UNews - accomplished researcher

Brown named associate VP

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 May 2011 18:03:43 +0000

Dr. Lesley Brown (Kinesiology and Physical Education) is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new associate vice-president, research, a role she assumed officially on May 1 after having served in the role of assistant vice-president, research since January 2010.

An accomplished researcher, she joined the U of L in 1997 following her post-doctoral studies at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Oregon, and focuses her research on the aging process, balance, falling, fear of falling and Parkinson's Disease.

Dr. Lesley Brown brings a wealth of experience to her new role as associate vice-president, research.

Most recently, she and her team have been studying the effect of music on walking abilities in patients with Parkinson's Disease, and exploring fear of falling as a risk factor for falls in the elderly. She continues to supervise masters and doctoral candidates.

"I am very pleased that Dr. Brown has accepted this position," says
Dr. Dan Weeks, the U of L's vice-president, research. "Her experience with provincial and federal funding will be a key asset to the U of L. The extent of accountability and compliance required by governments and funders has increased significantly and Dr. Brown will lead the internal responses to these challenges."

Weeks says that Brown's familiarity with the campus community, and with cross-departmental collaborations, will be of significant value to the U of L as the institution moves forward. "Many funding opportunities involve working on projects that might bring very different research disciplines together," says Weeks. "Lesley has a great ability to connect with people and help move ideas forward."

Brown says that her main priorities are to finalize the Strategic Research Plan, in addition to being a point of contact for faculty members.

"I am very pleased to have been selected for this position, and I am looking forward to continuing planning and implementing the new research initiatives that I have been working on. I will also be looking forward to sharing our Strategic Research Plan with faculty in the near future."

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Meet the next U of L president: Dr. Mike Mahon

trevor.kenney — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:37:41 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will embark upon a new era in July 2010 when Dr. Michael J. (Mike) Mahon officially assumes the role of U of L president and vice-chancellor.

Poised to become the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's sixth president, Mahon will succeed Dr. Bill Cade, who has held the post since 2000.

"This is a very exciting opportunity for me and my family," says Mahon, who will come to Lethbridge with his wife, Maureen. The couple has three grown children.

"My greatest impression so far with the U of L is the people. They have been genuine, and they've really wanted to connect with Maureen and myself in a personal way, and that's fundamentally why we're so excited about this opportunity."

Mahon comes to the U of L after serving two terms as dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. A vigorous proponent of physical activity for people of every age and ability, he holds a PhD in education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MSc in physical education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and a bachelor of physical education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba.

An accomplished researcher, Mahon has worked with, and conducted research for, the Canadian Special Olympics organization and Right to Play, a non-profit group that supplies sports equipment and support to children in developing countries.

"I've always been interested in the extent sport and play influence the social integration and quality of life of people with disabilities," says Mahon.

His reputation as a personable, community-minded individual, coupled with an outstanding research record and proven leadership abilities made him the ideal candidate for the position.

"We were looking for an individual who would not only embrace the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's ideals as a community of scholars and leaders, but who could also continue to engage our students and the broader community on a regional, national and international scale," says Robert Turner, Chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors.

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

Joining the U of L family

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:31:21 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community was introduced to its next President just prior to the Christmas break, and if the enthusiastic reception he received during the announcement is any indication, Dr. Mike Mahon is a very popular selection.

The Winnipeg, Man., native and most recently Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, was accompanied by his wife, Maureen, as he symbolically accepted a blue Pronghorns men's hockey jersey from Dr. Bill Cade, whom he will be succeeding officially July 1, 2010.

"I don't think my heart has beaten this fast since the birth of my third child . . . and that was 20 years ago," Mahon said as he addressed a crowded Atrium. "It's good to get the heart going."

Mahon, a vigorous proponent of physical activity for people of every age and ability, would know. He holds a PhD in Education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Science in Physical Education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and a Bachelor of Physical Education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba.

The move to Lethbridge and the U of L is one he and his family are anticipating.

"A big part of making such a big decision is where you're going to live. We always said that if we were to leave the U of A, we would only go somewhere that was obviously a good fit academically but also an interesting place geographically. We see Lethbridge as fitting that bill," he says. "Living closer to the mountains is exciting because we both like to ski, we also both run and do all sorts of outdoor things so we see the U of L and Lethbridge as providing a wonderful outlet for those interests."

Mahon is quick to credit departing president Cade for the work he has directed over the previous decade and is enthused about the direction the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is headed and the blueprint laid out by the institution's strategic plan.

"I had always known the U of L as being terrific at educating undergraduate students, but I really learned over the past few months how it has emerged as a research intensive university with a commitment to moving more in that direction," Mahon says. "That's a very important direction for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and something I'm very excited about."

An accomplished researcher, Mahon has worked with, and conducted research for, the Canadian Special Olympics organization and Right to Play, a group that supplies sports equipment and support to children in developing countries.

"I've always been interested in the extent sport and play influences the social integration and quality of life of people with disabilities," he says.

His body of work has included more than 250 presentations, workshops, lectures and publications including more than 90 articles in refereed journals, book chapters and books. His wife Maureen is also a dedicated educator who specializes in early childhood development issues.

Regarded as personable and community-minded, Mahon identifies with the personal approach championed at the U of L.

"My greatest impression so far with the U of L is the people," he says. "They have been genuine and they've really wanted to connect with Maureen and myself in a personal way, and that's fundamentally why we're so excited about this opportunity."
GET THE FACTS

• Mahon and his wife Maureen have three children, Katie (23, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta graduate and assistant manager of a local Edmonton business), Brennan (21, currently studying physical education at the U of A) and Seann (20, currently pursuing a bachelor of arts at the
U of A).

• Maureen has an education degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, a master's in early childhood development from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba and has worked as an early childhood consultant with the Edmonton Catholic School Board the past two years.

• Mahon says he would like to continue his research interests at the U of L but recognizes they may take a back seat as he transitions to the role of President.

• Mahon will continue to supervise his current PhD student through his defence, likely in
Dec. 2010.

• An avid sports enthusiast, Mahon says his sons will reap the benefits of his move to the
U of L. "They're pretty excited because now that I'm a Pronghorn, they get all of my Golden Bear golf shirts."

UNews - accomplished researcher

Brown named associate VP

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Meet the next U of L president: Dr. Mike Mahon

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