BU's NEW CHANCELLOR
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SPRING 2013 BRANDON UNIVERSITY ALUMNI NEWS BUILD Brandon University Innovation | Leadership | Development HONORARY DEGREE Lloyd Robertson HOMECOMING 2013 October 18-20 MICHAEL DECTER BU’s NEW CHANCELLOR Future Alumni Greg Monias, 3rd-Year Music Performance Student Serious Illness. Critical Coverage. Brandon University If serious illness interrupts your life, don’t let worries about money get in your way of getting better. Critical Illness Insurance DEGREE FRAMES provides a tax-free cash payment to spend any way you need. are available for purchase through Critical Illness Insurance For a personalized quotation or to apply online, please visit us at: the Alumni Association Office. To solutionsinsurance.com/brandon 1.800.266.5667 view the many different styles go to www.brandonu.ca/alumni/frames . SPRING 2013 ALUMNI NEWS CONTENTS Editor Carla Eisler • [email protected] Writers Carla Eisler, Glen Kirby, Dr. Deborah Poff Photographers Alex Beshara, CTV News, Erocphotog, Frazer Studios, Keywest Photo, Glen Kirby, Matt Packwood, University of Alberta Athletics Graphic Design Innovative Media + Marketing, Brandon, Manitoba Printing Leech Printing Ltd., Brandon, Manitoba This magazine was printed on FSC Certified stock at Leech Printing Ltd., a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certified printer. For more information visit www.fsc.org. Feedback [email protected] Advertising 204-727-9762 or [email protected] Send us your stories! A close-knit and friendly place, Brandon University (BU) has inspired a multitude of heart-warming stories. As alumni, you undoubtedly have much to tell about the relationships that you developed while at BU. Was it the meeting ground for you and your spouse, a business partner or a great friend? Perhaps you developed a lifelong mentorship with a special faculty member? Honorary Doctorate: If you have any suggestions or know of an outstanding alumna/alumnus you believe should be Lloyd Robertson featured in Alumni News, please contact the Alumni Office. Your ideas and feedback are most welcome. 7 Photo CTV News President’s Message 4 Appointment of 6 ©2013. Alumni News is published twice a year and reaches more than 13,000 alumni and friends of New Chancellor Brandon University worldwide. To date, thousands Convocation 2013 7 of alumni have supported the Brandon University Alumni Association (BUAA) through participation Senate Awards 8 in alumni programs, affinity products and service President’s Awards 9 offerings. If you do not wish to be provided with BU Now 10 product or service offers or do not wish to receive Photo courtesy of University Alberta Athletics Alumni News in the future, please contact the Faculty Profile 12 Alumni Office. BU Now BUILD Campaign Dr. Janet Koprivnikar Bobcats Bring Business Partners Bring In Touch 14 Brandon University Alumni Office Back Bronze Smiles to BUILD Campaign Phone: 204-727-9697 • Fax: 204-727-4674 In Memoriam 14 Email: [email protected] Men’s volleyball team wins Giving back to the community Homecoming 2013 15 www.alumni.brandonu.ca at national level Faculty Profile 16 Publications mail agreement #40064061 Greg Gatien Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Brandon University Alumni Association Faculty Profile 18 270 - 18th Street Dr. Reinhold Kramer Brandon, MB, Canada R7A 6A9 Build Campaign 21 On the Cover Alumni Donors 22 New BU Chancellor Mr. Michael Decter 10 21 Brandon University www.brandonu.ca/alumni 3 President’s Message Mr. Ed Mazer, then President of the BU Foundation, recognizes Dr. Deborah Poff and her husband, Dr. Alex Michalos, for their contributions to BU at last year’s Order of the Sheaf luncheon. Dear Alumni and Friends of BU, his issue of Alumni News comes to you at a time of significant activity on campus. We are halfway through our BUILD University plan and are evaluating what we have accomplished and what is yet to do. We have achieved a T great deal in the past two and a half years, particularly so in the area of Student Success. We have introduced a new approach to recruitment and retention and added a number of new positions to increase both new enrolments and increase our success in terms of retaining students who choose BU. Our new strategies seem to be working with an increase in applications for fall 2013. As part of that strategy, we have piloted an early warning Student Success. In January, we welcomed new Director of the system to identify students who are experiencing challenges Indigenous Peoples’ Centre and Aboriginal Initiatives, Rhonda and to support them with additional tutorial and student services McCorriston. Thanks to the hard work of BU CARES Director, Karen support. We are currently recruiting a new leadership position, Rempel, in successfully acquiring funds from Aboriginal Affairs and an Associate Vice-President (Student Services and Enrolment Northern Development Canada, the centre is developing a number Management) and University Registrar. This new position brings of programs and services to increase recruitment and retention both Registrarial and Student Services together to optimize