond.

Read George Gemer's full Honorary Degree citation at this website.

Dr. John Kloppenborg, Doctor of Arts, honoris causa

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate (BA '74), he is a professor and Chair at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto's Department and Centre for the Study of Religion. Kloppenborg is well-known as a researcher of the origins and sources of early Christian texts such as the Q document, a lost book of the New Testament.

Read Dr Kloppenborg's full Honorary Degree citation at this website.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR HONOUR

Michael Miltenberger, (BA '75) Alumnus of the Year

J. Michael Miltenberger is the MLA for Thebacha, NWT, Deputy Premier and environmental advocate. He has been described as a northern visionary and a protector of northern values. His clear and thought-provoking approach has significantly impacted a variety of projects in areas ranging from health services to wildlife and endangered species.

Read Michael Miltenberger's complete Distinguished Alumnus of the Year citation at this website.

First MMus graduate -- Acacia Doktorchik (BMus '09 distinction, MMus '11)

The U of L will also welcome the first graduate of a Master of Music program. Acacia Doktorchik has performed as a soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah and Bach's Magnificat with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, as well as being an accomplished pianist, cellist, and Celtic and Highland Dancer. She is currently teaching in Medicine Hat, Alta.

Read more about Acacia at this website.

Senate selects honorary degree group

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:17:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate has confirmed six deserving individuals to receive an Honorary Degree at Convocation ceremonies taking place in the spring and fall. Following are short biographical sketches of this year's honorees.

Maude Barlow
Barlow is a widely published author, leader in the International Water Justice Movement, senior advisor on water to the 63rd president of the United Nations General Assembly and the founding member and national chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

Clint Dunford
Dunford is a business consultant and four-term member of the Alberta Legislature (Lethbridge West) who was instrumental in the creation and launch of Campus Alberta and WorkSafe Alberta, among other initiatives. A cancer survivor, Dunford served as the honorary chairman of the Canadian Cancer Society's Walk for Life.

George Gemer
A well-known Lethbridge track and field and fencing coach, Gemer is also an author and survivor of Second World War prisoner of war camps who fled Hungary for Canada in 1956. Gemer has coached and officiated at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and other world-class sporting events while retaining close ties to the Hungarian community in Lethbridge and beyond.

John Kloppenborg
A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate (1974), he is a professor and Chair at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto's Department and Centre for the Study of Religion. Kloppenborg is well-known as a researcher of the origins and sources of early Christian texts such as the Q document, a lost book of the New Testament.

Kim Phuc
Phuc is a noted humanitarian and subject of the famous photograph of a young Vietnamese girl fleeing her village after a horrific napalm attack. Phuc founded the Kim Phuc Foundation and is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for a Culture of Peace.

Gordon Semenoff
A Pincher Creek-born theoretical physicist, Semenoff is a professor of physics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia. He was the 2010 Bertram Brockhouse medal winner and is a renowned expert on quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, statistical mechanics and string theory.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Saucier to leave U of L for dean appointment

trevor.kenney — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:25:54 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Dr. Deborah Saucier, professor and Chair, Department of Neuroscience, will be leaving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ next year after accepting the position of Dean of Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

Saucier has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ since 2006, joining the U of L as a Canada Research Chair and associate professor. She then progressed to the position of professor and then Chair of the department in 2009. Her appointment at UOIT begins July 1, 2011.

"On behalf of her many colleagues on campus, I would like to congratulate Dr. Saucier on her prospective appointment and wish her the best for her family and her future career in this new role," says Dr. Chris Nicol, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Nicol says Saucier has been an outstanding colleague since joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"She has served as director of the Canadian Centre of Behavioural Neuroscience and, more recently, as Chair of the Department of Neuroscience. In addition to a prodigious record of achievement as a scholar and teacher, she also has distinguished herself with recent service to the Faculty Association as Chair of the Academic Welfare Committee. She will be greatly missed on our campus."

