Dr. Andrew Dean, Lakehead's Vice-President, Research and Innovation, right, presented Dr. Wilson Wang with the Distinguished Researcher Award on Thursday.

March 9, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University’s Research and Innovation Awards of Excellence Reception was held on Thursday, March 9 to celebrate the exceptional achievements of researchers and students.

Dr. Wilson Wang from Mechanical Engineering received the NSERC Distinguished Researcher Award, the highest honour conferred by Lakehead for research and scholarly activity. 

“My research goal is to develop new technologies and intelligent tools for more reliable diagnostics and prognostics of the health conditions of engineering equipment, in real time,” Dr. Wang said.

His research could be used in the aerospace industry, for example, where airplanes are taken out of service after a fixed number of flight hours to undergo regular inspections. Often, the planes remain idle unnecessarily, because no faults are detected, Dr. Wang said, adding that one-third to one-half of the amount of money spent on maintenance in industry is wasted through these inefficiencies.

“This research would pinpoint faulty components, forecast the remaining useful life of the damaged unit, and schedule repair operations. These ‘smart’ systems could analyze data to adapt and improve their own performance, which would help Canadian companies improve production rates, reduce costs, and enhance their global competitiveness,” Dr. Wang said.

He received his BSc in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from Shandong University and MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University, both in China.

Dr. Wang also received his MEng in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto and PhD in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

He worked as a senior scientist at Mechworks Systems Inc. from 2002 to 2004, and then he joined the faculty of Lakehead University where he is now a professor in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr. Andrew Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President (Research and Innovation), said he is proud of the University’s researchers and students.

“Congratulations to all Lakehead University's researchers and students on your success and thank you for your hard work,” Dr. Dean said.

“Lakehead is developing a reputation as a university where exceptional research and innovation happens, and it’s because of your dedication.”

Dr. Dean also thanked all of the students and members of faculty and staff who helped make the 12th annual Research and Innovation Week a great success, as well as the sponsors, partners and funding agencies.

Award Recipients

Three Minute Thesis Awards

First Place: Pavlo Karasyuk, MSc, Physics

Second Place: Ayyappa Kumar Sista Kameshwar, PhD, Biotechnology

People’s Choice Award: Keri-Lyn Durant, PhD, Educational Studies

Graduate Student Conference Poster Winners

• CIHR Category Winner: Charlotte McEwen, Masters, Health Sciences

• NSERC Category Winner: Harutyun Poladyan, PhD, Biotechnology

• SSHRC Category Winner: Stephanie Campbell, PhD, Clinical Psychology

Senate Research Committee Awards

Contributions to Research Award

• Dr. Vicki Kristman, Associate Professor in Health Sciences – CIHR Category

• Dr. Pallavi Das, Associate Professor in History – SSHRC Category

• Dr. Jason Blahuta, Associate Professor in Philosophy – SSHRC Category

Distinguished Researcher Award

Dr. Wilson Wang, Professor in Mechanical Engineering – NSERC Distinguished Researcher Award 

Indigenous Partnership Research Award

• Improving End-of-Life Care in First Nations Communities: Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, research team members, Fort William First Nation, Six Nations, Naotkamegwanning First Nation, and Peguis First Nation. 

• Honourable Mention: Rehabilitation of Wild Rice Areas from Exotic Cattail Infestations. Dr. Azim Mallik, Dr. Peter Lee, graduate student Kristi Dysievick, Seine River First Nation.

Postdoctoral Fellows Poster Awards

• First Place: Francis Hane, Department of Chemistry

• Second Place: Maduraiveeran Govindhan, Department of Chemistry

Innovation Awards

• Student Innovation Award: Sai Swaroop Dalli, Biotechnology Research Program

• Faculty Innovation Award: Dr. Alla Reznik, Associate Professor in Physics

Canada Research Chair (CRC) Award

Dr. Charles Levkoe is Lakehead University’s newest Canada Research Chair (Sustainable Food Systems).  He received a framed letter and a pin from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.   

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Dr. James Green

February 27, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

When Dr. James Green was in high school he worked in an observatory with an Alvan Clark telescope, which stirred in him a passion for the final frontier – space.

“I thoroughly enjoyed looking into the sky at night and observing the beautiful planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies,” Green said.

“This sparked my interest to go in to the field of space science. When I went to the University of Iowa I knew from the very beginning I was going for a space science degree.”

Green received his PhD in 1979 and began working at NASA. When he became Director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division he couldn’t have known he’d help Hollywood make a movie that took place on Mars – The Martian (2015) – starring Matt Damon, whose character Mark Watney desperately tries to get off the Red Planet and return to Earth.

