People in the News

In July, the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs (ACE) Memorial represented Canada at the Students in Free Enterprise international championship held in London, England. In February, ACE Memorial won Chapter of the Year, Best Ventures Program, and Best Fair Enterprise Program at the national ACE conference held in Toronto.

Three Memorial University students were members of the team that won the Junior Men’s Curling National Championships last year in London, Ontario. The students are Mike Adams, Brad Gushue, and Marc Nichols. It was the first time Newfoundland won a National Championship in curling since 1976.

Dr. Gerhard Bassler, History, and Dr. Hans Rollmann, Religious Studies, were honoured with the German Canadian Friendship Award for the year 2000 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to and support of German-Canadian relations.

Four students from Memorial were awarded doctoral fellowships by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada out of 591 Canadian students who have demonstrated high standards of academic achievement in undergraduate studies. They were: John M. Bodner, Folklore; Alison L. Butler, Religious Studies; Sherry M. Doyle, Literature; and Agnieszka A. Kosny, Sociology. The award is worth $16,620 per year for up to four years of study at the PhD level.

Dr. Neil Bose, Engineering and Applied Science, received the 2000 Teaching Award from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland. The award is given to members of the association in recognition of an exemplary contribution in the areas of engineering and/or geoscience education.

Dr. Jean Briggs, Anthropology, and Dr. Derek Nurse, Linguistics, were elected as Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. The Royal Society of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scientists and scholars.

Dr. Derek Nurse, Linguistics, was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Academy of the Humanities and Social Sciences.

Dr. John T. Brosnan, head, Department of Biochemistry, was appointed chair of the advisory board of the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes of the Canadian Institute for Health Research.

Dr. Joe Brown, OSC, was awarded the 2001 Research Award of Excellence from the Aquaculture Association of Canada in recognition of his exceptional research contribution and commitment to aquaculture research and industry development in Canada.

Jenine Browne of the Sea-Hawks was named the 2000-01 Atlantic University Sport Women’s Basketball Conference Rookie of the Year.

Two members of Memorial's community were honoured with Leadership Awards for Women's Health in Atlantic Canada. The awards were given to Dr. Sharon Buehler, Community Health, and Prof. Kay Matthews, Nursing, by the Maritime Centre for Excellence in Women's Health. The two women are long-time friends with similar histories of service to the community and the university. Both moved with their husbands and young children to Newfoundland in 1967 and helped found the Children's Centre, a non-profit daycare centre formed as a co-operative of parents who hired teachers trained in early childhood education.

Cyr Couturier, chair, Aquaculture Programs, School of Fisheries, was elected president of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, the lead Canadian organization in fostering aquaculture development.

Three undergraduate students won the Royal Institution of Naval Architects/Fleet Technology Student Naval Architect award, sponsored by Fleet Technology of Kanata, Ontario. Jason Dawe, Michael O’Connell and Dean Pelley won for their project on a high speed small water plane area twin hull ferry, St. John’s to Halifax. They shared a $700 prize for their effort.

In May 2001, the Faculty of Business Administration presented its 2000 Alumni Honour Award to Mark Dobbin (B.Comm. '81), chairman and CEO of Vector Aerospace Corporation, a globally recognized aviation repair and overhaul service.

Dr. Doug House, Sociology, was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada.

It was another successful year for students in Memorial's Faculty of Business Administration. They excelled in a number of business case competitions. Treasury Management Association of Canada MBA Business Student Essay Contest: first, second, and third; 2001 Queen's Intercollegiate Business Case Competition: first place (debating); second place (labour arbitration); second place (policy); 2001 MT&T Dalhousie MBA International Business Case Competition: third place; 2001 Network of International Business Schools Case Competition: second place.

Dr. Don Downer, head of the Office of Research and the Applied Research Unit at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, received the 2001 Hall of Fame Award from the Salmon Preservation Association for the Waters of Newfoundland.

Dr. Douglas Dunsmore, Music, received the prestigious Canada Council artist-in-mid-career award, using the accompanying stipend to travel across Canada working with major professional choirs from Toronto to Vancouver.

Dr. Robert Forsey, a part-time member of the Faculty of Medicine at the Melville Hospital, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, received the Discipline of Family Medicine’s Dr. Yong Kee Jeon Award for 2000. The award is given annually in honour of Dr. Jeon, a family physician who contributed over 20 years service to the rural community of Brookfield, Newfoundland, as well as teaching residents within the Family Medicine Program.

