Milestones are meant to not only be recognized, but celebrated. Read a sampling of the ones that took place this past year at UNB.
On Jan. 28, 2019, the University of New Brunswick’s Board of Governors announced that Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle was appointed the university’s 19th president and vice-chancellor. He assumed the position in July 2019, when UNB’s 18th president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Eddy Campbell, stepped down at the end of June after 10 years at the helm of the institution.
“We are very pleased to be welcoming Dr. Mazerolle back to our UNB community,” said Larry Hachey, chair of the UNB Board of Governors. “He possesses a strong track record in both academia and management, with proven experience leading growth-oriented change and restructuring in a multi-campus environment at Griffith – a well-respected, publicly funded Australian university.”
“We also thank Dr. Eddy Campbell for his tremendous commitment to UNB over the last decade. His service to our community and the leadership he has provided to our institution have positioned us as a nationally recognized university,” said Hachey.
Mazerolle was previously pro vice-chancellor of arts, education and law and the director of the violence research and prevention program at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. He began the pro vice-chancellor role in 2009, which included leadership and management of an academic group of more than 400 faculty, 13,000 students, several academic schools, the Queensland College of Art, the Griffith Film School, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and seven comprehensive research centres and institutes. His teaching and research have been recognized internationally with several awards and extensive citations.
As pro vice-chancellor he was responsible for engagements with the local community and had significant experience in matters of reconciliation with Aboriginal communities in Australia. He has demonstrated a recognition of the value of inclusion of Indigenous communities and has led community efforts for employment expansion opportunities. Mazerolle also has a clear and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with other equity-seeking groups, including the advancement of women in academic leadership.
“Dr. Mazerolle is proudly from New Brunswick – an alumnus of UNB who is globally accomplished and recognized in his field. He has deep experience in dealing with serious financial challenges and strategic planning initiatives,” said Hachey. “As the landscape in post-secondary education becomes more competitive than ever, we are thrilled as we know he has the expertise and energy to take UNB to the next level.”
Mazerolle obtained his bachelor of arts in sociology from UNB in 1989. He went on to complete his master’s degree in criminal justice at Northeastern University in 1990 and his PhD in criminology at the University of Maryland in 1995.
Dr. Emin Civi was recognized for his many efforts at UNB Saint John with a 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award.
As a professor of business at UNB’s Saint John campus, Civi joined an esteemed list of past recipients recognized both for their excellence in the classroom and for their educational leadership.
In addition to his regular class requirements, Civi has founded a number of programs within the business faculty to propel teaching excellence, spearheaded launching a marketing major and created mentorship opportunities for professors.
“I am extremely honoured and pleased to be named as a 3M National Teaching Fellow. I am humbled to be recognized for work that I love doing and value very much,” said Civi.
Austin Henderson and Roxanne Fairweather received New Brunswick Humanitarian Awards from the Canadian Red Cross in November 2018.
The Humanitarian and Young Humanitarian Awards are given annually to individuals from Atlantic Canada who have demonstrated the spirit of humanity, not only in the local and national scale, but also internationally.
Henderson, a Lord Beaverbrook scholar in his final year of his bachelor of philosophy in interdisciplinary leadership at UNB’s Renaissance College in Fredericton, received the 2018 Young Humanitarian Award for New Brunswick for his work around youth empowerment, immigrant integration, gender equality and global development.
Fairweather, Governor Emerita of UNB’s Board of Governors, received the 2018 New Brunswick Humanitarian Award for her extensive advocacy work in early childhood literacy, anti-poverty and gender parity in New Brunswick.
Two UNBers were named to the Order of New Brunswick for their outstanding work in our province.
Ms. Robyn Tingley and Chief Patricia Bernard were among 10 New Brunswickers who were named Order of New Brunswick recipients on Aug. 5 2019 as part of New Brunswick Day celebrations.
Tingley, of Rothesay, is in her second term as vice-chair of UNB’s Board of Governors. She received the honour for her extraordinary achievements in leadership and her commitment to women’s equality in New Brunswick.
Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Chief Bernard (BEd ’96, LLB ’99) was inducted into the Order for her outstanding achievements in uniting the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick and for her work in the economic development of the Madawaska region.
An official investiture ceremony was held at Government House in Fredericton in October.
The full list of recipients is available from the Government of New Brunswick.
UNB Law professor Dr. Vokhid Urinov was presented with a 2018 Teaching Innovation Award for his commitment to fostering a collaborative and innovative teaching environment.
In his four years of teaching at UNB, Urinov has driven classroom engagement through a problem-based approach to learning. His innovative “context first, concept after” method promotes student-centred teaching and learning, challenging students to connect real-life issues with legal theory.
This is Urinov’s second UNB teaching award in as many years, having won the Law Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in 2017.
A UNB alumna received the International Dublin Literary Award, the world’s largest literary prize awarded to a single novel.
Emily Ruskovich, a UNB master of arts (’09) graduate, won the award for her debut novel, Idaho. The prize is wo €100,000 ($145,000 CAD) and has previously been awarded to such notable writers as Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk.