“Working with Ridley Scott’s team was an absolute delight. I believe the reason I enjoyed this so much was because Ridley really wanted the movie to have as realistic look and feel about Mars as possible. Once I understood what he wanted, then I was all in,” Green said.

His free talk at Lakehead University will describe the past and future of Mars and Venus, discussing whether they once contained life and if they could one day harbor life.

Planetary scientists have developed the capability to model how Venus and Mars have evolved since their birth and what may happen to them in the distant future, he said.

“It is important to note that the intensity of the sun’s light will continue to increase over time. The future for Venus then is clear. It will continue to be an ultra-hot world, devoid of life as we know it.” 

Mars is another story. “For Mars, however, as the intensity of the sun’s light increases it will continue to warm the planet until the carbon dioxide veneer over its northern polar cap sublimates, creating an enhanced greenhouse effect that will warm the planet and melt any remaining water ice—thereby producing a smaller ocean. Mars may once again become a habitable planet.”

Green said it is currently impossible to determine if Venus had supported any kind of life in its past without a long-term visit to the surface to study the planet more intensively.

“That’s also somewhat true for Mars, but perhaps Mars supported at least microbial life. Scientists don’t like to speculate, but because both planets appear to have had significant amounts of water oceans on their surface, many scientists believe that these are, indeed, habitable environments which could have supported some type of life in their past. All that still remains to be discovered,” he said.

For anyone who dreams of working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Green said NASA offers employment in all types of roles, and an internship program provides a wonderful learning and networking opportunity for students as well as educators.

Green’s free talk, part of Research and Innovation Week, will be on Wednesday, March 8 at 7:30 pm at Lakehead University in ATAC 1003. It’s called the Search for Life Beyond Earth in Space and Time. No registration is required.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments will be available. The talk will also be shown via livestream here: facebook.com/lakeheaduniversity/

Visit lakeheadu.ca/ri for more information about R and I Week.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

March 7, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

The Lakehead University Native Student Association (LUNSA) is excited to be hosting their 29^th Annual Powwow at the CJ Sanders Fieldhouse, March 10-12.

LUNSA is honoured to have the Whitefish Bay Singers as the Host Drum. Lakehead University students and the Thunder Bay community will gather together in celebration of Aboriginal culture and dance.  

Warm-ups will be held on Friday, March 10 from 6 pm to 10 pm. Grand Entry is scheduled for 12 pm and 6:30 pm onSaturday, March 11 with a Traditional Feast being served at 5 pm and the powwow will wrap up for the day at 10 pm.  Grand Entry is set for noon on Sunday, March 12 with the powwow ending at 5 pm.

LUNSA is a volunteer LUSU club.  Its goals are to promote the spirit of unity among Aboriginal students at Lakehead University through social, cultural, and recreational events in addition to promoting cultural awareness between club members and the greater Lakehead University student population.

The annual powwow is LUNSA’s signature event that showcases tremendous talent and entertainment, free of charge, while reinforcing traditional aspects of Aboriginal culture such as drumming, dancing, singing, and giving thanks.

Everyone is welcome to attend:

Agenda

Friday, March 10:
Warm-ups – 6 pm

Saturday, March 11:
Grand Entry – 12 pm and 6:30 pm
Traditional Feast – 5 pm

Sunday, March 12:
Grand Entry at 12 pm and Closing Ceremonies until 5 pm

• Master of Ceremonies: Ryan McMahon (Couchiching First Nation)
• Arena Director: Todd Genno (Biigtigong Nishnaabeg)
• Spiritual Advisor: Gilbert Smith (Northwest Bay)
• Host Drum:  Whitefish Bay Singers (Whitefish Bay)

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

March 7, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University is hosting an International Women’s Day panel to celebrate research by female faculty members over their careers.

“It will be very inspiring to hear from this talented group of women, two of whom are Canada Research Chair holders,” said Florence Bailey, one of the event’s organizers and the Manager of Industry Research Partnerships at Lakehead University.

Five researchers from various departments at Lakehead University will share their research accomplishments on International Women’s Day, Wednesday, March 8.

Bailey said the panel will celebrate the accomplishments of the University's female researchers and inspire others to plan out their career with research in mind.

At Canadian universities the percentage of female students attending at the undergraduate level is higher than male students. But at the university level there is still a higher male to female ratio in terms of professors and researchers.

“There is no evidence to suggest that there has been an active attempt to discourage women at a system level from becoming tenured professors or research chairs. However there are still barriers and biases that have been identified that limit the careers of highly trained and highly educated women. This represents a talent loss when it comes to research,” she said.

