UNews - ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ welcomes Dr. Rebecca Schiff as new Deputy Provost

trevor.kenney — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:13:19 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is excited to introduce Dr. Rebecca Schiff, a transdisciplinary scholar and administrator whose research spans the fields of health sciences, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences, as its new Deputy Provost.

Dr. Rebecca Schiff comes to ULethbridge from an appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia (UNBC).

Schiff comes to ULethbridge from an appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Human and Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). In that role, she led the Schools of Education, Nursing, Social Work and Health Sciences, as well as the Department of Psychology. Prior to her time at UNBC, she held teaching and administrative positions at Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, including Professor of Indigenous, Rural and Remote Health and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

“Dr. Schiff is a highly respected researcher and administrator whose scholarly work over the course of her career aligns closely with the values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge,” says Dr. Michelle Helstein, Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “Her research interests have focused on the public good and specifically on rural and northern health and health care, while her administrative work champions themes of equity, inclusivity and collaboration. We see her as an excellent addition to our senior leadership team who will offer a valuable perspective to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

Schiff is a graduate of McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, first earning a Bachelor of Music and then earning a Diploma of Environment with a graduate thesis from the McGill School of Environment. She completed her doctorate at the Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy at Murdoch ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Australia.

She describes her disciplinary expertise as broad and embracing a liberal education approach to learning.

“My doctoral program was interdisciplinary, with intersections across numerous disciplines,” says Schiff. “Upon returning from Australia, I was based in Western Canada, where I worked extensively with diverse urban, rural and Indigenous communities around issues related to poverty, homelessness, food security, women’s health and social service systems.”

Schiff would go on to work as a faculty member at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina, with positions in the Department of Geography and Department of Justice studies. Her career would then take her to Memorial ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ where she worked in Indigenous Health with the Faculty of Medicine, based out of Memorial’s Labrador Institute. In 2014, she began her term at Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. She has been at UNBC since 2022.

Schiff’s research work has included funding from a wide array of sources, including the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). She has been a principal or co-applicant on 50-plus research projects totaling over $12.5 million in grants and has authored/co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications. She has also produced two books, with her most recent — Health and Healthcare in Northern Canada — considered a major contribution to scholarship in this field.

“Her inter- and transdisciplinary approach to scholarship in the field of public health, coupled with a strong record of leadership success in a variety of administrative roles is a great addition to our team,” adds Helstein.

The Deputy Provost supports the Provost in establishing innovative initiatives to further the goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and to provide assistance to the team of vice-presidents, deans and other direct reports to support programming and activities that further strengthen the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s student-first culture. Schiff’s five-year term begins May 1, 2024.

Lapadat breaks ground on student role

trevor.kenney — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:23:11 +0000

Being in on the ground floor is a comfortable position for Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's first associate vice-president (students). It should serve her well as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ carves new ground with a position dedicated to student success and enhancing the student experience.

"I had an opportunity to start with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia when it was just a hole in the ground in 1993," says Lapadat, a native of Smithers, B.C. "I did a lot of program development and building during those first 11 years in Prince George and that's one of the things that really intrigues me about this position, the opportunity to be involved in building and developing something new."

Dr. Judith Lapadat is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's first associate vice-president (students).

Reporting to the vice-president (academic), Lapadat will oversee the Registrar's Office and Student Services. By creating the role, the U of L is making a major step forward as it continues to devote resources to better serving its students.

"There's a big gap between talking about it and actually doing it," says Lapadat of the pledge to continually enhance the student experience. "There is a long history of very good services for students here but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is going through a renewal process when it comes to our view of students and how to serve them better. At present, student services are somewhat fractured and spread all over the place."

Lapadat sees a great opportunity to better co-ordinate these services, to consolidate them so that students have a one-stop shopping experience and to build communication bridges between Faculties and departments responsible for student services.

"I think it needs some renewal, probably because it was designed for a much smaller student body. It's almost as if it has grown organically and now it's time to take another look at how we best meet the needs of students 20 or 30 years after that original conception."

Lapadat's experience at UNBC had her involved in developing the School of Education, masters' degree programming, and the Bachelor of Education program. When she later took on the role of Chair of UNBC's Northwest Region, her emphasis was placed on student service needs, blended learning and developing a broad array of community-based programs. She worked closely with marginalized student groups and had the opportunity to develop relationships between multiple campuses.

