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.

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."

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Loewen appointed dean of Faculty of Education

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Loewen ready for challenge

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