Bailey states that attending this panel will be especially beneficial for women who want to become researchers, and everyone is welcome.

“You will hear the passion these researchers have for the work they do and better understand their motivation and drive to continue to learn, to develop and to create new and innovative ways to address real life problems,” Bailey said.

Moderated by Dr. Connie Russell from Education, researchers will include Dr. Pam Wakewich from Sociology, Women's Studies, and the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research; Dr. Alla Reznik, Canada Research Chair in Physics of Molecular Imaging, from the Physics department and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute; Dr. Pauline Sameshima, Canada Research Chair in Arts Integrated Studies from the Faculty of Education; Prof. Karen Drake, Faculty of Law; and Dr. Michelle-Marie Spadoni, School of Nursing.

Registration is not required for the International Women’s Day Research Panel, taking place on Wednesday, March 8 from 9 to 10:30 am in the Faculty Lounge (UC 1029G).

For more information, please visit lakeheadu.ca/ri.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Chancellor Derek Burney stands proudly in front of the portrait unveiled in Senate Chambers.

March 2, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

A familiar face is now a permanent fixture of Lakehead University’s Senate Chambers.

Dr. Derek H. Burney, Lakehead’s eighth chancellor, proudly looks out from a portrait hanging next to the University’s seven previous chancellors. 

Since his appointment as Chancellor in January 2013, Dr. Burney has used his influence and experience as a diplomat, entrepreneur, and strategist to further Lakehead’s academic, political, and philanthropic endeavours.

“For four years, Dr. Burney represented Lakehead as a beacon of academic excellence in his hometown of Thunder Bay, and for that the University is very grateful,” said David Tamblyn, Chair of Lakehead University’s Board of Governors.

“Chancellor Burney has been an exceptional ambassador and has played a pivotal role in raising money for Lakehead University, and for that we thank him,” Tamblyn said. “His assistance and leadership have been tremendous.” 

Lakehead President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson announced that the University’s Electoral Board has conferred a special title to Chancellor Burney.

“Chancellor Burney has been an invaluable asset to Lakehead University and our students and alumni, and that is why the Electoral Board has bestowed upon him the title of Chancellor Emeritus,” Dr. Stevenson said.

“His portrait now hangs with honour alongside the many great Chancellors who have helped make Lakehead the exceptional place it is today,” Dr. Stevenson added. “It is a fitting way to thank Chancellor Emeritus Burney for all that he has done, and everything he will continue to do for our university.”

The portrait was taken by Frank Commisso at Frank Commisso Photography.

At 7:30 pm tonight (Thursday, March 2), Dr. Burney will give a talk called Canada in the World of Trump, describing opportunities and challenges for business, education, and trade with the U.S. under its new President, and what it means for Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario.

The talk will be at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (207 Brodie Street S., across from City Hall). Proceeds will help raise funds for renovations to the 108-year-old sanctuary.

Tickets are $20 at the door, and available through the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium by calling 684-4444, or visiting www.tbca.com.

Derek Hudson Burney

Born in Fort William, (now Thunder Bay, Ontario), Dr. Burney continues to enjoy a noteworthy career in public service and the private sector. He married his Port Arthur sweetheart, Joan Peden, and together they have raised four boys.

He is currently Senior Strategic Advisor to Norton Rose Canada LLP. He is Chairman of GardaWorld’s International Advisory Board, a Director of TransCanada Pipelines Limited, a Governor of the Ottawa Hospital Board of Governors and a member of the Advisory Board of Paradigm Capital Inc.

Dr. Burney was President and Chief Executive Officer of CAE Inc. from October 1999 until August 2004. Prior to joining CAE, Dr. Burney was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Canada International Inc. (1993-1999). Dr. Burney’s assignment as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States culminated a distinguished thirty-year career in the Canadian Foreign Service, during which he completed a variety of assignments at home and abroad, including a period as a Deputy Minister of External Affairs.

From March 1987 to January 1989, Dr. Burney served as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. He was directly involved in the negotiation of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. He was the Prime Minister's personal representative (Sherpa) in the preparations for the Houston (1990), London (1991) and Munich (1992) G-7 Economic Summits.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

March 1, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University has a well-established relationship of research projects and partnerships with Aboriginal communities, so is the time ripe to set up a dedicated Indigenous Research Institute?

That is the focus of a discussion taking place March 8 during Research and Innovation Week.

For Dr. Peggy Smith, the answer is an unequivocal yes.

“We have numerous researchers at Lakehead who are working with Indigenous communities, so a research centre would be a place where people could share experiences and find people to work with. It would promote interdisciplinarity, getting researchers from different fields to work together to serve the needs of Indigenous communities,” says Smith, Interim Vice-Provost (Aboriginal Initiatives) at Lakehead.

