Four new appointments as Board of Governors Research Chairs highlight the exceptional scholarly work of a diverse cadre of professors at Mount Royal University.

"It is my distinct pleasure to announce these appointments as Board of Governors Research and Teaching Chairs," says Dr. Lesley Brown, Provost and vice-president, academic. "This program has been launched to recognize the exceptional talent amongst our faculty members and to celebrate, advance and sustain excellence in Teaching and in Research at Mount Royal University."

These prestigious awards are intended to support recipients in advancing the mission of MRU by supporting innovative and high-impact projects that align with institutional or faculty-level priorities. The award acknowledges the record of accomplishment of each recipient in Teaching or Research.

Board of Governors Teaching Chairs play a critical role in advancing the teaching and learning mission of MRU by undertaking innovative and high-impact projects that align with institutional or faculty-level strategic priorities.

The 2019 Board of Governors Teaching Chairs are:

Dr. Brett McCollum, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics (Faculty of Science and Technology), has been appointed to a 3-year term as the Mount Royal University Board of Governors Teaching Chair in Educational Leadership. His research focuses on effective uses of technology for teaching and learning, chemistry language learning, open education resources, and research partnerships with students. Brett was also honoured this year with a 3M National Teaching Fellowship.

Dr. Karen Manarin, a professor in the Department of English, Languages and Cultures (Faculty of Arts), has been appointed to a 3-year term as the Mount Royal University Board of Governors Teaching Chair in Advanced Literacy. Her research interests include how and why students read, academic identity and undergraduate research, focusing on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Board of Governors Research Chairs play a critical role in deepening the research capacity of MRU by creating and mobilizing new knowledge in alignment with our Strategic Research and Scholarship Plan.

The 2019 Board of Governors Research Chairs are:

Dr. Timothy Haney, a professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology (Faculty of Arts), has been appointed to a 3-year term as the Mount Royal University Board of Governors Research Chair in Resilience and Sustainability. He is an emerging international leader in disaster research. His teaching and research interests include the sociology of disaster, environmental sociology, urban sociology, and quantitative methods. He also served as the Director of the Centre for Community Disaster Research (CCDR) until spring 2019.

Dr. Michelle DeWolfe, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Technology), has been appointed to a 3-year term as the Mount Royal University Board of Governors Research Chair in Science, Technology and Society. Her main research interests include: volcanology, in particular in submarine environments, and the volcanic and magmatic controls on the location and formation of volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits during the evolution of volcanic complexes and associated hydrothermal systems.

All terms begin on July 1, 2019.

Last updated: 2019-08-20. Dmetri Berko dberko@mtroyal.ca

MRU Board of Governors Research and Teaching Chairs

It is with great pride and enthusiasm that Mount Royal University announces the creation the Board of Governors Research and Teaching Chairs. These positions are being launched to celebrate, advance and sustain excellence in Scholarly Teaching and Research. Two appointments will be made in each of the Research and Teaching categories for commencement July 1, 2019.

Board of Governors Teaching Chairs

Board of Governors Teaching Chairs will further enhance teaching excellence and innovation at Mount Royal University by focusing their scholarly pursuits on leading and supporting teaching and curricular initiatives in their faculties and/or across the institution. As leaders in teaching, Chairholders play a critical role in advancing the teaching-learning mission of MRU by undertaking innovative and high-impact projects that align with institutional or faculty-level strategic priorities.

View Board of Governors Teaching Chairs guidelines

Board of Governors Research Chairs

Board of Governors Research Chairs create and mobilize knowledge to achieve research excellence. As leaders in their fields, Chairholders play a critical role in deepening our knowledge base and in strengthening our teaching, the training of students (highly qualified professionals), and research capacity. Chairholders must have demonstrated or shown potential for exceptional scholarly distinction. As catalysts and builders, they contribute to the university's positioning in priority areas of research identified in the Strategic Research and Scholarship Plan and to the enhancement of the research training environment.

View Board of Governors Research Chairs guidelines

Chair appointments will be made for 3 years, inclusive of any form of leave. Appointments are not renewable. Chairholders will receive a one-time $5,000 research grant, $1,500 per year to support dissemination activities and 2 course reassignments per year for 3 years. Funds will be administered as a research grant through ORSCE.

Additional details and guidelines for application can be found in the above documents. All full-time tenured faculty members are eligible to apply.
Application packages must be submitted electronically as a single PDF document to provost@mtroyal.ca by 4:30 p.m. Friday, May, 10th, 2019. (Hard copy submissions will not be accepted.)