activities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students at BU. student success from recruitment to admissions to graduation. In terms of Academic and Teaching Excellence, Acting Vice- As well, we have introduced new leadership for Aboriginal President Dean Care is moving forward in the establishment of a 4 Alumni News | Spring 2013 Brandon University new Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology. We also welcome Dr. Gervan Fearon, new Vice-President Academic and Provost, who will join BU’s senior administrative team on July 1, 2013. Dr. Fearon will be extending the BUILD plan this year to include a new strategic academic plan. He will be supported in that role by new Dean of Science, Dr. Andrew Egan as well as the new Dean of Education, Dr. Heather Duncan. In terms of Graduate Studies and BUILD Research Excellence, Dr. Bruce Strang, Dean of Arts 2010-2015 has had additional duties this year and is shepherding UPDATE through a new Research Strategic Plan for BU. Our MSc in A Mid-Term Report on the University’s Strategic Plan Psychiatric Nursing, which has been operating since 2011, is going strong with 33 students in the program and we are currently seeking implementation funds for our new MSc in Environmental and Life Sciences. Among the new faces at BU this year, we will be installing our new Chancellor, Michael Decter, at Convocation on May 31, 2013. In terms of our BUILD commitment to Social Responsibility, the Healthy Living Centre has been constructed to qualify as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver building. While we plan to celebrate the official opening this spring, the new building is welcoming the community into its completed new facilities with a community access agreement that welcomes many Brandon citizens to work out daily. The centre is already a tremendous community outreach success and we look forward to continuing to welcome citizens to the campus in growing numbers. As part of the opening, on May 2 we honoured our late Chancellor, Henry Champ, by naming our original gym after him. Our second winter open house, Winterlude, brought approximately 450 community members to the campus for a series of well-attended events. Brandon University We are also hoping to hear that we will be funded to Innovation | Leadership | Development develop BU’s first family-style residence. This will enable student-led families to live in quality residences while the student pursues studies at the University. The plan is to accommodate 42 families when the project is completed. In addition to all of these activities, we continue in our advancement and capital campaign activities. For those of you who have already donated to this campaign, we “The Healthy Living Centre thank you again. For those who have not, we look to your commitment to Brandon University to help us grow and lead is already a tremendous your University in this phase of its development. These are just a few of the highlights of the current community outreach success and activities of your University. I hope you will enjoy this issue of Alumni News. we look forward to continuing to Warm regards, welcome citizens to the campus in growing numbers.” Deborah C. Poff, PhD President and Vice-Chancellor Brandon University www.brandonu.ca/alumni 5 APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHANCELLOR MICHAEL DECTER FOLLOWING IN BIG FOOTSTEPS y attachment to Brandon University (BU) started with Stanley Knowles in the 1970s,” “M says incoming Chancellor Michael Decter, recalling BU’s revered alumnus and Chancellor from 1970-1990. “That blossomed into a long association with the University and its people.” Decter, President and CEO of the investment company LDIC Inc., is a Harvard-educated financier, senior public sector manager, and national expert on health systems. He was appointed Chancellor by the BU Senate in March and will be installed during Convocation on May 31, succeeding the late Henry Champ who passed away last September during his second term. “BU is a jewel, a leader and innovator,” says Decter. “I have personally known and greatly admired several BU Chancellors. I am Chair of the National Board for the Canadian Institute for Health joining an illustrious club and following in some pretty big footsteps.” Information. He pledges to connect BU with the many national Decter became friends with Knowles (BA’30) while working in organizations in which he participates but is careful about Ottawa for former New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent. Both suggesting any initiatives which he will pursue as Chancellor, Knowles and Tommy Douglas saying only that further dialogue is needed with BU President (BA’30) would regale Decter Deborah Poff and senior team members. with stories about politics, social “University opens “Universities are complex creations,” he observes. ”I will find justice and Brandon University. something that is right for both the University and me.” “Giants of the progressive opportunities With the challenges facing Canada’s First Nations as a thread movement in Canada,” says through his work career, Decter is a fervent supporter of post- Decter about the two.