Located in Oshawa, Ont. and founded in 2002, UOIT hosts more than 7,500 undergraduate and graduate students on two campuses.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) is delighted to have Saucier join its team.

"Dr. Saucier has a proven track record of attracting research funding, investing wisely in her department and ensuring its success by providing opportunities for everyone to succeed, regardless of where they are in their career," says Dr. Richard Marceau, UOIT Provost. "We are looking ahead to Dr. Saucier's arrival at UOIT as our second dean of the Faculty of Science."

Saucier is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience. She received her PhD in psychology from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario (UWO) in London, Ont. and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at UWO in 1995.

Saucier spent three years as a faculty member in Psychology at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina and then in 1999 she accepted a position at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where she was an associate professor of Psychology.

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:45:27 +0000

Allied Arts Council honours the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge took centre stage at the 2009 Mayor's Luncheon for Business and the Arts on Sept. 10 when the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was honoured as the winner of a 2009 Allied Arts Council (AAC) Award for Excellence as the local service organization that has significantly enhanced the arts in the community of Lethbridge.

In total, three awards were handed out, including one to an individual, one to a service organization and one to a local business.

(Once again) Steacy duo wins

In August, U of L track and field star Heather Steacy won gold at the Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown, P.E.I. With the furthest throw of 59.92 metres, Heather dominated the hammer throw competition, winning by more than six metres.

Also this summer, Heather's brother Jim Steacy added to his international track resumé, winning the silver medal in the hammer throw at the 2009 Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia.

Jim completed his Pronghorn career as one of the most decorated track athletes in Horns history, compiling nine Canada West and nine Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) medals, including 16 gold, and was undefeated in the weight throw versus CIS competition over his career.

New Ingenuity centre boosts information technology

The first of its kind in the world, Alberta's newest Ingenuity Centre is working with entrepreneurs and researchers to use real-time geographical information to address global challenges in resource management.

The new centre, Tecterra, is one of five Alberta Ingenuity Centres for Research and Commercialization that focuses on technology and research to build more sustainable industry practices.

Built on a partnership between the provincial and federal governments, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, Tecterra will tap into the research excellence across the province, allowing resource companies to work with innovative technology companies and the research community to develop world-class solutions to industry challenges.

The more than $50 million investment includes: $21.6 million from the Alberta government, $11.6 million from the federal government, as well as a further $20 million anticipated from industry and other partners.

Among Alberta's 50 most influential people

Dr. Bruce McNaughton was named one of Alberta's 50 most influential people by Alberta Venture magazine in July.

McNaughton, one of the world's experts in neurophysiology, joined the U of L's Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) last fall as the inaugural recipient of the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Polaris Award – a 10-year, $20 million research grant.

A sterling past, a golden future

This year the School of Graduate Studies celebrates 25 years. When the School first emerged, it offered a single master's degree in education. Since then, it has developed into a centre for graduate studies in the arts, health sciences, humanities, sciences and social sciences. This fall, the School implemented two new graduate degree programs in the creative arts through a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Music.

On Oct. 16, the School will celebrate this milestone with a special dinner with guest speaker Son Soubert, who is currently a member of the Constitutional Council of Cambodia and a professor at the Faculty of Archaeology of the Royal ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Phnom Penh. Soubert has worked to establish responsible politics in Cambodia and has worked extensively to help children, including the establishment of two orphanages.

Charting a new course

Dr. Daniel J. Weeks assumed the position of vice-president (research) in July, a position Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick held for the last 10 years. Weeks joins the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge after more than a decade at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he was a professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, and operator of the Psychomotor Behaviour Laboratory located on the Burnaby campus.

Weeks brings a well-constructed plan for research development to the U of L, with a particular interest in raising the profile of the institution through strategic partnerships and projects.

"There's a tendency for many institutions in Canada to chase available research funding. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has taken a much more thoughtful approach," says Weeks. "The initiatives the U of L has pursued are significant and will have staying power. There's true leadership here and careful consideration about the direction the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ should go – which tells me that Lethbridge is a place where big ideas can come to fruition."