Dr. James J. Sharp, Engineering, and Y.H. Lim were awarded the 2001 Overseas Prize by the Institution of Civil Engineers for their paper, The Sarawak River Barrage - Hydrotechnical and Geotechnical Aspects. The paper was written while Dr. Sharp was a visiting professor at the University of Malaysia, Sarawak, and was published in the Journal of Water and Maritime Engineering.

Two Education professors were honoured by the Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Norm Garlie received the Donald G. Warren Outstanding Achievement award for his work in teaching and leadership. Dr. Wayne Nesbit received the Sam Rabinovitch Evaluation Research Award for his book Black Eyes and Bruised Souls: A Portrait of Bullying.

Dr. Lan Gien, Nursing, was elected president of the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada at its biannual general meeting in November 2000. The group is the umbrella organization of about 50 national, provincial and individual groups across Canada.

Craig Goudie, teacher with School District 5, and Ken Penney of STEM~Net won a WebCT 2001 Exemplary Course Project Award for the development of an art technologies course for high school students. WebCT is the world's leading provider of integrated e-learning systems.

The Bio-East Entrepreneurship Award went to Dr. Wayne Gulliver, president and medical director of Newlab Clinical Research. Bio-East, a division of the GENESIS Group Inc, is the network for the biotechnology industry in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr. Gulliver is a dermatologist in the Faculty of Medicine who has played an important role in establishing Newfound Genomics Inc., the first genomics company in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kellie Hadden, University Counselling Centre predoctoral psychology intern, received two awards at the Canadian Pain Society’s annual conference: the Canadian Consortium on Pain Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment Scholarship and the Best Clinical Research Poster Presentation.

Michael Hayes was named head coach of the Memorial Sea-Hawks Men’s Volleyball Program. Mr. Hayes is a former volleyball player with the Sea-Hawks and was recognized for his outstanding athletic performances with AUAA all-star honors.

The Student Affairs and Services Association National Recognition Award was presented to Dr. Brian Johnston, director, Student Housing and Food Services. The award is sponsored by the student affairs and services association, a national association comprised of over 350 members from across Canada who are involved in various facets of student services.

Three MBA students made a clean sweep in the 2000 Treasury Management Association of Canada Business Student Essay Contest. Shelley King won first place and $1,500 for her essay; John Cowan took second place and $1,000; third place and $500 went to Peter Fitzgerald. This is the second year in a row that Memorial MBA students have taken all three prizes in the business essay writing competition.

Dr. Kevin Keough, Memorial's vice-president (research and international relations), was named Health Canada's first chief scientist. The appointment was announced in Ottawa Jan. 4, 2001, by federal Health Minister Alan Rock. As Health Canada's inaugural chief scientist, Dr. Keough has a mandate to bring leadership, coherence and expertise to the overall strategic direction of Health Canada's scientific responsibilities, activities and needs. He will be responsible for promoting a high quality of health research by fostering links among scientists within the federal department, across the country and around the world.

Dr. Jon Lien, Whale Research Group, Department of Psychology, was appointed to federal fisheries and oceans minister Herb Dhaliwal’s Minister’s Advisory Council on Oceans.

Graduate student Ayman Mahfouz and Dr. Mahmoud R. Haddara were co-winners of the best graduate student paper in the ocean, offshore and arctic engineering division competition held by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Their paper was entitled On-line Prediction of the Hydrodynamic Parameters in the Coupled Heave and Pitch Motion Equations for Underwater Robotic Vehicles Using Measured Responses at Sea.

The Tuck-Walters Award in Natural History this year went to Henry Mann, associate professor of biology at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. The award is sponsored by the Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Todd Martin as was appointed head coach for the Sea-Hawks women’s volleyball team for the 2000-2001 season, replacing Karen Murphy who left Memorial to continue her education in the United States.

Former Memorial president Dr. Arthur May was appointed to chair the advisory board for the $300 million Atlantic Innovation Fund. Dr. Verna Skanes, retired assistant dean for research and graduate studies (medicine), will also sit on the board.

Debbie McGee, Media Production Unit, won the AMTEC Award of Merit for her video, Out of the Dark: Youth and Depression. Ms. McGee was the director on the project, which was produced for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CHMA), Newfoundland and Labrador Division, and sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of St. John's Northwest and East. The program was requested by the CHMA to address the need to inform teenagers about the sensitive topic of depression. The video, released in December, is a moving first-person account by Yvette Goodland of her battle with depression through her teens and early twenties. Filmed in St. John's, the program depicts Ms. Goodland talking candidly with students about her experiences. Out of the Dark is being piloted in junior and senior high schools this year, and is expected to become a permanent part of the Family Studies curriculum in Newfoundland and Labrador. [Video Clip]

Peter Morris, associate director, Division of University Relations, was elected to the board of directors of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE). CCAE is an organization of professionals involved in public affairs, alumni relations and fund-raising at universities and colleges across the country.