"I'm really interested in the development of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's northern campuses," says Lapadat. "Having come from a regionalized university, I have a good sense of how that can work and be effective. I also want to reach out to students who haven't been as large a component of the student body, such as international students, aboriginal students, and mature learners, and to help expand graduate student enrollment."

She has been charged with a broad portfolio, and it's one she's excited to tackle. She's also enthused about living in Lethbridge and the possibilities it holds. An accomplished painter and poet, Lapadat sees inspiration in the landscape.

"It does intrigue me," she says. "The years that I lived in Regina I was quite actively painting and this area offers a lot of opportunities."

She and her husband have a blended family of five children, the youngest of which is their 18-year-old son who is in Lethbridge for the summer and entering his second year of studies in the fall.

"I'm happy to join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Lapadat. "I've been impressed with the people. They have a huge commitment to this university and it's an exciting environment to come into."

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

RiboWest Conference, June 10-13

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:14:34 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is once again serving as host to the annual RiboWest Conference, inviting some of the top researchers in the field of RNA to campus.

The RiboWest Conference is an annual meeting of RNA researchers from western Canada and beyond. In particular, it welcomes whole research groups to attend the conference, with several opportunities available for young researchers in a friendly and supportive setting.

The meeting serves as an excellent opportunity for researchers to network, establish new collaborations and have fun sharing their enthusiasm for RNA.

The first RiboWest Conference was organized in 2005 by Stephen Rader at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, B.C. Since 2008, the annual conference alternates between Prince George and Lethbridge.

For more information on the 8th Annual RiboWest Conference, visit this website.

Lapadat named first VP Students

trevor.kenney — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:28:21 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Dr. Judith C. Lapadat as the institution's first associate vice-president (students).

Lapadat is currently a professor in the School of Education, College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and the Chair of the UNBC Northwest Regional Campus, based in Terrace, B.C.

The associate vice-president (students) is a new position within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ administrative system, and reflects the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's commitment to student success and enhancing the student experience.

Lapadat will oversee the Registrar's Office and Student Services and will work closely with the Office of the Vice-President (Academic).

"We are very pleased to have Dr. Lapadat join our team," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's vice-president (academic) and provost. "She has a broad range of skills and experiences in teaching, research, course and program development as well as a keen understanding of the student services environment and student experience, which we expect will greatly assist the U of L as we reinforce our own student-centred processes."

Lapadat holds a PhD from Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (Education; Instructional Psychology, 1992) a master's degree from The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia (Audiology and Speech Sciences, 1983) and a bachelor of arts degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia (Linguistics, 1979).

Prior to her career as an academic researcher, teacher and administrator, Lapadat worked as a speech pathologist in public and private practice in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. She is the author or co-author of three books and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and, as an artist, has had her award-winning work exhibited throughout northern British Columbia.

As she transitions from her UNBC position, it is expected she will be on campus during the spring 2012 semester.

U of L leads way in establishing ACCRU

trevor.kenney — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:44:35 +0000

This story by Léo Charbonneau appeared in the Sept. 12 edition of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Affairs. It is re-posted here with their permission.

There is a new university group in Canada: the Alliance of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities.

Created at a meeting in Ottawa in June, ACCRU brings together the vice-presidents, research, of the smaller comprehensive universities in Canada that have "a strong commitment to research," said Dan Weeks, vice-president, research, at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The creation of the alliance is in part a reaction to the group known as the U15, which advocates on behalf of what it calls "Canada's 15 leading research universities."

A graphical representation of ACCRU.

That group, previously called the G10 and then the G13 before it expanded to its current 15 members, has given those institutions "a strong unified voice for consultation and lobbying activities on their behalf," said Dr. Weeks.

However, ACCRU is not meant to be a lobbying group, he stressed. Rather, the aim of the new alliance is to discuss the challenges and issues that these smaller universities face, and to pool resources and best practices with like-minded colleagues.

"If we do have advice and things that have policy implications, the route would be through either AUCC [Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada] or our individual presidents," he said.

Dr. Weeks set the ball rolling for the new group with a letter he sent to colleagues this past January.

The letter reads in part: "There are a number of unique challenges associated with conducting world-class research at Canada's small institutions. Effectively meeting these challenges and ensuring that research investments made in our institutions are of maximal benefit to all Canadians prompts me to suggest that Canada's 'small' research universities might benefit by informal discussion of the merits of forming a group or forum. This would give us the opportunity to discuss and react collectively to issues we face now or that will arise."

