UNews - Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Kingston

Nicol appointed ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian

trevor.kenney — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 16:11:57 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has named Dr. Christopher J. Nicol as its new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian, an appointment that took effect on July 1, 2013.

Nicol, the former Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, had been serving as Acting ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian since Sept. 1, 2012. He took that position in the wake of former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian Alison Nussbaumer's move to the role of Interim Dean, Internationalization.

"Chris Nicol's service to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as Dean of Arts and Science has been both remarkable and exemplary," says Bob Boudreau, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Vice Provost. "His contributions in advancing the Faculty of Arts and Science will be felt for years to come. Building on this legacy, we are absolutely thrilled that Chris will continue to serve and lead the U of L in his new role of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian."

A native of Scotland, Nicol earned his master's and PhD in economics at Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Kingston, Ont., before spending 16 years as a professor of economics at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina. He arrived on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus in 2001 and assumed his duties as a professor in economics while also serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. He will continue on as a professor of economics in the Department of Economics while serving as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Librarian.

An esteemed researcher, Nicol's interests are in econometrics, applied econometrics and the theory of consumer behaviour. He is also keenly interested in macroeconomic policy debates, especially those arising in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008.

Nicol is also an accomplished swimmer, having competed internationally and at the post-secondary level for Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. In 1985, Nicol won both the 100-metre and 200-metre breaststroke events at the inaugural World Masters Games in Toronto.

Advocate for aboriginal development

trevor.kenney — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:19:19 +0000

Most people move away for university and don't necessarily move back. Sara Mainville isn't most people.

Not only did she return to her home community, but she did so in order to assist with some of the daily struggles common to First Nations populations.

Mainville, who earned her BA in public administration and management arts from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 1991, is from Couchiching First Nation in northwest Ontario. She now works as a lawyer and a legal consultant focusing on cases of indigenous law, environmental protection and community development.

Lawyer Sara Mainville works to strengthen the Couchiching First Nation.

"I've always been looking at everyday ways to try to strengthen our community," Mainville explains. "I grew up knowing about treaty rights and I was always told that we were very rich people. But the actual reality was that we were all living in poverty. We're still faced with a lot of those social factors that have become typical of a First Nation setting."

Much of her current work involves direct contact with the both the federal and Ontario governments to promote the Anishinaabe (Ojibway) community's rights, in regards to mining and general land use. Mainville says there are many challenges within the greater effort but, because of the younger generation's increased knowledge of the issues, there is definite hope for change.

"I see a lot of the younger people coming up with a real awareness of their environment," she says. "I think they have a better understanding of what stewardship is, what sustainability is."

Mainville knew she wanted to assist her community by attempting to eliminate barriers, so she decided to pursue an education. This wasn't common in the Couchiching First Nation when she was younger but she says there are a lot more people attending post-secondary school now.

"The education gap between my First Nation and the neighbouring municipality has really narrowed. I tried to create a path for other people to that," she says.

Mainville, who went on to earn a law degree at Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Kingston, Ont., and then a master of law at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto before returning to northwest Ontario permanently, still credits her time at the U of L with helping to focus her career on social responsibility.

"I've kept in touch with some of the other alumni from Lethbridge and I think we all share the same values. It set the standard for me individually. We all went back to our communities and focused on community development, especially in the corporate field."

For more information on the Faculty of Management, follow this link.

Condolence Notice -- Elijah de Guzman

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:37:22 +0000

July 27, 2009
The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community expresses its most sincere condolences to the family, and friends for the late Elijah de Guzman, who passed away as the result of a drowning accident on the Oldman River on Wednesday, July 22.

De Guzman, 27, was most recently enrolled in the New Media program at the U of L, and was known to be a hardworking student who was just beginning what looked to be a prosperous career as a New Media technology innovator.

While at the U of L, he developed a 3D Computer simulation for speech – showing how the lips and tongue are positioned to create different sounds.

Professor James Graham recalls him saying he was inspired by wanting to help his mom learn English. The simulation would probably have great practical applications for speech therapy and language instruction.

Elijah is survived by his parents, Rod and Enonie, and two siblings: Lezar, 21 and a U of L student, and Leia, 19, who attends Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Kingston, Ont.

At this time there is no confirmed date or location for a memorial service. This notice will be updated once that information becomes available.

A complete story from the Lethbridge Herald is available at this website:
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/79705/26/

Athletics helped shape Misak's future

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:28:44 +0000

To attend or not to attend: that is the question — unless of course you are Interim Vice President and Provost at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto Dr. Cheryl Misak (BA '83). The question then, of course, becomes moot.

"My mother was a school teacher and it was pretty clear that we would be attending the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," remembers Misak. "Education was very important in our home."

It was a love of athletics, however, that would indirectly change the course of Misak's life. Born and raised in Lethbridge, Misak graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1979, and began attending the U of L with plans on becoming a lawyer.

"In my first term I wanted Fridays off so I could go on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's ski club trips and play in tennis tournaments, so I only chose Tuesday/Thursday classes," explains Misak. "I had one gap in my schedule and filled it with a philosophy class. I had no idea what philosophy was, but almost from the first day I realized that I really liked it."

Dr. Michael Kubara, Misak's first philosophy professor at the U of L, was very influential in Misak's education.

"He was great; he didn't mince words and was suitably hard on me. It was just what I needed. When I wrote a sentence that didn't make very much sense, he would tell me and then help me re-write it. He taught me how to write. Teaching someone how to write is teaching them how to think," says Misak.

A very dedicated student, Misak was involved in all manner of projects that went beyond the classroom. This gave her more than a valuable education that opened her thinking, but some administrative experience as well.

"At that time the Albertan philosophers would get together for a conference once a year. When it was Lethbridge's turn to host, I ended up doing a lot of administrative things that are unusual for a graduate student to do," recalls Misak. "Without graduate students to compete with, the keen undergraduates got a lot of attention. That was wonderful."

In 1983, Misak graduated with a bachelor of arts in philosophy with great distinction. She also won the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Gold Medal. Following graduation, she moved to New York City and earned her master's degree at Columbia ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. In her second year at Columbia, Misak became the recipient of a Rhodes scholarship, which eventually took her to Oxford ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in England.

"At Oxford I worked with fantastic people and met people from all over the world. I also met my husband there," says Misak.

She and her husband, Dr. David Dyzenhaus, taught briefly at Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Kingston, Ont., before moving on to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Toronto in 1990. Since the beginning of her career at the U of T, Misak has quickly moved up the ranks as professor of philosophy, Chair of the philosophy department, dean of the Missassauga campus of the U of T, acting vice-president and principal of the Mississauga campus, and then deputy provost of the U of T as a whole and into her current position.

Kubara is not surprised by her success.

"Cheryl had all-wheel drive with low range for plowing through the roughest going. She had a naturally disarming manner of getting her way," says Kubara. "While still at Oxford, her husband David and I predicted her destiny as a wonderful university administrator — a counter example to The Peter Principle."

It seems that Kubara and Dyzenhaus may have a future in fortune telling, because for Misak there seems to be no ceiling to her ascent.

GET THE FACTS

• Misak and husband, David, have two children, Alex and Sophie, and often travel together on sabbaticals to South Africa, England, Germany and New Zealand

• Misak's numerous academic awards include: U of T Student's Administrative Council Award; Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship; Recipient of five SSHRC Grants

• She has three published books and is currently writing another on American Pragmatism

UNews - Queen's ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ in Kingston

Nicol appointed ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ Librarian

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UNews - Queen's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Kingston

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