Lakehead University Provost Announces Two Decanal Renewals
February 4, 2014 – Thunder Bay, ON
Lakehead's Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Dr. Rod Hanley, today announced the renewal of two of our University's deans: Dr. Lori Livingston, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, and Dr. Gillian Siddall, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
"These decanal renewals are in recognition and response to the dedication and contribution these individuals have made to their respective faculties and Lakehead as a whole," said Dr. Hanley. "In a time of increased importance in post-secondary education, universities need to retain those in key positions whose strategies and philosophies only serve to benefit our students and the future of academia.”
Of her renewal, Dr. Livingston said, “I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to continue to work with the many talented faculty, staff and students associated with the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. Building upon a rich history of educating the next generation of health professionals and scientists, the Faculty has made great strides over the past five years in adding new degree and diploma programs and enhancing its research capacity. With growing public engagement and interest in areas such as mental health, healthy aging, and social justice, the Faculty remains well positioned to effect positive change for some time to come.”
Dr. Livingston, B.A.-B.P.H.E. M.Sc. (Queen’s University), Ph.D. (University of Calgary) is a Full Professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at Lakehead University. Since beginning her career as a university professor in 1991, she has held several leadership positions including that of the Director of the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University, Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University, and Assistant Coach with the Canadian Women’s Senior Field Lacrosse Team. Dr. Livingston is currently the Vice Chair of the Board for the NorWest Community Health Centre and a Board Member of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. A physical educator, biomechanist, and statistician by training, she is also an active researcher with current projects focused in the area of injury prevention, physical activity, and sports officiating.
Responding to her renewal, Dr. Siddall, who has been with Lakehead University since 1998, said, "I look forward to working closely with the Faculty to further develop a vision for the next five years that articulates and enhances the Faculty’s strengths, particularly in research and teaching excellence. This is a strong Faculty with a bright future, and I welcome this opportunity to lead the Faculty to continue to realize its tremendous potential.”
Dr. Gillian Siddall was born in Hamilton, and has lived in Dundas, Northern Ireland, London, and Guelph. She earned her HBA and MA at the University of Guelph and her Ph.D at Western University. Dr. Siddall joined Lakehead’s Department of English in 1998, and served as founding Director of the University’s Instructional Development Centre (2005–2009) before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities in 2009. Her research interests include representations of improvisation in Canadian literature and the use of a software interface to facilitate music making for people with limited mobility.
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Media: For more information, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years (Fall 2013) and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine's West Campus, Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1st in Ontario and 2nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Our Orillia campus is the first in North America to be built entirely to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. Share your Lakehead story as it relates to our Strategic Plan at www.lakeheadu.ca/presidents-office/nurturing-passion, and learn more about Lakehead at www.lakeheadu.ca.