“As a graduate student in creative writing at UNB, I felt like I was part of a very encouraging literary community,” said Ruskovich. “What impressed me most was the close attention my work received from my professors who consistently met with me one-on-one to give thorough and honest critiques of my writing. It was an experience I don’t think I will have again to quite the same degree. The personal relationships I developed there were inspiring and meaningful.”
Four UNB faculty members were honoured by the Nursing Association of New Brunswick (NANB) for their contributions to nursing in the province.
Dr. Patricia Seaman, Kim Wilbur, Cathy O’Brien-Larivée and Dr. Tracey Rickards received recognition from the NANB in June 2019.
Seaman, a nursing instructor at UNB Fredericton, received the Lifetime Membership Award.
This award recognizes long or outstanding services to the nursing profession, either by serving in elected office or by participating in committee work at the national or provincial level.
Wilbur received the NANB Award of Merit: Nursing Practice for her outstanding achievements in breast cancer research, the development of youth mental health programming, the implementation of harm reduction initiatives and long-standing advocacy on behalf of highly complex and vulnerable populations.
O’Brien-Larivée, chair of the department of nursing and health sciences in Saint John, received the NANB Award of Merit: Administration for outstanding leadership, advocacy in promoting the profession of nursing though the delivery of excellence in nursing education and achievements in building significant partnerships within both the nursing and local communities.
Rickards, an associate professor in UNB Fredericton’s faculty of nursing, received the Award of Merit: Research. This award acknowledges those who have made unique contributions to the nursing profession and who demonstrate excellence in nursing research and practice.
Three UNB students also received the President’s Award. Logan Rousselle from the Saint John campus, Robert Pelletier from the Fredericton campus, and Marlise O’Brien from the Moncton site were recognized for their excellence.
Karina LeBlanc, executive director of UNB’s Pond-Deshpande Centre, received the Frank McKenna Award in Public Policy to recognize her significant achievements and contributions to the field.
LeBlanc was awarded the honour in May 2019 for demonstrating leadership through fostering collaboration with experts and stakeholders on projects as well as spearheading fundraising initiatives for the centre.
The Pond-Deshpande Centre’s mandate is to help aspiring business leaders and start-up companies who want to create social change in New Brunswick. High-profile start-ups have included Resson, a company that uses drones and infield sensors to collect data in order to solve issues on New Brunswick farms, and Kennebecasis Valley Oasis Youth Centre, an organization that helps empower youth and tackles mental health issues.
Two members of the UNB community were honoured for their community dedication at the YMCA of Greater Saint John’s 2019 Red Triangle Award Gala in April 2019.
Dr. Shelley Rinehart, faculty of business professor and MBA director, received the Red Triangle Award, which recognizes long and meritorious service, outstanding contributions and achievement in the community. Rinehart volunteers with a number of community organizations, including the YMCA, the New Brunswick Research and Productivity Council and Elementary Literacy Friends.
Jennifer Brown was recognized with the YMCA’s Leader to Watch Award. The Leader to Watch Award honours a young individual who is a role model for other young adults in the community, demonstrating leadership and enthusiasm in their work, in learning, and in volunteering.
Brown, an alumna of UNB, is an active volunteer in Saint John and a role model for youth in the community. She is committed to making a difference, particularly when it comes to eliminating poverty in the region.
Rina Arseneault, associate director at UNB’s Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research (MMFC), received the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Person’s Case in December 2018 in Ottawa.
The Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the goal of equality for women and girls in Canada.
2018 marked the 25th anniversary of the MMFC, as well as the year of Arseneault’s retirement. Arseneault took the opportunity to reflect on her life, the evolution of her career and where she sees the centre at their 50th anniversary.
“We have come a long way in a very short time, not even a generation. But the issues are much more complex now. We need to unpack these issues and continue talking about trauma and its impact.”
Dr. Martin Wielemaker, an associate professor in the faculty of management at UNB Fredericton, received the 2019 Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) Distinguished Teaching Award, an accolade which recognizes outstanding teaching over a number of years.
Since joining UNB in 2002, Wielemaker has used alternative delivery modes and innovative technology in addition to developing new teaching materials. He has developed tool kits for course offerings and conducted real-time case studies in the classroom. Wielemaker also developed the university’s popular elevator pitch and business plan competition with external jurors.
AAU member universities propose nominees for the Teaching Awards program and recipients are selected by the AAU's Coordinating Committee on Faculty Development.
This year, 2,448 students graduated from UNB and were welcomed into our alumni family.
In May 2019, 1,228 students graduated during Encaenia on our Fredericton campus. They were joined by 404 graduates at UNB Fredericton’s Fall Convocation in October.
On our Saint John campus, 338 students graduated at the Spring Convocation ceremony, joined by an additional 106 graduates at the Fall Convocation ceremony.
Our nursing program offered in partnership with Toronto’s Humber College saw 227 graduates receive their degrees, while 145 students graduated from our business and education programs in Trinidad.
Congratulations, all!
