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Laurentian appoints Dr. Parvinder Arora as new Dean of the Faculty of Management

Laurentian appoints Dr. Parvinder Arora as new Dean of the Faculty of Management

June 3, 2024 - Laurentian University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Parvinder Arora as the University’s next Dean of the Faculty of Management.

Dr. Arora brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Laurentian University having served more than 25 years in the field of management, in both corporate and academic sectors in Canada, Asia, and Australia. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Panjab University and his doctorate from Punjabi University in India.

Most recently, Dr. Arora has been the Dean of the Schools of Business, Creative Industries, and Information Technology at Cambrian College. There, he led several key growth initiatives, including the launch of new programs, introduction of innovative delivery methods, and embedding Indigenous content in the curriculum of business programs.

Dr. Arora was a professor at Seneca College in Toronto (2015-19) and took a one year leave to serve as Dean of the Institute of Management Technology in Dubai. Prior to that, he served as a professor and assistant Dean at the SP Jain School of Global Management, a multinational institution ranked globally as a top business school.

He is student focused and has been actively engaged in mentoring graduate students in their research work, often with corporate partners. He values interdisciplinarity and deeply appreciates the importance of partnerships to create opportunities, build community, and elevate impact.

Dr. Arora has proven himself to be a collaborative and accountable leader whose focus lies on the student experience, global mindset and cultivating relationships.

Dr. Arora will begin his new role with Laurentian University on August 1, 2024.

Voyageurs Summer Camps Open for Registration

Voyageurs Summer Camps Open for Registration

Kids aged 4 to 12 will have a blast with sports and adventure activities at weekly summer camp sessions, running from July 2nd to August 30th.

May 31, 2024 - Voyageurs Summer Camps are now open for registration. The camps run weekly from July 2nd to August 30th for kids aged 4 to 12 years old.

Every summer, Voyageurs Summer Camps welcome hundreds of Greater Sudbury youth to Laurentian University’s campus to learn new skills, make new friends, and have tons of fun.

Three themes will guide the games and free-play activities this year, Carnival, Colour Wars, and Amazing Race. Campers will develop leadership skills, communication skills, and confidence as they play on the campus sports facilities, including four full sized gymnasiums, squash courts, a beach volleyball court, soccer fields, tennis courts, and the Tango Tower.

The Tango Tower is a challenge course with a 50' tower, low-rope activities, 13 different climbing routes, and a giant swing. With encouragement from team mates, and guidance from counselors, campers are encouraged to choose the level of challenge that’s right for them.

Outdoor adventure activities include canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, hiking, and wilderness survival training (building a shelter, starting a campfire, tying knots, etc).

Indoor and outdoor sports, including floor hockey, basketball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, badminton, volleyball, and squash.

Camp counselors are Laurentian students, with certification in several skilled activities. “The counselors are students from all different programs like education, arts, business, and sciences,” says Jean Benoit, Campus Recreation Coordinator. “They love what this campus has to offer and are dedicated to making the Voyageur Camp a fun, unique, and safe experience for every camper. They are patient, hard-working, and great role models.”

To add to the fun, every camper is given a camp T-shirt, and Fridays are always a pizza day. Drop off is as early as 8:00 am and pick up is as late as 5:00 pm. Camp activities run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The cost per week is $260.

To learn more about Voyageurs Summer Camps, email the Campus Recreation Coordinator at campusrec@laurentian.ca or visit the Laurentian University Voyageurs website, or Facebook page. To register, please call (705) 673-6573.

Graduate Spotlight: Emily Benedicic

Graduate Spotlight: Emily Benedicic

She may be carrying on the family legacy, but this third generation Bachelor of Education Graduate is taking the degree to the next level.

May 31, 2024 - Both Emily’s mother and grandmother are Laurentian alumnae and French teachers in Northern Ontario so it might not be a surprise to you that Emily is about to graduate from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Education degree. But it was, in a way, a surprise to Emily.

“I never saw myself as a teacher. I had dreams of working in a museum one day,” Emily says. “I am interested in fine art and I love working with kids but teaching has never been part of my plan.”

