UNews - office of the President

Dr. Digvir S. Jayas named as seventh ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president and vice-chancellor

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:19:42 +0000

Dr. Digvir S. Jayas, an internationally renowned agricultural engineering researcher, decorated professor and experienced academic leader, has been chosen as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s seventh president & vice-chancellor. Dr. Jayas will assume his new role on July 1, 2023.

Dr. Digvir S. Jayas, incoming ULethbridge president and vice-chancellor.

Jayas comes to ULethbridge from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba where he most recently was vice-president (research and international) for the previous 13-plus years. An accomplished researcher, Jayas is a former Tier I Canada Research Chair in Stored-Grain Ecosystems, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and in 2018 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for “his advancements to agricultural practices worldwide, and for his promotion of academic and scientific research in Canada.”

ULethbridge Board of Governors Chair, Dean Gallimore (BMgt ’84), chaired the search committee for the new president, saying Jayas excelled in all the areas the group identified as priorities.

“Throughout this process it became readily apparent that Dr. Jayas is an outstanding relationship builder who has an innate ability to bring people together, whether it be as a professor, researcher or administrator,” says Gallimore. “That he also conducts a research program of vital importance to the southern Alberta region and has continually gravitated to leadership roles within a comprehensive research university as well as external national agencies made him the ideal person to be at the forefront of the next era of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

Jayas conducts research related to the drying, handling and storing of grains and oilseeds and digital image processing for grading and processing operations in the agri-food industry. He sees his background aligning with the strategic directives of ULethbridge.

“Firstly, when I look at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, I see values that align with my values. This is a place that is committed to liberal education, committed to creating a respectful work environment for students, faculty and staff, and committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion,” says Jayas. “I also see a desire to continue to grow research and further impact society through this valuable work, enhancing opportunities for researchers and the undergraduate and graduate students they mentor.”

Born in India, Jayas earned a Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering at G.B. Pant ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, India. He came to Canada for his graduate schooling, first at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba (master of science, agricultural engineering) and then the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan (doctorate in agricultural engineering). He began his professional academic career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba as an assistant professor in the Agricultural Engineering Department in 1985.

As his career progressed, his reputation as an influential researcher and leading voice in agrology grew. He collaborated with researchers in several countries and has had significant impact on the development of efficient grain storage, handling and drying systems in Canada, China, India, Ukraine and the United States. He has authored or co-authored over 1,000 technical articles in scientific journals, conference proceedings, and books dealing with issues of storing, drying, handling and quality monitoring of grains and foods.

All the while, Jayas says he is guided by the simple principles imparted by his grandparents while growing up in India.

“I grew up on a farm and spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My grandfather instilled in me a strong work ethic and a desire to serve my community,” says Jayas. “Growing up on a farm, I learned of the issues farmers were facing so I wanted to work in an area where I could help solve some of those problems. My research has always been driven from the user perspective, the impact my work would have on the users of the results.”

Jayas and his wife Manju have been married for 40 years and have three sons and five grandchildren, all living in Winnipeg. He says he’s looking forward to connecting with the southern Alberta community upon his arrival in Lethbridge.

“Coming from a small town and a farming background, I’m really interested in coming to southern Alberta and an agricultural community,” he says. “I want to engage with the local community and continue to build the strong relationship the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has within southern Alberta. When our students come to university, through their education their lives are transformed, and they become global citizens and contributors to the betterment of society. That is something I am excited to be a part of and something the entire community can take pride in.”

The presidential search committee consisted of representatives from the Board of Governors, administrators, faculty and students. Jayas follows the tenure of Dr. Mike Mahon, who has served as president and vice-chancellor since 2010. A community welcome event for Jayas will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. in the Science Commons Atrium. The official presidential installation will take place as part of the Fall 2023 convocation celebrations in October.

NOTE: Phonetic pronunciation of Dr. Digvir Jayas is DIG-veer JA-yes

Fiat Lux an opportunity to speak to the community

trevor.kenney — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:13:30 +0000

It is hard to believe that summer has come to an end and we're back for the Fall 2011 Semester.

Welcome to all new and returning students, as well as staff and faculty. As much as the summer break seemed especially short this year, probably due to the fact we're just now enjoying summer-type weather, I am very excited to be starting a new semester.

There is a special kind of energy that's associated with the start of a new academic year, and I look forward to what lies ahead.

One of the goals I had when I started my Open Mike column last year was to keep the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community informed about what was happening within the Office of the President. I have always seen transparency as an absolute necessity in a university setting, and have strived to be open and clear about the major issues that affect our university.

The inaugural Fiat Lux Address is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre.

As we begin a new series of columns, I want to take that transparency to another level and further involve our university community in shaping the
U of L's future.

On Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre, I will be giving the inaugural Fiat Lux presidential address to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. I see this as a forum to talk to you about where we've been as an institution, where we are today and where I see us going and needing to go in the future.

It is important that you know about decisions that are made at the executive level and what challenges the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faces as it moves forward. The Fiat Lux talk will speak to where the U of L is in terms of student numbers, our budget and the challenges we see before us. There are external pressures that will affect our future, including issues such as government funding, the competitive educational landscape, the economy and even short and long-term demographic forecasts.

We have established strategic priorities and directives over the past few years and this address is a chance to examine what we've done to move these initiatives along. More importantly, I will speak to where I feel we need to be focused going forward and what we, as an emerging comprehensive institution, should aspire to achieve.

I intend to discuss such specific initiatives as an FNMI and community engagement strategy as well as philosophical questions such as current institutional structure and our aspirations as a Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

I expect the Fiat Lux address to serve as an important communication tool for the internal ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, and I see it as the start of a larger scale effort to further connect with our community on a more regular basis.