The response was "absolutely fantastic," said Dr. Weeks. "Everybody was excited about getting together." The respondents agreed on a date and venue for the event, and of the 25 universities initially contacted, 19 sent representatives to the Ottawa gathering – in most cases, either the vice-president or associate VP research.

While stressing that membership in ACCRU is "meant to be inclusive," Dr. Weeks acknowledged he had to come up with "some sort of algorithm" to choose who to invite.

He and William Bridger, a former vice-president at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Western Ontario, devised a plan. First, they said the university had to describe itself as a comprehensive university.

Second, they did a rough calculation of the percentage of tri-council funding that each university receives, and "there was a pretty obvious breakpoint, and so we invited everybody below that line," said Dr. Weeks.

But he added, "I really wouldn't put too much stock in this 'who's in, who's out' type of thing. It's really more about the scope of your operations and would you benefit from being at these discussions."

The attendees to the Ottawa meeting "talked a lot about faculty recruitment and, related to that, the general perception of small universities by the public and by other institutions," said Dr. Weeks.

They also discussed research ethics, infrastructure, animal care, research centres and institutes, contracts, "and all the things that we have to fulfill in terms of policies and regulations" but often with far fewer resources than the larger universities, "so we have to be more clever about how we get some of these accomplished."

Katherine Schultz, vice-president research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Prince Edward Island, attended the meeting and said the conversations "were frank and open." She noted that, unlike vice-presidents, academic, there is no national meeting for VPs research, so this group "fills a gap that many of us perceived. … It's a forum for information exchange that didn't exist."

André Manseau, dean of research at Université du Quebec en Outaouais, said it was "very enriching" for him to have his colleagues share their experiences. "We face many similar issues," he said. "Our offices are of relatively modest size and we don't have a lot of specialized personnel."

The ACCRU members agreed to meet again in Ottawa in early December, before the annual Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's leaders meeting (of senior university administrators who serve as points of contact with the council).

The alliance also created three working groups that will report at the December meeting: one looking at best practices, one on governance of the group itself, and a third tasked to craft a mission statement.

Universities represented at the ACCRU meeting in June:

* Acadia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Bishop's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Brandon ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Brock ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Cape Breton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Lakehead ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Nipissing ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Saint Mary's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Thompson Rivers ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Trent ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
* Université de Moncton
* Université du Québec en Outaouais
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Prince Edward Island
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina
* ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Windsor
* Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

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.

Faculty of Management introduces Ellis as dean

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:16:30 +0000

Believing that the foundation of a successful business begins by developing strong interpersonal relationships, Dr. Robert James Ellis is looking forward to taking on his new role as dean of the Faculty of Management at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, an institution rooted in its personal approach.

"I have always found people to be the most interesting aspect of business," says Ellis. "So much of business and so much of administrative work involves building relationships with other people, with students and with faculty members. I've had the opportunity to meet with both students and faculty at the U of L and I was tremendously impressed by how forward looking and enthusiastic they were. The innovative things the faculty are doing, both in their research and in their programs, has me very excited about the future."

Ellis, who is taking over for Dr. Murray Lindsay as he returns to the academic community, comes to the
U of L from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia where he has served as Chair for the School of Business since 2005. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles over the span of 24 years at Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, including associate dean of business: faculty development and research. Ellis takes up his new position at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on July 1, 2010.

"Dr. Ellis is known as someone who is a strong recruiter of talented faculty, and is adept at creating an environment that both supports excellence in teaching and innovative research," says Dr. Bill Cade, the U of L's President and Vice-Chancellor. "He has displayed a unique skill of being able to develop relationships with the business community and subsequently integrate those affiliations into the creation of original programming."

With a background in psychology, Ellis gained the notion that he could marry his field of study with the business world by following the lead of his masters' advisor, who held a joint PhD in business and psychology. It led him to focus his research interests on issues related to management and organizational behaviour, leadership skills, group dynamics and motivation.

"I focused on the human side of business rather than on the numbers side," says Ellis. "Topics such as teamwork, motivation, leadership – those were always my areas of interest, and I think that's why I went into administration. I've always been able to work well with people and so much of administrative work is about building relationships with other people."

A father of two, his sons have followed in his footsteps, each gravitating to one aspect of his research personality. One son is set to graduate from UNBC in May with a degree in finance and marketing while the other is completing a psychology degree.