Like many, Emily’s academic journey was not linear. After high school at École catholic la Renaissance in Espanola, Emily moved back to her hometown of Foleyet to spend some time working and planning for her future. Eight years after graduating high school, Emily’s mom and grandma encouraged her to look into attending Laurentian University for her studies. They suggested she follow in their footsteps and get a Bachelor of Education but Emily was not sure it was a good fit for her long term goals.

That’s when Emily reached out to the late Dr. Ali Reguigui for some guidance. Dr. Reguigui, who was a prominent figure at the University and in the French community, offered Emily guidance that helped her get to where she is today.

“I told him about my interest in art, my hope to one day work in a museum, my love for kids, and my passion for Franco-Ontarian culture,” Emily recalls. “He encouraged me to go into the teaching program because the dual degree could open doors in ways I might not expect.”

Dr. Reguigui explained that the French Consecutive degree option would give her the chance to study in French, get a general arts degree, and she would finish with a Bachelor of Education as well. Plus with the option to study online, she could continue to live and work in Foleyet while working on her French Bachelor of Arts.

Emily had previously completed the Early Childhood Education Program at Collège Boréal and with her new trajectory at Laurentian, she would be able to transfer many of those credits to the B.Ed program.

Emily’s patience and perseverance over the years has paid off and she is now about to graduate from Laurentian with both degrees and complete her term as the Delegate of the Faculty of Education with the Association des Études Francophone.

“I took my time figuring out what I wanted to do and I feel proud of that. Even during the pandemic, I took a year off and came back again. I studied in-person and online,”Emily says, reflecting on her academic journey. “I went to college and university. I represented my program through the French student association. I asked for guidance and grace when I needed it. The process made me a more resilient and confident person.”

Fourteen years after graduating high school, Emily will start her Master’s in Études Français in the fall. You might be wondering if Emily has decided to take on teaching. The answer to that is still “not right now” but Emily says the French B.Ed. was the right choice for her and teaching may be something she does in the future.

“I have found a way to connect all the dots - creativity, culture, and education can all work together,” Emily says emphatically. “I can make an impact in education without being a front line educator. My future plan is to create Franco-Ontarian teaching resources. I’m so excited to help teachers and students enrich their classrooms with teaching tools that are relevant and local.”

Emily will graduate on June 4th at 2:30pm.

Graduate Spotlight: Bradleigh Trudeau

Graduate Spotlight: Bradleigh Trudeau

A student embodying Indigenous culture and the science of environmental restoration

May 28, 2024 - Bradleigh Trudeau is not only about to be a new graduate, he is also a new parent. The convergence of these big life events only makes Bradleigh more confident as he pursues his dreams. Although a lot is happening at the same time, Bradleigh sees this time as an opportunity to pause and enjoy family life before diving into a career.

Bradleigh grew up in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. An upbringing rooted in Annishanaabe culture, learning from his dad and his grandmother with whom he lived, Bradleigh spent a lot of time playing in the woods and developing a love for nature. His home community’s close proximity to Sudbury meant that Bradleigh’s family would often travel into the city for groceries and shopping.

“I remember how the hills around the smoke stack were black and rocky and now they’re green and full of plants,” Trudeau recalls. “Seeing that development over my life, made a huge impression on me. I knew I wanted to be a part of something like that.”

Now reflecting on his time as a Laurentian student in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture, Bradleigh feels a sense of accomplishment. There is no better institution to learn about the world renowned regreening efforts in the Sudbury basin than Laurentian University. No better playground to immerse oneself in nature than Laurentian’s vast campus. No better postsecondary setting for students to stay connected to Indigenous culture than the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre (ISLC). On June 5th, Bradleigh will graduate having reached his goal to be a part of environmental conservation in Sudbury and prepared for a career in the field.

His journey to this moment has not been easy. Bradleigh says joining the ISLC in his first year helped him feel a sense of home on campus. “It’s not only a place to study when you want quiet but also a place to access support from peers or mentors when facing personal or academic challenges. There’s a real sense of community there.”

