UNews - Craig Loewen

Board of Governors reappoints Loewen as dean of Faculty of Education

trevor.kenney — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 20:58:19 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has approved Dr. Craig Loewen as Dean of the Faculty of Education for a five-year term effective July 1, 2017.

“The reputation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Education is second to none and Dr. Loewen’s stewardship of this faculty has been impressive,” says Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin. “The education landscape in Alberta and beyond is evolving constantly and I am confident that Dr. Loewen will continue to position the Faculty of Education as a leader in meeting these challenges for the benefit of the communities we serve.”

Dr. Craig Loewen is a long serving faculty member, U of L alumnus (BEd ’84) and mathematics education expert whose research includes how students learn and how teachers can promote and enrich student learning.

Loewen is a long serving faculty member, U of L alumnus (BEd ’84) and mathematics education expert whose research includes how students learn and how teachers can promote and enrich student learning. He holds a Masters of Education (1987) and a PhD in Philosophy (1992), both from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta.

Loewen has been recognized by his peers at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and in the education community for his efforts to be an excellent teacher and mentor. He has received the U of L's Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Educational Research Award from the Alberta Teachers’ Association, which acknowledged his involvement in pre-service and in-service mathematics education.

Additionally, he was appointed a Friend of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and was inducted into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society in 2011.

Loewen first served as interim dean of the Faculty in 2010, before being appointed as dean in 2012.

New combined degrees program brings new media and education together to further engage students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:20:58 +0000

With career and technology studies (CTS) in schools evolving to a more creative media design and communication focus, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has recognized a defined need for teachers with new media skill sets by creating a new combined degrees program.

The new combined degrees program will give educators a greater skill set to meet the needs of today's young learners.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media/Bachelor of Education combines the best of two worlds, bringing the latest new media technology, tools and techniques to today’s young learners.

“We are very excited about this new curricular partnership with the Faculty of Education. This new option creates another pathway for fine arts students with an interest in new media and fills an important need in the K to 12 system,” says Dr. Ed Jurkowski, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.

“The CTS program is absolutely essential in today’s schools,” says Dr. Craig Loewen, dean of the Faculty of Education. “The range of curricula addressed enhances schools’ abilities to meet the needs and varied learning styles of their students, provide tangible and applied learning opportunities and build real connections with people and businesses in the surrounding community.”

Students who attend the U of L on a full-time basis need five years to complete the combined degrees and graduate with two degrees, a Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media and a Bachelor of Education.

New Media courses introduce diverse materials, technical skills and a range of new media areas including graphic design, web design and development, interaction design, 3D modelling, animation, gaming, photography, narrative screenwriting, digital audio and video production, and historical and contemporary new media theory.

The U of L’s Faculty of Education is renowned for consistently producing excellent teachers. At the heart of the Bachelor of Education are three professional semesters, providing practical experience through supervised placements in schools. The U of L’s 27 weeks of practicum offers some of the most extensive classroom experience in the country.

This new Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media/Bachelor of Education option may be of interest to a variety of audiences including new students who begin in the Faculty of Fine Arts and then apply to the Faculty of Education after meeting Education’s admission requirements; current students already enrolled in Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media; and alumni with a Bachelor of Fine Arts – New Media, who can now apply to the Bachelor of Education program as a second degree.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Mrazek

trevor.kenney — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:19:08 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community wishes to express its most sincere condolences to the family, many friends and colleagues of the late Dr. Richard (Rick) Mrazek, our associate dean, Faculty of Education and a veteran educator, who passed away on Sunday, Mar. 17.

He is survived by his mother, Mary-Rose, and daughter, Kristen. Rick had a personalized license plate on his car that read DAD1DR2, so it was quite evident where his priorities were.

His boundless energy and enthusiasm for life, his family and education will be sorely missed on campus and among the many groups Rick touched.

"Rick was a wonderful man, an accomplished scholar, and a strong promoter and defender of this faculty, this institution and its programs," says Dr. Craig Loewen, the dean of the Faculty of Education.

"More importantly, he was a devoted son and father, and a dear faithful friend. He will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his family at this very difficult time."

A natural teacher, Mrazek's influences in the education community extended from the grade three classes he once taught in Coaldale to being internationally recognized as a leading science, technology and environmental educator.