 Lakehead, situated in the heart of Indigenous territories, boasts almost one-in-five students of Aboriginal ancestry. Its Strategic Research Plan commits to research that is relevant to First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples. To date, there are more than 30 such projects, focussing on community needs ranging from the arts to health, education, science, land management and culture.

“There’s a rich and long history at Lakehead of faculty members doing research with Indigenous communities,” Smith says, adding this work advances knowledge about Indigenous issues and helps improve conditions in these communities.

With such a track record, the next step would be an actual centre to serve the needs of faculty, students and the community at large.

“We’re still very much talking about the concept, how we would do it and what it would do,” Smith explains.

The roundtable discussion features speakers who have experience in cross-cultural learning and what is needed to set up an Indigenous-focused research institute.

They are:

• Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn of Simon Fraser University teaches First Nations studies and archaeology. He has participated in research projects on the northern plains, as well as Blackfoot mythology and folklore. 
• Dr. Derek Jennings of the University of Minnesota-Duluth is community outreach director at the Research for Indigenous Community Health Center. He works with Indigenous communities on chronic health issues, such as obesity.
• Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings, also of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, is founding director of the Research for Indigenous Community Health Center. Her specialty is cultural health beliefs and behavioural interventions regarding addiction.

Johnson-Jennings believes a dedicated Indigenous research institute demonstrates academic commitment to Indigenous communities and recognizes and values Indigenous knowledge.

“Indigenous community voices that are often marginalized within non-native institutes can have a space to be heard and elevated within an Indigenous centre,” Johnson-Jennings says.

“In doing so, true partnership between academics and tribes can be formed, resources and support given for both academics and tribes to engage meaningfully, and a path forged for future work,” she says.

Such a facility, to be named the Gichi Kendaasiwin Centre (meaning “higher knowledge” in Ojibwe), will not only house Aboriginal programs and services, but will also engage Aboriginal learners in all disciplines and will be a gathering place for the exchange of ideas from the region, across Canada and around the world.

“We’re still very much in the conceptual stage,” Smith says. “This is a key discussion we’re having and it’ll take us a good way along” the path to realizing the goal of having an Indigenous Research Institute.

The roundtable discussion called Should Lakehead University Establish an Indigenous Research Institute? is set for Wednesday, March 8, from 2-4 p.m., at the Lakehead University Faculty Lounge (UC 1029G).

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Award-winning student, Sydney Stevenson, displays her research poster from the 2016 student research display, an annual event during the University’s Research & Innovation Week. Research & Innovation Week 2017 offers a chance for the community to learn about the fascinating research taking place at Lakehead. Events take place from February 27 to March 8 at the University Avenue campus. All events are free and open to the public. 
 

February 22, 2017 – Orillia, ON 

Lakehead Orillia’s faculty members and students are preparing for a series of showcase events next week – all open to the community – as the University celebrates its annual Research & Innovation (R&I) Week. 

R&I Week at the Orillia campus kicks off on Monday, February 27 (11:30 am -1 pm) with a special poster presentation of current research projects by Lakehead Orillia faculty members. Dr. Beth Visser, who teaches Psychology and Criminology within the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, will present her recent research project examining the personalities of American presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – “Does Personality Matter?” – as her colleagues showcase projects in a variety of disciplines, including business, science, social work, education, sociology, and more. 

“All of our faculty members are involved in research activity within their discipline,” noted Lakehead University’s Dr. Andrew Dean, Vice-President, Research & Innovation. He explained that research is one of the three responsibilities of all professors, along with teaching and service.  “Our annual R&I Week is an excellent opportunity for the community to come and discover the many research projects taking place and to speak with faculty members and students about their projects, and the impact they are making.” 

The events this year have been expanded to include three special guest presentations, including a talk by Dr. Peggy Smith, Lakehead’s Interim Vice-Provost, Aboriginal Initiatives. In her presentation, "Thirty Years of Indigenous Research: A Retrospective," Dr. Smith will discuss her research journey on Indigenous Peoples' involvement in natural resource development. She will also present an overview of Indigenous research at Lakehead University, and in particular, the University’s vision for establishing an Indigenous Research Centre. Her talk takes place on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:30 pm. 

Lakehead’s Faculty of Business is presenting a special talk by Dr. Howard Lin, Professor of International Business and Entrepreneurship at Ryerson University, who will discuss “The State of Entrepreneurship in Canada: Research and Practice,” on Monday, February 27 at 6:30 pm.  