That sense of community made such an impression on Bradleigh that he started working with the Centre.

“I took a couple of years off between high school and university so I am considered a mature student. The Peer Wellness Centre on campus was looking for a mature student to join their team. I applied and it led to also working at the ISLC in peer support.”

He says that the opportunity to support other students the way he had been supported earlier on in his studies was fulfilling for him.

“It was pretty cool getting to help students with the challenges they faced,” he said. “I took the job seriously and understood the positive impact that I could have on students by making them feel supported and connecting them with resources.”

Bradleigh’s son was born in the middle of his final year at Laurentian. His partner is also a Laurentian student in the Criminology program. While starting their family in his final year of studies was challenging, Bradleigh is proud of where he is now. He says he is ready to take a break and enjoy some family time before deciding on a career path or if he wants to continue on to a masters program.

Taking the time to pause is a value in action for Bradleigh. He is adhering to his own advice for other students which is: “Find balance in your studies and personal life. Take breaks and get help when you need it. Disconnect when you need to and you’ll feel so much more equipped to take on challenges.”

Bradleigh will graduate on June 5th at 2:30pm.

Graduate Spotlight: Tharusha Wijewardena

Graduate Spotlight: Tharusha Wijewardena

Creating a life dedicated to urban turtle conservation

May 24, 2024 - Growing up in Sri Lanka, Tharusha Wijewardena, was surrounded by oceans and several species of marine turtles that inhabit them. Fast-forward to 2024 and she is about to walk across the stage as Dr. Tharusha Wijewardena at Laurentian University’s June 4th convocation ceremony with a PhD and a plan to spend the rest of her life dedicated to turtle conservation.

“I have always had an affinity for turtles and transitioned to freshwater turtles once I moved to Canada,” Tharusha said. She developed her interest in freshwater turtles and aquatic ecosystems during her undergraduate degree at University of Toronto where she studied with Dr. Nicholas Mandrak. This is also when the work of Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Litzgus caught her attention.

Pursuing her PhD at Laurentian in the Boreal Ecology Program was motivated by a desire to work with Dr. Litzgus, says Tharusha. “I was interested in herpetology and when you look at the kind of work Dr. Litzgus does, she focuses a lot on conservation. She is one of the leading researchers in Canada, maybe even in North America and she had an incredible reputation so I was inspired to get on her research team and work under her supervision.”

She started thinking about working with Dr. Litzgus while completing her undergraduate studies, but wasn’t able to make it happen for her Master’s. Instead, she studied at U of T again, with Dr. Nicholas Mandrak, developing what would later become a long-term relationship with the Toronto Zoo. In this field work, the team headstarted (a conservation technique for endangered species) Blanding's turtles, taking hatchlings from the wild and bringing them into a rearing facility for a couple of years until they were large enough to release into the wild.

In 2019, when she was ready to start her PhD, Tharusha heard about NSERC funding for the ReNewZoo program that was to be led by Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde and co-applicants including Dr. Litzgus. Tharusha applied to be a part of the research team. “I was honored to get the opportunity. Working on this team, I learned so much more than just academic skills but things like collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and virtues like patience and kindness. My advisors were a tremendous support and encouraged me to strive for more,” said Tharusha.

Tharusha’s work with Dr. Litzgus made an impression on the conservation of blanding’s turtles but also on the scope of ecology research in Ontario. In May 2023, Tharusha was awarded Laurentian’s first ever Jane Goodall Student Scholarship for her exceptional dedication to biodiversity conservation. Along with Dr. Litzgus (who received the Jane Goodall Research Fellowship in Conservation Biology), Tharusha’s work was recognized by Dr. Jane Goodall during a visit to Sudbury.

Tharusha credits her PhD advisors for pushing her to apply for her postdoctoral position. “It’s a fairly competitive position that is awarded once annually. I was nervous to apply and unsure if I would get it but I got it and I was so amazed. My advisors were the reason I felt confident enough to apply. They truly encouraged me. Doing my PhD with them was one of the best experiences of my life.”