There are exciting things unfolding at the U of L this year and I urge everyone to come out on Sept. 28 so that we can discuss what I see as a time of unprecedented opportunity for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Mahon installed as 6th U of L President

trevor.kenney — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:06:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge officially installed Dr. Mike Mahon as its 6th President and Vice-Chancellor at a Friday, Oct. 15 Installation Ceremony in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gymnasium. The traditional affair featured a number of addresses from members of the U of L community as we officially welcomed Mike to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ family. The afternoon event concluded in a very non-traditional manner with a mob dance routine put on by students from G.S. Lakie Middle School. The routine is featured here in this video.

The complete text of Dr. Mahon's Installation address can be viewed by following this link.

Each month, Dr. Mahon writes an article for the Legend newspaper, an internal publication geared primarily for staff and faculty at the U of L. The article is titled, Open Mike, and discusses various happenings here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Following is the text from Mike's October column.

As well, for Dr. Mahon's biography, or for any information on the Office of the President, follow this link.

Open Mike - October

In the past few weeks I've had the opportunity to vacuum floors, pilot a street sweeper, get lost in a corn maze and assist in the delivery of a baby. Add in an engaging panel discussion about the future of Canadian universities and a fun run through campus and it gives you a sense of the breadth of experience you can gain at a liberal arts university such as the U of L.

President Mike Mahon continues to familiarize himself with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, its people and his role as President.

The first few months of my tenure as President have been fascinating. I have spent a lot of time trying to experience as much as I could here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, introducing myself to you and in turn, gaining an appreciation for the work you do on a daily basis. At times it has felt like an introduction, and at others it has been an initiation.

I appreciate the time you have taken to help me gain an understanding of the inner workings of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and the patience you have exhibited in teaching me some of the finer points of life at the U of L.

The caretaking staff was especially kind in their review of my vacuuming skills, while the crew in grounds was surprisingly confident in my ability to handle a street sweeper. Physical plant took me into the bowels of the building and gave me an education on what really keeps this university running, and Ancillary Services taught me about foods, beds and books, while the people in Health Sciences trusted me with the virtual delivery of a baby in their new Nursing Skills Lab.

My participation in the Arts & Science panel discussion on challenges facing Canadian universities was a very lively and thought-provoking exercise, as was the Team Jeopardy Challenge hosted by the Faculty of Management. The Faculty of Fine Arts gave me the opportunity to flex my acting chops in a drama class and try my hand at sculpting, while the Faculty of Education presented me with a host of student experiences and Human Resources led me into the heart of a corn maze. I also learned so much about how our library is changing to be a student focused learning centre and met many of our Pronghorn athletes at a breakfast for champions.

All of these experiences have been framed by my many opportunities to interact with our students, from SU breakfasts and Fresh Fest festivities to FNMI barbecues.
When you add in all the informal meetings I have had with units in the Registrar's Office, Financial Services, CRDC and the International Centre for Students, I have gained a real understanding of the deep commitment people on campus have for the work they do across a wide spectrum of disciplines.

As I approach my Installation address, I am enthusiastic in taking this new-found knowledge of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and moving from a phase of transition into one of action. That includes action committed to a learning environment centrally focused on a student-first attitude; action that is dedicated to building a comprehensive university across disciplines ranging from the social sciences to the sciences, humanities and fine arts; action dedicated to creating a person-first university environment for staff and faculty; and action dedicated to social responsibility and community engagement.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming Convocation and Installation events and furthering the discussion of our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's future.

Open Mike

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:47:16 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon chats about what's happening in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community

Welcome to the Fall 2010 Semester and welcome to my first opportunity to address you in the Legend.

The name we came up with for this column, Open Mike, represents exactly what I want to accomplish with this space. I see this as a forum where I can open the doors to the Office of the President and speak candidly to you, the faculty, staff and students of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

It has been a whirlwind two months since I officially began my role as President of the U of L, and in that time I have learned a great deal about this exceptional institution.

I have talked previously about my initial perceptions of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, how I was comfortable in the knowledge that it was a strong academic institution with a firm commitment to undergraduate education. I soon learned much more about the innovative research activities and outstanding and emerging graduate opportunities, but there is only so much you can glean from afar.

Now that I have had the opportunity to walk the campus and to meet those who make the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ engine run, I have gained a whole new appreciation for the U of L and have begun to understand what is the essence of this place – its people.

Getting the chance to meet the people of the U of L through the Coffee with Mike sessions, as well as the formal and informal meetings I have taken part in, has been illuminating. Talking with you, listening to you and seeing you in your roles as stewards of the institution is truly inspiring.

As I've come to meet with people throughout the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, I've begun to understand the commitment that individuals have to the U of L. Whether it's professors, researchers, people working in an administrative capacity, those in physical plant, building maintenance or grounds, I am struck by how fundamentally committed everyone is to the success of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and to the experiences of our graduate and undergraduate students.

Testament to that success has come in some amazing e-mails I have received from parents who have recently brought their sons or daughters to the U of L. They speak to the supportive and personal approach they've encountered progressing through the registration process. These testimonials speak to the level of professionalism and pride that exists throughout the various departments on campus.

This is a student-centred ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and it is my commitment to maintain that focus as we move forward.

The last two months have also been busy for me in terms of getting to know the southern Alberta community. The U of L connects with its community on so many fronts and maintaining positive working relationships with the City of Lethbridge, local school divisions, media outlets, the Chamber of Commerce, health-care providers and our many other stakeholders is essential.

The vibrancy that is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is real, and with our students now back, I look forward to an exciting semester of learning and discovery on campus.

UNews - office of the President

Dr. Digvir S. Jayas named as seventh ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge president and vice-chancellor

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