And on Wednesday, March 8 at 5:30 pm, Lakehead’s Research Centre for Sustainable Communities presents a talk by Dr. Hugh MacIsaac, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Invasive Species, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor. 

The always-popular display and discussion of student research projects takes place on Wednesday, March 1 from 11:30 am to 1 pm and from 2:30 to 4 pm. 

All events during R&I Week take place at the Orillia campus, 500 University Avenue, and are free of charge and open to the public. 

For more information and a complete listing of all events – taking place from February 27 to March 8 – visit lakeheadu.ca/ri 

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8372, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

​

Lakehead University has appointed Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans as the new Principal of the Orillia campus.

During his 12 years as a faculty member at Lakehead University, Dr. Jobin-Bevans has taught as an Associate Professor in the Department of Music, and has occupied several administrative positions, including Chair of the Department of Music, and as Assistant and Acting Dean.

Dr. Jobin-Bevans, who is currently Lakehead University’s Interim Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, begins his new role as Principal, Orillia Campus, on July 1, 2017.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity, and look forward to joining the senior executive team as the Principal of our Lakehead Orillia campus and to the many new challenges associated with furthering the great work that Dr. Kim Fedderson has led for over a decade,” Dr. Jobin-Bevans said.

“It is a privilege to have been chosen as this campus’s second Principal and to have the chance to engage with our community partners in the City of Orillia and Simcoe County as we continue to grow current programs, and develop and shape new programs at the Lakehead Orillia campus,” he added.

Dr. Jobin-Bevans believes the Orillia campus is a wonderful teaching and learning environment with tremendous potential for growth. He emphasized the importance of working with Georgian College to help develop academic programs that “better serve the needs of students from Simcoe County who are searching for excellence in post-secondary education.”

Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson, who served as chair of the search committee for the campus’s next Principal, said Dr. Jobin-Bevans is a very fitting choice.

“When we began searching for our new Principal, I knew this person would have large shoes to fill in place of Dr. Kim Fedderson, and Dr. Jobin-Bevans will do an exceptional job,” Dr. Stevenson said. “He will help us continue working strategically with our partners to help the Orillia campus reach even greater heights.”

Before joining Lakehead University in August 2005, Dr. Jobin-Bevans held positions as the Development and Alumni Relations Officer for the Faculty of Music (currently the Schulich School of Music, McGill University), and Director of the McGill Conservatory of Music.​​

Dr. Jobin-Bevans received his musical education at the University of Toronto, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Literature of Music, and at McGill University where he completed both a Master and Doctorate degree in music performance (choral conducting).

                                                                       – 30 –

Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (705) 330-4008, ext. 8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Dr. Todd Randall

February 3, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Following a comprehensive search, Lakehead University has announced the appointment of Dr. Todd Randall as the institution’s new Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies. His five-year appointment begins on March 1, 2017.

Dr. Randall assumes the role having previously served as Interim Dean of the faculty from July 2014 through August 2016.

“Dr. Randall has consistently added value to our University, and is an exceptional choice for Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies,” said Dr. Moira McPherson, Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “He is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the diverse academic priorities and programs of the Faculty’s 10 departments, along with continuing to nurture a vibrant research and scholarly culture.”

“Science and Environmental Studies at Lakehead has a strong tradition of community outreach, and engagement of current and prospective students in faculty-led research,” Dr. Randall said. 

“As Dean, I look forward to working with our students, faculty, and staff to continue building on the success of our predecessors with community and student outreach in initiatives such as the Aboriginal Mentorship Program, Superior Science, the Northwestern Ontario Regional Science Fair, and Science Olympics,” he said.

Dr. Randall will lead the Faculty in renewing and strengthening its excellence in teaching, learning, and research at Lakehead’s Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.

In addition to serving as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, Dr. Randall’s served as Chair of the Department of Geography & the Environment from 2012-2014, and has provided many valuable contributions to the University through his work on Faculty and Senate committees. In 2014, his skills as an instructor were recognized when he received the student-nominated Contribution to Teaching Award.  

Dr. Randall’s primary research area is the assessment of urban forms and neighbourhood styles in order that communities better reflect principles of environmental sustainability. He has ongoing projects investigating long-term changes and revitalization in Thunder Bay’s downtown cores.

Dr. Randall joined Lakehead University in 2002 as a faculty member in the Department of Geography after earning his PhD in civil engineering and MSc in glacial sedimentology from McMaster University, and an undergraduate degree in physical geography from University of British Columbia.

Dr. Randall also worked as a geoscience consultant during the mid-1990s, helping to improve the application of BC’s then-new Forest Practices Code, and he is a registered Professional Geoscientist.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.