In her postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Urban Environments at University of Toronto Mississauga, Tharusha will collaborate with other researchers and community conservation organizations to observe the nesting ecology of snapping turtles and painted turtles in the Peel and Halton regions.

For Tharusha, this is just the next step in what she hopes will be a career dedicated to reptile and amphibian conservation in urban areas.

Graduate Spotlight: Mia Tucker

Graduate Spotlight: Mia Tucker

My journey at Laurentian University, in my own words

May 22, 2024 - If you’ve ever wondered who writes these Student Spotlights, here I am, it’s me! I am Mia Tucker, Communications Assistant at Laurentian’s Communications Office, but today, I’m writing as both your subject and author.

I am an alumna and current student at Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and soon-to-be graduate of Concurrent Education. Throughout my two degrees and five years here, Laurentian has become my home and the Laurentian community has become my second family. I’d like to share a few experiences with you before my time with this pen comes to an end.

I was born in Sudbury and raised in Toronto. Growing up I visited Sudbury often, giving the city a special place in my heart. As the end of high school approached, I started looking at Concurrent Education programs in Ontario. I discovered that Laurentian’s program was the most condensed in the whole province. The chance to spend more time in Sudbury, and the appeal of the fast program are why I chose to attend Laurentian. Over the years, my love for this community has continued to grow and I now plan to stay in Sudbury as I pursue my teaching career.

I knew since I was young that I wanted to become a teacher. I have always been passionate about learning, growing, and working with kids. Having two younger siblings inspired me, as I have always loved being a big sister and teaching them things I know. I believe that every child has unique capabilities and ideas that should be celebrated. Each child has the ability to become something amazing. That is what inspired me to want to teach - I want to bring that out in my students. My time at Laurentian has prepared me for the future I have always dreamed of.

Over the past five years, I have gained invaluable teaching experience in different classrooms and grade-levels. My placements complimented my course work and instilled within me confidence and professionalism in my teaching practices. Laurentian’s small class sizes and connections I made with professors made me feel supported and like I was never on my own. I met like-minded individuals who valued education like I do. The past year was especially impactful getting to apply my comprehension in my last two placements at Sudbury elementary schools.

I moved into Residence when I was 17 years old for first-year of university. Going from living at home with my mom to living in residence in a new city was a huge transition for me. As I grew more comfortable on my own, I began taking on many leadership roles within residence and Laurentian. It was fulfilling to be able to help other students in my roles as a Residence Assistant, leader on student council, and peer mentor. I value community, inclusivity, and I wanted to be a support for other new students who may have had similar uneasy feelings during their transition to university life.

My involvement in the Laurentian community is what led me to the unique opportunity to write this Student Spotlight. As a student employee, I worked on campus part time with flexible hours while studying. I was tasked with interviewing and writing stories (like this one!) about interesting people within the Laurentian community for the news section of the website. I have developed administrative skills and understanding of professional communications that I can now use throughout my career as a teacher.

As I walk across the stage to accept my second degree at my convocation ceremony on June 4th, 2024, I will look back on my journey at Laurentian with gratitude. I will envision my exciting future and all that I can accomplish with my abilities, relationships, and education that grew here at Laurentian.

Local Business Born from Industrious Beginnings

Local Business Born from Industrious Beginnings

Business grad, Jean-François Démoré, shares his cheat code to life

May 15, 2024 - For Jean-François (JF) Démoré, having a strong business sense came naturally. A Laurentian University alumnus from École secondaire catholique Champlain in Chelmsford, Ontario, not only did JF pursue his academics at Laurentian, but it’s where he also got started in entrepreneurship.

Choosing Laurentian for his postsecondary education was simple for JF. He was familiar with Laurentian because his mother was a professor at the University. He felt that choosing to study at a smaller university would actually mean more opportunities would be available to him. And that’s exactly what JF says shaped his university experience.

Never afraid to say yes to any and all opportunities available, JF fully immersed himself in the student experience. “I was on so many committees and participated in multiple sports. At a smaller school, there are many unique experiences and opportunities that aren’t possible for students at bigger schools.”