Mrazek's contributions over the past 30 years helped establish sustainable environmental and conservation education programs in the K-12 schools, post-secondary institutions, parks, and communities throughout Alberta and Canada.

Most recently, Mrazek was an enthusiastic champion of a cross-Atlantic Ocean trip organized by Olympian Adam Kreek who, with three colleagues, is presently rowing across the Atlantic and scheduled to arrive in Florida in late March/early April.

His work with the Canadian Wildlife Federation on the curriculum and educational components of this project were particularly meaningful to him, partly because of his love of water, but also because of the enthusiasm with which young students embraced the educational concepts he was talking about and, in turn, became excited about learning.

Mrazek was a proud U of L graduate (BASc/BEd '78), member of the U of L Alumni Honour Society and Alumnus of the Year (1993) who obtained his MEd and PhD from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. He began his academic career at he U of L in 1986 as an assistant professor.

A memorial service is not confirmed at this time. More details will be released when that information is available.

Mrazek kept an online CV which is quite extensive and can be viewed at this website: http://richardmrazek.com/

Additional obituary information will be added as it becomes available.

Condolences may be sent to the family in care of the Faculty of Education.

Please e-mail darcy.mckenna@uleth.ca

Loewen appointed dean of Faculty of Education

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 22:14:17 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has, after a national/international search, confirmed the appointment of Dr. Craig Loewen as dean of the Faculty of Education.

Loewen is a professor within the Faculty of Education and was serving as interim dean since Dr. Jane O'Dea's decade of service as dean ended in 2010. Loewen is a long serving faculty member, U of L alumnus (BEd '84) and mathematics education expert whose research includes how students learn and how teachers can promote and enrich student learning.

"Dr. Loewen is a highly-respected educator and researcher who has held a number of administrative positions within the faculty in addition to maintaining an active teaching and research portfolio," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's vice-president (academic) and provost.

Loewen has been recognized by his peers at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and in the education community for his efforts to be an excellent teacher and mentor. He has received the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Educational Research Award from the Alberta Teachers' Association, which acknowledged his involvement in pre-service and in-service mathematics education. Additionally, he was appointed a Friend of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association and was inducted into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society in 2011.

Education, for Loewen, seems to be the equivalent of a family business. He joined the Faculty of Education in 1987, the year his father Arthur, also a long-term U of L education faculty member, retired. His three sisters are educators as well, either in the public school system or in post-secondary settings.

Faculty of Education always keen on strengthening the program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:49:00 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Education is embarking upon a unique partnership with students and alumni to better understand and further strengthen the Faculty's academic program.

"This teacher education program has always been successful," says Dr. Thelma Gunn, assistant dean, Student Program Services. Why it has been successful, however, has never been formally researched.

"We want to know specifically what components of the educational program had the most impact on pre-service teachers—and then how those components were eventually perceived out in the field."

Dr. Thelma Gunn and her colleagues recognize the Faculty's academic program cannot rest on its laurels.

Data collection will initially be survey-based, with interviews and possibly focus groups developing as the study progresses.

"We'd like to start with individuals who would agree, even in ED 2500, to be tracked as they go into PSI, II, III, and then out into the profession."

A major facet of the initiative will be feedback from graduates.

"We value what they know and understand about being a teacher. Now we want to find out more information about how our on-campus components contributed to their development as a teacher," says Gunn.

"Alumni can provide at least two important ideas for us," adds Dr. Craig Loewen. "One is reflection on what parts of their program had the greatest impact on their teaching career. The other is current experience in the field and advice on what new we might need to add."

Although the program has changed over time, the study isn't limited to recent graduates.

"It's mostly the academic portion that's changed, not necessarily the feeling," says Gunn. "We don't know specifically what people have valued. It might be the personal experiences they had here—the small groups, the collegiality, the professors who were committed to developing teachers."

Veteran teachers often see trends that newer teachers can't, she notes, and may have "something intriguing to state in terms of how the program could move forward."

"We're interested in anyone who was a graduate of the faculty," says Gunn, "even if they use their BEd in another capacity. Then there are people who've left the profession altogether. Why they left is equally interesting to us."

