Lakehead University Appoints Dean of Education
(April 3, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) After an extensive search, Lakehead University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John O'Meara to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Education, effective April 1, 2008.
Dr. O'Meara was former Chair of Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty of Education from 2000 to 2007, and has held the position of Acting Dean of the Faculty since July 1, 2007. He obtained his undergraduate degree in linguistics from the University of British Columbia in 1978, and his Ph.D. from McGill University in 1991. His specialization is in North American indigenous languages, with particular focus on languages of the Algonquian family which are spoken in Ontario. These languages include Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin), Munsee Delaware, and Cree
"Dr. O'Meara's background and experience, both academic and administrative, has well prepared him to assume the position of Dean of the Faculty of Education. He will serve Lakehead well, and we look forward to welcoming him to our administrative team," says Dr. Laurie Hayes, Lakehead University's Vice-President (Academic) & Provost.
According to Dr. O'Meara, the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University has developed a reputation for dynamic, innovative, and very successful programs at the undergraduate, Masters, and doctoral levels. It has an outstanding group of scholars committed to teaching, learning, and research across a full range of scholarly areas within Education. "We are developing exciting new programs that meet changing educational needs and enhance the educational experiences of our students, and are reaching out to ensure that our programs will have maximal benefit for traditional and non-traditional learners," says O'Meara. "We are building research and educational partnerships with a large number of organizations across the region, enabling us to make essential linkages between theory and practice in multiple educational settings." O'Meara adds this is an exciting time to be contributing to the future of the Faculty of Education, and he looks forward to playing a role in the success of the Faculty and of Lakehead University.
Background on Dr. O'Meara
Dr. O'Meara taught in the Native Language Instructors' Program at Lakehead University during the summers of 1985 and 1986, and was appointed to a tenure-track position in the Faculty of Education in 1988. On a number of occasions, he has been Acting Coordinator of the Native Language Instructors' Program.
Dr. O'Meara participated in the process which led to the creation of the Department of Native Studies (subsequently renamed the Department of Indigenous Learning) in the early 1990s. He also led the process to create the Department of Aboriginal Education in the Faculty of Education, which was formed in 2005.
His scholarly activity has included a definitive dictionary of Munsee Delaware; the first collection of accurately transcribed and analysed Ojibwe texts from Northern Ontario; preparation of an Ontario Ministry of Education resource document for Munsee Delaware; and editorial work on a series of Ojibwe textbooks. He is also working on a reference grammar of Munsee Delaware. Other scholarly activities include conference papers, technical reports, book chapters, book reviews, and workshops. He has acted as a reviewer for SSHRC grant proposals, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment of Humanities, and has served as a referee for linguistics journals and book publishers.
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Media: Dr. O'Meara's background
follows on the next page. Drs. O'Meara
and Hayes are available for media interview.
To arrange interview times, please contact them at
807-343-8054 and 807-343-8181 respectively. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact
Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca;
or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.
About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for
innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in