Lakehead names Dr. Moira McPherson as Provost and VP (Academic)
Dr. Moira McPherson, Lakehead University’s newly-appointed Provost & Vice-President (Academic).
Thursday, December 18, 2014 – Thunder Bay, ON
Lakehead President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson is pleased to announce that the University’s Board of Governors has appointed Dr. Moira McPherson as the University’s Provost & Vice-President (Academic). As the chief academic officer at Lakehead University, she leads academic planning, development, and internal operations.
“Dr. McPherson has played integral roles in the development of our organization throughout her career at Lakehead,” states Dr. Brian Stevenson. “I am very pleased to be able to continue to work with someone who is so strongly committed to the learner-centred experience and exceptional education our students deserve.”
Dr. McPherson began her career at Lakehead University in 1987 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Athletics. She holds a PhD specializing in Applied Biomechanics and is regularly sought out for her scholarly and professional expertise in applied kinematic and biomechanical skill analyses by both national and international organizations.
Following seven successful years as the Director of the School of Kinesiology, Dr. McPherson became the University’s Associate Vice-President (Academic) and then took on the role of Deputy Provost in 2011. Dr. McPherson led the development and implementation of the Academic Plan, the University’s transition to the Institutional Quality Assurance process, efforts to increase student mobility and college transfer pathways, and most recently the development of the University’s Strategic Mandate Agreement proposal.
As Lakehead’s newest Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Dr. McPherson will broaden her contributions to the senior management team, building on her experience as the University’s Acting Provost & Vice-President (Academic), Acting Vice-President (Research, Economic Development & Innovation), and Interim Provost & Vice-President (Academic).
Dr. McPherson says she’s excited to continue to work with her colleagues across campus to expand initiatives that improve our students’ learning experiences and their access to the knowledge that a thriving research culture provides.
“I look forward to finding ways to enhance instructional effectiveness in small and large classes, and build engagement with our students within and beyond the traditional classroom. We need to find the best ways to develop hybrid, online, and telepresence course pedagogies that will expand program delivery on both campuses and beyond.”
“This position provides me with a wonderful opportunity to continue to make a difference to the well-being of our students, but also to further develop an academic environment where our amazing and committed Lakehead faculty and staff can flourish.”
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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 its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.
Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2nd in Ontario and 3rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.
Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.