Ellis looks to the U of L as a place of incredible opportunity. He enters the Faculty of Management as it is poised to take up residence in the brand new Markin Hall building.

"Markin Hall will be a wonderful place to study management education, and for management educators, faculty and staff to work together and exchange ideas about how to create new programs and courses for our students," says Ellis.
His current research interests are also uniquely suited to the southern Alberta area.

Keen on creating increased opportunities for students, Ellis is particularly interested in opening the business world to the aboriginal population.

"One of the things I've been thinking about very much is how we can increase access for aboriginal peoples within our business programs," he says. "The number of students pursuing business who are aboriginal is very low all across Canada, and I think it's important to increase their opportunity to study."

Ellis named new Dean of Management

trevor.kenney — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:18:58 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has appointed Dr. Robert (Bob) James Ellis as the institution's new Dean, Faculty of Management. Ellis follows Dr. Murray Lindsay, who spent the past five years in the position and is returning to the academic community at the U of L.

Originally from Vancouver, BC, 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 track record of attracting accomplished faculty and raising the research profile of the programs with which he has been associated.

With an educational background in psychology, Ellis continues to conduct research in the areas of leadership, teamwork and creativity, and also writes business case studies to capture the issues confronting Canadian organizations. His current research focuses on increasing educational opportunities in society, specifically for aboriginal students in a business environment.

Currently, Ellis is on sabbatical from his role as Chair, School of Business, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia, a position he has held since 2005. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles over the span of 24 years at Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, including Associate Dean of Business: Faculty Development and Research. Ellis takes up his new position at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge on July 1, 2010.

Ellis says he is looking forward to becoming a part of the U of L and the creative atmosphere he sees within the faculty.

"I'm very excited to be joining the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and becoming Dean of the Faculty of Management," says Ellis. "I've had a lot of administrative experience in my career and my focus has always been to try and increase opportunities for students through the development of new courses or new programs. The faculty here are very innovative and I think at the forefront of management thought and action."

In addition to publishing numerous scientific articles, chapters, and research monographs,

Ellis has served as a visiting professor internationally, both at the Huazhong ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, and at Budapest ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Economic Sciences in Budapest, Hungary. A past winner of the Excellence in Case Writing Award, Case Track, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada Annual Conference, Ellis is a member of the Academy of Management, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada and the North American Case Research Association.

Ellis joins the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and specifically the Faculty of Management, at a keystone moment, as the U of L readies to open Markin Hall, the new home for the Faculty of Management.

"I think it will be a wonderful place to study management education, and for management educators, faculty and staff to work together and exchange ideas about how to create new programs and courses for our students," says Ellis. "It will also be a place of welcome for our community. Having a great facility provides a springboard for building relationships between colleagues and our community, and for developing innovative teaching and research programs."

Ellis holds a BA with first class honours in psychology from Carleton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (1974), an MA in psychology from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo (1978) and a PhD in psychology from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo (1981).

Final Dean of Management public presentation

trevor.kenney — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:48:14 +0000

The final public candidate presentation for the Dean of Management position is set for Monday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in W646.

Dr. Cynthia Simmons, Associate Dean, Haskayne School of Business, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, will present to a public audience this afternoon. Her one-hour talk is the last of three such presentations.

On Feb. 8, Dr. Robert Ellis, Professor, School of Business, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia was the first to present. Dr. Bernadette (Bernie) Schell, Professor, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology and President's Advisor on Cybercrime then presented on Feb. 10.

The new Dean of Management will take over for the departing Murray Lindsay in July.

Dean of Management presentation

trevor.kenney — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:40:33 +0000

The second of three public candidate presentations for the Dean of Management position is set for Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 3:30 p.m. in W646.

Dr. Bernadette (Bernie) Schell, Professor, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ontario Institute of Technology and President's
Advisor on Cybercrime will present to a public audience from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. She is one of three final candidates for the Dean of Management position.

On Monday, Feb. 8, Dr. Robert Ellis, Professor, School of Business, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia was the first to present. The final presentation is Monday, Feb. 22 when Dr. Cynthia Simmons, Associate Dean, Haskayne School of Business, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary will appear. That session is also from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in W646.

The new Dean of Management will take over for the departing Murray Lindsay in July.

UNews - ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ welcomes Dr. Rebecca Schiff as new Deputy Provost

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