"We're just really interested in what students and alumni have to say about the overall program. If there was something good we want to keep it, and if there was something they think could have been done differently, we want to know. We're looking for genuine, authentic perceptions of the program."

For more information, contact: edu.sps@uleth.ca

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:46:20 +0000

Chancellor named Citizen of the Year

Widely known as one Alberta's most influential people, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor Richard Davidson was recognized in May as the Lethbridge Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Herald.

"Clearly in his law practice, his work with the Chamber of Commerce, his work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and his work with virtually every other volunteer organization you could imagine, this is one cool dude," says Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck, who also presented Davidson with a key to the city. "This is the highest honour we can bestow upon anyone, and Richard is extremely deserving."

Davidson was appointed a Queen's counsel in 1986 and is a partner at the law firm of Davidson & Williams. In recognition of his many contributions to the community, he has received numerous awards including the Commemoration Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Governor General, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Community.

U of L at forefront of water hub

World Water Day, on March 22, served as the perfect occasion for federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice to announce $1.5 million in funding for the creation of the Water and Environmental Sciences Water Hub at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Hub, which will be developed over the next two years, will serve as a data repository and will be an authoritative public source of information, providing tools to analyze water and environmental data. This data will be used by governments, industry, academia and the public to make more-informed decisions regarding water, and will create a better understanding of this resource by these stakeholders.

Prentice explains that the government needs reliable water data to make better decisions concerning water.

"To make good decisions, governments in Canada need good information – and it's not as though you can just turn on a tap to get it. We need knowledge generated by scientists and researchers who can provide the evidence for informed decisions about freshwater use," says Prentice.

Ellis welcomed as new management dean

On July 1, Dr. Robert (Bob) James Ellis will join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the new dean for the Faculty of Management.

Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Ellis is an accomplished administrator who successfully bolstered business programs at both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia and Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

With a collaborative and visionary approach, he has a strong record of attracting accomplished faculty and raising the research profile of programs. His current research focuses on increasing educational opportunities in society, specifically for aboriginal students in a business environment.

Ellis is looking forward to the creative atmosphere he sees within the Faculty.

"Throughout my career, my focus has always been to try and increase opportunities for students through the development of new courses or new programs," says Ellis. "The faculty at the U of L are very innovative, and I think at the forefront of management thought and action."

Ellis succeeds Dr. Murray Lindsay, who spent the past five years in the position and is returning to the academic community at the U of L.

Education dean O'Dea passes leadership to Loewen

After 10 years of incredible success, Dr. Jane O'Dea will step away from her role as dean of the Faculty of Education at the end of June. And while she is handing the reins of leadership over with plans to return to the classroom, she has no plans to leave the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Dr. Craig Loewen

"Absolutely not. This is a tremendous ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I love its size, I love its entrepreneurial innovative spirit and its emphasis on community and student engagement," says O'Dea.

Taking over the Faculty, Dr. Craig Loewen (BEd '84) will serve as acting dean for a two-year term.

A veteran faculty member, Loewen admits he will miss the classroom, but stands firmly in a belief that whatever the setting, teaching is an important calling.

"You're looking after the path, building for the future, caring about the kids of today. I find it really hard to see anything much more important than that," he says. "The person who you are can, at some point, be traced back to a teacher or mentor."

CREATE funding translates to employment opportunities

On June 10, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) announced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the recipient of the CREATE program award. The U of L will be the only institution in Alberta to receive the award this year.

With more than $1.6 million, the CREATE program award provides funding for approximately 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates working in satellite and other imaging programs, including photonics, climate change, civil engineering and optical networks.

Through the program, 20 projects will receive $32 million over six years, support that will help science and engineering graduates upgrade their skills to make a successful transition to the workplace.

As part of this, participating students will complete work placements with local, national and international organizations including companies such as Iunctus Geomatics, the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Corporation, Natural Resources Canada, NASA and several European research institutes.

U of L Vice-President of Research Dr. Dan Weeks says this will give students a strong mix of professional skills development and workforce preparation.

"The exciting aspect for me is the employment rate for graduates," says Weeks. "It isn't unreasonable to expect 100 per cent employment, because we are looking at this as a model that will provide for sustainable training for research workforce preparation."