As an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Management, JF worked in the Liaison department giving tours to prospective students and their families. “I really enjoyed working in Liaison because I had and still have so much pride in this community,” JF recalls. “I always loved showing prospective students around campus and seeing their reaction to the beautiful views and the access to nature all around us.”

When JF was completing his dual Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Commerce, small class sizes and close relationships with professors were two of the most impactful tenants of his undergraduate experience. “The small class sizes were, and still are, the most appealing part of studying at Laurentian. Anyone who goes to Laurentian knows this,” said JF. “Every one of my professors still knows who I am if I run into them in the community, all these years later. These relationships are why I stayed at Laurentian for my Masters (MBA). I had a favourite professor during my undergrad and then I was lucky to get to have him as my supervisor for my thesis.”

An opportunist and natural entrepreneur, JF started making websites as a small business venture while working on his undergraduate degree. Through this small business, he was able to save enough money to travel through Europe the summer after graduating. For a tenacious and vivacious person like JF, this presented another opportunity – he began regularly writing about his travels for a local newspaper.

Despite his eagerness to take on new projects and travel to new places, JF never faltered in his love of his home town. “Sudbury has a lot of cool things to offer. I had opportunities to leave but Sudbury continues to offer the best quality of life for my family,” he reflects. “Camp, family, and friends are all close by. No commute. Within a 30 minute radius, we have 330 lakes. What more could you want?”

Now the owner of Innova Wealth Partners, JF prioritizes local in his business. “When I was a kid, whenever I would go into stores with my dad, he would talk to shop owners and get to know them. That’s the approach I bring to my business. At my firm we have a good roster of Laurentian grads. We believe in building deep connections with clients and I have found that students who come out of Laurentian are well-rounded, and have great interpersonal skills. I again credit the small class sizes and social opportunities available at Laurentian versus other universities for that culture. We have had much success bringing Laurentian grads into our firm and we will keep doing that.”

JF is a big proponent of traveling and taking your time with getting into the working world.

His advice to young people who are just getting started is to push themselves outside of their comfort zone. He says to pick a country you’ve always been interested in and save money for a few weeks of travel. Once there, JF suggests diving into the culture, saying, “don’t set rigid agendas, just try to absorb the world and come back a changed person. As a student , your goal is to become a better human, a better member of society, and to focus on personal growth. Alongside travel, ask professionals in your community if you can shadow them for a few hours, or keep in touch with them as a mentor or as a sounding board for your career choices. This is the time to experiment, so don't get stuck in one path without exploring what's out there. Along the way, continue to ask yourself if you are happy on your current path, and readjust! That’s a cheat code for life.”

Sudbury Researchers Awarded NSERC Grants Totaling $1.1M to Advance Mining-Related Projects

Sudbury Researchers Awarded NSERC Grants Totaling $1.1M to Advance Mining-Related Projects

May 13, 2024 - Two researchers at NOSM University and Laurentian University are celebrating major investments in their research today as their projects were successfully awarded funding from grants administered through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance Missions program. One project studies how Gallium, a critical mineral, can be mined more efficiently while the second project focuses on the extraction of critical minerals from tailings ponds.

“Investing in research is directly supporting the advancement of technology, innovation, and economic prosperity. The work of both Dr.Tharmalingam and Dr. Scott are vital to ensuring Canada plays a leading role in a net-zero world, while supporting economic growth, environmental rehabilitation, and job creation. Critical minerals represent a generational opportunity for Sudbury and our net-zero future. Investing in research is the best path forward to ensuring we are seizing this opportunity.” – Viviane Lapointe, Member of Parliament Sudbury.

Extracting Gallium

Dr. Sujeenthar Tharmalingam, Assistant Professor at NOSM University, was awarded $600,000 by NSERC to support his research project, A microbial sponge to mine the critical mineral gallium.

Gallium is a vital element in the production of semiconductors, which are used in all kinds of electronic devices. Recently, a global semiconductor shortage has highlighted the need for alternative sources of gallium. China currently controls approximately 80% of the world's supply.

