Lakehead University to welcome first Fulbright scholar

Dr. James Hollenbeck in Simcoe Hall

Lakehead University welcomes visiting Fulbright scholar, Dr. James Hollenbeck, to the Orillia campus this fall, where he will conduct research and teach with the Department of Sustainability Sciences. Dr. Hollenbeck is a professor of Science Education and Coordinator of Science Education at Indiana University Southeast.

September 16, 2015 – Orillia, ON 

Lakehead University is hosting its first Fulbright scholar this fall with the arrival of Dr. James Hollenbeck at the Orillia campus.

Dr. Hollenbeck comes to Lakehead from Indiana University Southeast’s School of Education through Fulbright Canada’s Visiting Research Chair Program, which is designed to encourage mutual understanding between Canada and the United States through academic and cultural exchange.

As the recipient of the program’s Visiting Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Sustainability Solutions, Dr. Hollenbeck will work with Lakehead Orillia’s Department of Sustainability Sciences for the fall term.

“We look forward to having Dr. Hollenbeck at Lakehead,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “He will make an excellent addition to the campus. His insight and experience will be of great benefit to our students, staff and faculty.”

One of Dr. Hollenbeck’s areas of research focus is on how to integrate environmental sustainability into a school curriculum. He is especially interested in how best to meet the changing needs and demands of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for students in Canada and the U.S.

While at Lakehead University, Dr. Hollenbeck’s project will address questions about STEM education and environmental sustainability that will bring Canadian and American educators together. His research will involve Lakehead University, local community schools and the community at large. In addition to his research, Dr. Hollenbeck will teach a course in Environmental Sustainability for Society while at Lakehead.

"The appointment of Dr. Hollenbeck as the first recipient of the Fulbright Canada – Lakehead University Visiting Research Chair in Environmental Sustainability reflects Lakehead’s growing leadership in the area of sustainability and its commitment to developing a more nuanced appreciation for the critical social and ecological challenges that face modern societies," said Dr. Michael Hawes, CEO of Fulbright Canada.

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MEDIA:  For more information, please contact New Media Communications Coordinator, Derek Desroches, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2021 or ddesroch@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.