Keith Nicol, Environmental Studies, Grenfell College, took two third-place finishes at the Atlantic Cross-Country Ski Championships in Stephenville, NF., and a second-place finish at the Newfoundland Masters Cross-Country Championship in Stephenville. As well, he participated in the annual Newfoundland Ski Marathon in Corner Brook, NF. in March, and again took a bronze medal in the Masters 3 age category.

Bram Noble, a doctoral student, was awarded a Canadian Policy Research graduate prize for his research into the lack of an accepted standard for strategic environmental assessment and how this might present a major barrier to governments in effectively incorporating environmental consideration into policy-level decision-making. This prize is sponsored by SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR and PRI. Mr. Noble also received an ISER Internal Award, accompanied with a research grant of $2,157, and was nominated Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies of MUN.

Bram Noble, a doctoral student of geography at Memorial, received a Canadian Policy Research graduate prize for his research into the lack of an accepted standard for Strategic Environmental Assessment as a major barrier to governments effectively incorporating environmental consideration into policy-level decision-making.

Ellen Oliver, the administrator of the Collaborative Social Work Program at Memorial’s School of Social Work, was appointed president of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) during the association’s annual general meeting. A graduate of Memorial’s Social Work program, Ms. Oliver has focused her career primarily in the field of mental health and has been employed at the School of Social Work since 1996.

Dr. Jay Parsons, School of Fisheries, is president of the National Shellfisheries Association, an international organization of scientists and industry dedicated to shellfish biology and culture.

Matthew Penney, who holds a BA (History) from Memorial, was awarded the Monbusho Scholarship by the Japanese government. The scholarship, valued at $45,000 per year, will allow him to pursue Japanese studies at Kanazawa University for two years.

Dr. Gerald Pocius, Folklore, was appointed to a new heritage advisory group for the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. The group of 15 will meet periodically during the coming year to develop new directions for federal heritage policy in Canada. Members of the group are from museums, archives, libraries, and public and private heritage organizations across the country.

Dr. Jennifer Porter appeared on a February episode of the Vision Channel series Starlight. The episode was entitled: "Jennifer Porter on Star Trek."

The Alistair and Dorothy Riach Memorial Bench was formally dedicated on Nov. 27, 2000, in a short ceremony officiated by university librarian Richard Ellis. The namesakes, the late Alistair and Dorothy (MA'79) Riach, were dedicated faculty members at Memorial from the 1960s until their retirements in the 1980s. He was a member of the education faculty, she a professor with the English department.

In December 2000, the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany presented Dr. Hans Rollmann with the German-Canadian Friendship Award in recognition of his outstanding support of German-Canadian relations.

Dr. Neil V. Rosenberg, Folklore, was awarded the Marius Barbeau Medal at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Folklore Studies Association of Canada. The medal, commemorating one of the founders of Canadian folklore studies, is given in recognition of a remarkable contribution to folklore and ethnology.

Dr. Fereidoon Shahidi, University Research Professor, Department of Biochemistry, was appointed to the task force of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) on Natural Products and Nutraceuticals. CAST is a US-based organization of over 50 scientific societies. Dr. Shahidi also serves as the incoming chair of the Division of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Dr. Jim Sharp and graduate student Y. Lim were winners of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK) year 2000 overseas prize for the best paper printed in the ICE journals for the year 2000. Their paper, titled The Sarawak River Barrage, described the reasons for building the barrage, some of the hydrology, some of the construction, and the effects of the barrage -- social, economic and environmental.

Pharmacy students at Memorial University continued to perform exceptionally well on the national Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada qualifying exams. Official results for the Class of 2000 show a 100 per cent success rate for Memorial students, tying them with two other pharmacy schools for top spot. The MUN graduates also met or exceeded the national average in more than half of practice areas tested.

At the School of Physical Education and Athletics annual presentation of awards, seven of Memorial’s graduating players were inducted into the Athletic Honour Society, which recognizes graduating student-athletes who have made an outstanding contribution. The inductees were: Colin Fewer, cross country; Cheryl Oldford and Susan Mosher, volleyball; Erica Coultas, Ann Murrin and Amy O’Reilly, basketball; and Fiona Curtis, soccer. The Edward P. Browne Trophy, presented annually to the outstanding male and female interuniversity basketball players, went to Jeff Saxby and Ann Murrin. Cheryl Oldford, volleyball, was awarded the Graham Snow Memorial Award, presented annually to the student who combines prowess in varsity athletics with high academic achievement. Melissa Skanes received the Harold Squires Scholarship, presented annually to a student combining outstanding achievement in athletics and academics. Trevor O’Brien was awarded the Jubilee Cup for the most outstanding performance in distance running. George Colbert received the John Drinkwater Memorial Award as the outstanding varsity swimmer.