While gallium isn't found naturally as a mineral, it exists in trace amounts in tailings ponds—the waste products from mining processes. However, current methods for extracting gallium from these sources are expensive and inefficient.

Dr. Tharmalingam's project, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Vasu Appanna, co-founder of Biomine LTD and Professor at Laurentian University, aims to develop a new and eco-friendly solution for gallium extraction. Building off their previous work, the research team will focus on more efficiently mining gallium using microbes.

The NSERC Alliance grant will help develop a new microbial-based technology to collect gallium from tailings ponds in a clean and cost-effective manner. The project brings together Dr. Tharmalingam's expertise in molecular biology, microbiology, and gene editing with Biomine LTD's experience in developing custom-tailored eco-friendly microbial solutions.

This research has the potential to revolutionize gallium mining by developing a sustainable process that provides a steady supply of this critical mineral.

"The significance of gallium in electronics manufacturing is underscored by the recent semiconductor shortage. Our main objective is to pioneer an innovative microbial-based method to extract gallium from mining tailings, providing an environmentally friendly and economically viable solution to satisfy the increasing global need for this vital semiconductor material. We are grateful for the generous support from NSERC and Biomine LTD as we embark on this endeavor," says Dr. Suji Tharmalingam

Making the Most of Tailings Ponds

Dr. John Ashley Scott, Full Professor at Laurentian University’s Bharti School of Engineering leads the project entitled: Microalgal biosorption of critical minerals from mining related tailing ponds - recovering key metals to better protect aquatic systems and water supplies. This project will receive $530,990 from NSERC and substantial in-kind contributions from critical industry partner Glencore’s Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (Sudbury INO). Dr. Corey Laamanen serves as the project’s co-investigator.

The project will use naturally occurring microalgae bioprospected from mining sites in Northern Canada to remove critical minerals such as copper, nickel and cobalt from mining effluents using natural biosorption processes. It will also investigate methods for metals recovery from the biomass and beneficial uses of the remaining biomass, such as a soil ameliorant to aid in land rehabilitation.

The value to the critical minerals industry is that this low-cost approach will help with managing operational ponds and maximizing recovery of critical mineral resources. It can also act as a sustainable safeguard for protecting of water supplies for regional communities, by continuing to “mop up” metals and maintain post-closure legacy ponds to high standards to ensure long-term environmental protection, not just now, but for future generations.

“This project may open up new opportunities for industry and environmental protection that simply haven’t been developed yet. We are grateful for the contributions of both NSERC and Sudbury INO, without whom this project would not be possible,” says Dr. John Ashley Scott.

History Grad Now Practicing Lawyer

History Grad Now Practicing Lawyer

“Just do what you love and it will lead you to something great”

May 9, 2024 - Some university students have a clear vision of where they want their careers to go. A nurse. A teacher. An architect. For others, the path is not so straight forward. This was true for Aimee Dezeure who enrolled in the History program at Laurentian University in 2012. Now a lawyer, Aimee practices in London, Ontario and spends her spare time outdoors or hosting board game nights with old university friends.

Originally from the rural Southwestern Ontario community of Chatham-Kent, Aimee attended École Secondaire Catholique de Pain Court for high school before beginning her undergraduate program. “I excelled in history classes in high school and I wanted to continue to pursue that,” Aimee recalls. “I didn’t consider what I would do afterward, I just knew that this was a subject that interested me so I went for it.”

Aimee was particularly interested in Laurentian’s bilingual course options. Having gone to a French high school, Aimee wanted to improve her English writing skills by taking her program in English. She was reassured by the fact that History courses were also offered in French at Laurentian, allowing her to take classes in French if she found the language barrier too challenging at any point.

Coming from a small town, Laurentian provided that same close-knit feeling for Aimee with small class sizes, friendly students, and engaging professors. “I built lasting relationships with professors and friends. My friends from Laurentian are still close and have regular get-togethers. A lot of the community I had at Laurentian is still strong today,” says Aimee.