Top 40 Under 40

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, a biological sciences and epigenetics researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, can now add recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM to an already long list of accomplishments.

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk

Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM, a prestigious national award program, annually honours 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors under the age of 40.

With more than 1,200 nominees, honourees were selected by an independent advisory board based on five key criteria: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.

"This is an outstanding award for Olga, the members of her lab team, for her research collaborators here and literally worldwide – and for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says U of L President Dr. Bill Cade.

"Olga has worked very hard to bring new research and new programs to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and has influenced countless young researchers. With her husband and research collaborator, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, they have brought new people with a wealth of international talent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. It is an understatement to say that we are extremely proud of her achievement."

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair, as well as a Canadian Institute of Health Research Chair in Gender, Sex and Health, Kovalchuk focuses her research on the effects of long-term exposure to radiation, and how that exposure changes cellular and molecular structures in animals and people.

Inspired by her experience as a high school student living in Ukraine, only 600 kilometres from the nuclear Chernobyl blast, her work examines how radiation induces secondary tumours in cancer patients, the different effects radiation has on women and men, and what can be done to protect the children of radiation-exposed parents from contracting cancer.

Kovalchuk has also played a key role in working toward establishing an Alberta Institute for Epigenetics at the U of L.

Sakamotos give back

Ron and Joyce Sakamoto

Ron Sakamoto (LLD '03), or "Sak," as he is affectionately known, has presented shows from KISS to Shania Twain. In March, the concert provider and his wife, Joyce, announced a $200,000 donation in support of students in the U of L Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program. The gift will be matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total to $400,000.

Launched last fall, the DAA program is the first of its kind in Canada and produces graduates who are experts in music technology and have skills to integrate with visual media, audio and advanced research.

"The role of audio across all media has changed monumentally from the traditional broadcast media of the past. The culture of audio and visual media is growing and evolving rapidly," says Sakamoto.

"Joyce and I are happy to support students in the DAA program. These are the people who will be superstars in the years to come, and I look forward to the contributions this group will make to the music industry."

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Loewen ready for challenge

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:58:40 +0000

When Dr. Craig Loewen (BEd '84) discusses stepping into the role of acting dean, Faculty of Education, he harbours no illusions.

"The worst job in the world is following somebody who's been incredibly successful, but there you go," chuckles Loewen, who has been appointed for a two-year period.

It's a sense of humour that has served Loewen well over the years and one of the reasons the immensely respected and accomplished mathematics education expert is being tabbed as the one to follow in the footsteps of departing dean, Dr. Jane O'Dea.

"Jane has done an outstanding job leading the faculty for 10 years," says Loewen of O'Dea, who is returning to the faculty ranks. "The place is in great shape, our programs are solid, and we've got an excellent reputation and an outstanding faculty delivering our programming. From that perspective, it should be both interesting and fun working with the people we have in place."

The Loewen name is synonymous with the Faculty of Education. His father Arthur was an education faculty member and part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ from its inception in 1967 through his retirement in 1987.

"We actually overlapped by one meeting," says Loewen. "The year he retired was the year I started, so the Faculty of Education has never been without a Loewen in 40-some years of history."

He takes over a faculty that is definitely in a position of strength, all the while acknowledging that the financial demands facing post-secondary institutions complicate matters.

Loewen isn't completely new to the position, however, having served previously as interim dean. That experience gave him the opportunity to work at the administrative level and he enjoyed the collaborative atmosphere. What he'll miss are his teaching duties.

"I won't pretend otherwise, yes, it'll be tough to give up teaching because I absolutely do love it," he says. "On the other hand, people who love teaching need to be doing this kind of work to protect that opportunity for others."

UNews - Craig Loewen

Board of Governors reappoints Loewen as dean of Faculty of Education

Related Topics

New combined degrees program brings new media and education together to further engage students

Related Topics

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Mrazek

Related Topics

Loewen appointed dean of Faculty of Education

Related Topics

Faculty of Education always keen on strengthening the program

Related Topics

Significant And Mentionable

Related Topics

Loewen ready for challenge

Related Topics

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mourns passing of Mrazek