To stay up-to-date on what's happening at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, visit the U of L's official online news centre at: www.ulethbridge.ca/unews

Lasting Legacy: Yosh Senda

On Sept. 9, 2009, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community mourned the loss of Dr. Yosh Senda (LLD '89), a respected leader, long-time member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community and legendary supporter of judo in Canada.

Senda is credited with establishing judo in Lethbridge. He was instrumental in developing the Lethbridge Judo Club and the U of L Judo exchange program with Japan. He remained an active coach at the Lethbridge Judo Club and served as coach and manager of the U of L Judo Club.

With a ninth degree black belt, Senda was the highest-ranking judo black belt in Canada. He instilled in his students that judo is more than just a physical exercise for the body – judo is a way of life.

His philosophy: "You can better yourself by always showing respect for others, and to always give it your best in whatever you do."

In addition to a long list of awards and achievements, Senda was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada in 2007 in recognition of his contributions to the development and expansion of judo in Canada as a coach, mentor and role model for more than five decades.

New Community Sports Stadium kicks off

The spirit of the Pronghorn is legendary. It's a spirit that lives inside everyone who has ever worn our blue and gold, and it now lives within the new Community Sports Stadium – a place that fosters a healthy community and team pride.

Built on a partnership between the City of Lethbridge, the Government of Alberta and the U of L, the estimated $12 million multi-purpose, public-access facility, officially opened on Sept. 25 and 26. Equipped with an artificial field for football and soccer, a natural practice field, a synthetic 400-metre track and bleachers for 2,000 fans, the stadium will meet the sporting needs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's athletic programs and those of southern Alberta for many years to come.

Charting a new course

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:36:48 +0000

Dr. Daniel J. Weeks is an explorer in every sense of the word. When he isn't busy in the lab pursuing new discoveries in the areas of cognition and motor performance, or pioneering brain imaging applications for individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges, Weeks can often be found at the helm of his sailboat out on the waters of the Georgia Strait. Whether his passion for discovery was born in academia or on the open seas, one thing is certain: Weeks' innate desire to continually explore new frontiers makes him an ideal choice for the position of vice-president (research) at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Weeks joins the U of L after more than a decade at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he was professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, and operator of the Psychomotor Behaviour Laboratory located on the Burnaby campus. With an academic background in kinesiology and psychology, Weeks' research focuses on the mental processes involved between perception and action in goal-directed behaviour, particularly in relation to people with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism. Weeks is very well connected within the international Down syndrome community and is strongly committed to improving the lives of people with the disorder. He is a member on the board of Down Syndrome International and was co-founder of the Down Syndrome Research Foundation in Vancouver – a facility that has become one of the most highly regarded research and imaging labs of its type in the world.

"Dr. Weeks is well known on both sides of the border at all levels of the academic and research community," says U of L President Dr. Bill Cade.
"His work not only helped to build research capacity and attract significant funding at SFU, it positively affected many lives. We're very pleased that Dan has chosen to join our team, and we look forward to having him in the U of L community."

Weeks brings a well-constructed plan for research development at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, with a particular interest in raising the profile of the institution through strategic partnerships and projects. He feels that the U of L is well positioned to take on an even greater research role in many disciplines on both national and international fronts, thanks in large part to the strategic approach the university has taken toward research initiatives thus far.

"There's a tendency for many institutions in Canada to chase available research funding. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has taken a much more thoughtful approach," Weeks says. "The initiatives the U of L has pursued are significant and will have staying power. There's true leadership here, and careful consideration about the direction the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ should go – which tells me that Lethbridge is a place where big ideas can come to fruition."

Weeks plans to leverage local, provincial, federal and international research opportunities for the U of L across all disciplines, maintaining the balance between the Faculties that helped to draw him to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the first place. He cites international recognition for studies done in a diverse range of disciplines as a major factor in his decision to join the U of L.

"It's no surprise that Lethbridge is a world leader in neuroscience, in water research, in the arts and social sciences – in as many disciplines as it is, because liberal education is respected and fostered here," Weeks says. "Our diversity is a great strength. If all of the Faculties can continue to advance together, the U of L will be stronger for it."