Once Aimee graduated from Laurentian, she worked as an archivist but didn’t find the work fulfilling in the way that she had hoped. Shortly after, a friend encouraged Aimee to apply for law school, and on a whim she began studying for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). With a new dream of becoming a lawyer, Aimee was accepted to the University of Windsor where, in the spring of 2022, she obtained her Juris Doctor degree and was called to the Ontario bar in 2023.

Now practicing construction law, commercial litigation, and a touch of employment law at a London, Ontario law firm, Aimee is proud of where her career ended up. “A lot of the skills I learned in my History undergrad at Laurentian prepared me for the work that I do every day as a lawyer. I am writing or researching almost every day. I’ve always valued mentorship and I am grateful that I had that in my undergrad and I have that now in my firm,” said Aimee.

While preparing to argue her first appeal in Divisional Court, Aimee received a Facebook memory notification that 12 years ago “on this day” she had been accepted into her undergraduate program at Laurentian. It was a reminder of just how far she had come since deciding to pursue a history degree. “It was a moment of realization that 12 years before, I had started this journey and now here I am living what my past self couldn’t even have dreamt of,” said Aimee.

Aimee found her place in the professional world with hard work and by following her passion. “You don’t need to have it all figured out in your first year of university. Your passion is always going to lead you to where you belong and the opportunities out there are endless. Students should just do what they love and it will lead them to something great,” Aimee said.

Dr. Malcolm M. Campbell Appointed Provost & Vice-President, Academic

Dr. Malcolm M. Campbell Appointed Provost & Vice-President, Academic

Distinguished global scholar and dedicated senior university administrator joins Laurentian

May 8, 2024 - Laurentian University is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Malcolm M. Campbell as its new Provost & Vice-President, Academic. Dr. Campbell brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished academic career to his new role, where he will oversee academic affairs and provide leadership in advancing the development of the university's academic plan.

Dr. Campbell joins Laurentian University from the University of Guelph, where he served as Vice-President, Research from 2015-2023. He has also spent time as a tenured faculty member at the University of Oxford, the University of Toronto, and the University of Guelph, where he originally obtained his PhD in Biochemistry. Throughout his career, Dr. Campbell has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and administration, making him an ideal candidate for this critical leadership position.

"The search committee was thoroughly impressed with Dr. Campbell's credentials and outstanding leadership. His dedication to fostering innovation and academic excellence aligns perfectly with our university's values and strategic goals. We were pleased to be able to find all of these exceptional qualities in a bilingual candidate. We are confident that Dr. Campbell will provide exceptional leadership in advancing our academic offerings and support the success of our students and faculty," said Dr. Lynn Wells, President & Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University.

“Throughout the search, I knew that our next Provost would need to be an experienced leader who can engage with the Laurentian University community to continue with the important work of healing and recovery, all while positioning the institution for future strength and stability. Fortunately, that’s exactly who we’re getting,” added Dr. Wells.

As Provost & Vice-President, Academic, Dr. Campbell will work closely with the university community to enhance academic programs, promote research and scholarly activities, and foster a culture of inclusivity and innovation.

“It is an honour to have the opportunity to serve as Laurentian University’s next Provost & Vice-President Academic at this critical point in time. Laurentian is creating a powerful approach to navigate the future – one that embraces Indigenous ways of knowing and the unique strengths of Francophone culture – and one that delineates it from other universities. With a remarkable commitment to its tri-cultural, bilingual mandate; a strong history of creating positive regional impacts with global relevance; and a bold new strategic plan, Laurentian University is destined to be a North Star to guide students, staff, and faculty to a brilliant future, I am enthusiastic about working for the Laurentian community to create bright futures for all” said Dr. Campbell.

Laurentian University recognizes and is thankful for the extraordinary contributions of outgoing Interim Provost & Vice-President Academic, Dr. Brenda Brouwer, who served in the role from January of 2023.  Please join us in welcoming Dr. Campbell to Laurentian University as he assumes his new role effective August 1, 2024.

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