The Institute of Public Administration of Canada presented Dr. Robert Sexty, Faculty of Business Administration, with the institute’s Award of Merit for his long term active membership in the IPAC Newfoundland and Labrador Group. Dr. Sexty also won the Best Case and Best Strategy Case awards at the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada’s 2001 Conference. He was also elected to the board of director of the Canadian Consortium of Management Schools (CCMS) at its May meeting.

Drs. James Sharp and Leonard Lye of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science were named to the International Advisory Committee for the second World Engineering Congress, to be held in Sarawak on the island of Borneo in 2002. The appointments recognize the considerable background both Drs. Sharp and Lye have cultivated as consultants and advisors to various regions within Southeast Asia.

Dr. Glenn W. Sheppard, Education, was elected president of the Canadian Counselling Association for the period 2001-2003. CCA is a national association dedicated to the support and enhancement of the counselling profession in Canada.

Andrew Stefanelli, honours student in Classics, won first prize in the Classical Association of Canada National Greek Sight Translation Contest, and took third prize in the corresponding Latin Sight Translation Contest.

Shannon Sullivan was one of 10 Canadian contestants, and the only one from Atlantic Canada, to fly to New York City for the taping of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

At the Student Volunteer Bureau Awards Day, the Blundon Award went to Nadine Green; the David Kirkland Student Leadership Awards went to Shannon Sullivan (graduate), Gordon Barnes (undergraduate) and Amanda Boone (Grenfell); Student Volunteer of the Year was Byron Rolls; Volunteer Faculty/Staff went to Queen Elizabeth II Library; Volunteer Residence was Bowater House; Volunteer Club/Society was Frontier College: Students for Literacy; Volunteer Centre was LBGT-MUN; and Volunteer Awards of Exemplary Service were presented to Dr. John C. Crosbie and Noel Veitch.

Fourth-year B.Comm. (co-op) student Elizabeth Suvak received the prestigious Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship worth over $4,000 (US) from Zonta International.

Associate professor Dr. Kristina Szutor, Music, won the 2001 President's Award for Distinguished Research, the third recipient from the School of Music in six years. Dr Szutor has maintained an international profile as a concert pianist with extensive performances across Canada and Europe. The 2000-2001 Faculty Artists Concert Series at the Cook Recital Hall included a concert dedicated to the launch of her highly acclaimed CD Bookends in Time.

Christopher Tibbo was selected from over 1000 international cadets as Maersk's cadet of the year. Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, has designated the Marine Institute as a corporate training centre.

On August 17 Dr. Leslie M. Tuck was recognized for his ornithological work in Newfoundland when the Interpretive Centre at Cape St. Mary's was renamed in his honour. A former J. L. Paton Research Professor from the Psychology Department, Dr. Tuck was instrumental in setting up seabird ecological reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador. He also founded the Newfoundland Natural History Society and was active in raising public awareness of oil pollution and its relationship to seabird mortality.

Megan Turner and Beth Durant, final-year pharmacy students, were awarded the Glaxo-Harlow Award, which will allow them to travel to Memorial's campus in Harlow, UK, and complete one of their six week clerkship rotations at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

David Vardy is the newest Fellow of the James G. Channing Chair at Memorial University. A 28-year veteran of the provincial public service, Mr. Vardy is currently chairman and chief executive officer of the Public Utilities Commission. He follows Robert Olivero, the first Channing chair.

Dr. Roy West, associate dean of Community Health, received the R.D. Defries Award and Honorary Life Membership in the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). This is the association’s highest award and was given for his contribution to the field of public health research and policy in Canada as well as his contribution to CPHA.

Wanhong Yang, Environmental Studies, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, received the outstanding PhD dissertation award for 2000 in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (American Agricultural Economics Association’s annual award competition).

Wellness Education of the Office of Student Affairs & Services received the Award for Excellence in Student Services for the Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program at Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services at the June conference.

The Division of University Relations took home a gold award from the annual conference of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) in June 2001 for an entry in the professional association's prix d'excellence awards competition. Entitled Communications: Faculty Labour Dispute, Fall 2000, the entry captured the top honours in the Best Program: Public Affairs, Marketing and Communications category. This is the second time that University Relations has won this award; the division had received the gold award in this category in 1997.