In addition to pushing existing research initiatives forward and facilitating the groundwork for more, Weeks plans to bolster the service infrastructure at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to ensure projects have the support they need to succeed. He sees the size of the U of L as a major advantage in this regard.

"We'll have to keep up with the momentum," Weeks explains. "We can't just be successful – we have to be able to manage the success. The U of L is nimble because of its size, and things often get done with a phone call and a handshake that might take months of paperwork elsewhere."

Weeks intends to work closely with the School of Graduate Studies in order to build programming that will attract students to research programs, noting with emphasis that studies don't happen without bright young minds to conduct them.

"We're building something here; we're setting precedents," he says, with clear excitement. "We're creating policy and pushing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ forward. That's the great thing about research – it never ends. There's always a way to take things to the next level."

Weeks looks at taking research to new heights

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:03:08 +0000

Dr. Daniel J. Weeks knows he's inherited a very good situation as the new vice-president (research) for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. He also understands that, as far as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has progressed as a research institution, only the surface has been scratched.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has established a world-renowned reputation in specific areas such as neuroscience, epigenetics and water research and I'm committed to trying to reach out to all parts of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with respect to research," says Weeks. "We have yet to really showcase our people in health sciences, the arts, social sciences and the humanities and their time is now and it's my job to do that."

Weeks comes to the U of L after more than a decade at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he was professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, and operator of the Psychomotor Behaviour Laboratory located on the Burnaby campus. He looks at the U of L as an incredible opportunity.

"Part of the lure for me has to do with the fact that my own strengths, with a background in psychology, kinesiology and to some degree neuroscience, seem to match up well with the current strengths here," he says.

"What sold me completely on this place is when I came for an interview and met the senior administration team. They are fantastic and truly operate with a team mentality. My impression is they aren't so much worried about their own individual accomplishments as they are concerned about the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge doing well, and that told me I could get something accomplished here."

His successes at Simon Fraser, where he guided a research portfolio that grew 10-fold during his tenure, mirror the groundbreaking growth that his predecessor, Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick, achieved at the U of L. Now, Weeks will strive to build on that foundation.

"These are big shoes to fill, Dennis has done a phenomenal job," Weeks says. "I think he did what was so necessary at the time, carving out niche areas of strength, for which Lethbridge now is both a national and international player.
"We're at a point in our development where there's enough expertise distributed across campus that I don't need to get out in front of these initiatives, rather I need to facilitate the fantastic people who have been hired."

While post-secondary education across the country struggles with the reality of difficult economic times, Weeks says the U of L is uniquely prepared for such challenges and will not pull back to protect its assets. Furthermore, well-designed growth is sustainable through any economic difficulty.

"Lethbridge has been very mindful and very careful in its growth, and it has been solid growth," says Weeks. "The economy is tough, but I think we're going to come out the other side of this a better institution."

He likes where the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is in its development, still young and small enough to react quickly to changing circumstance but on the verge of something much broader.

"I think we're right on an interesting tipping point. We probably grew and got to the place we are by being more of a nimble, handshake kind of place. We're at the point now where we need the kinds of policies and practices that allow us to move into that larger university role, because we're right there," Weeks says.

"There's a balance between trying to stay small but thinking big."

GET THE FACTS

• A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., he earned his undergraduate degree at Windsor ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, a master's at McMaster ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, his PhD from Auburn ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and did his post-doctoral work at Purdue ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

• An avid sailor, Weeks owns a sailboat that he takes out on the waters of the Georgia Strait. He just welcomed his dog, a sheltie, to Alberta after friends were able to bring her out from the west coast.

• New to the workings of post-secondary education in Alberta, he says he's amazed at the interaction between the provincial government and the U of L. "There is a great interplay between government and higher education. Everything here is an Alberta strategy, whereas in other jurisdictions it's more a university strategy. Here, it's how does the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's priorities fit into where the province wants to go?"

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