Teri Balser departing role; Interim provost and deputy provost appointments

I’m writing today to let you know that Teri Balser is departing from her provost and vice-president (academic) roles. This change takes effect today.

Teri joined us in early 2021 and, in her brief time with us, she began a number of initiatives designed to improve our organizational foundations, increase student outcomes and support transformation during a time of change — both locally and in reaction to a changing global academic landscape. 

Please join me in thanking Teri for her service to the university and wishing her well as she embarks on the next stage of her career in the Faculty of Science’s Department of Biological Sciences.

A search for a new provost and vice-president (academic) will begin shortly. In the meantime, Dr. Penny Werthner has been appointed interim provost and vice-president (academic). She will be supported in this role by a strong and collaborative team that includes our deputy provost, Dr. Sandra Davidson, as well as Dr. Mary-Jo Romaniuk and Dr. Bill Rosehart, who have been appointed deputy provosts. Mary-Jo and Bill will be serving in their roles part-time and continue to oversee Library and Cultural Resources (LCR) and the Schulich School of Engineering, respectively.

Dr. Penny Werthner became the dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology in 2012 and, under her leadership, the faculty has been named No. 1 for schools of sport science in North America for the last three years, and No. 10 globally. Her research is in the area of lifelong and social learning, women and sport, and biofeedback for optimal performance. She is one of the founding members of the organization, Canadian Women and Sport, and has been named one of the Top 20 Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity. She is also one of Canada’s most distinguished practitioners in the field of sport psychology, working with many of Canada’s Olympic teams.

 

Dr. Sandra Davidson became the dean of Nursing in 2018. Under Sandra’s leadership, UCalgary's Faculty of Nursing has made significant gains in academic programming, operational efficiencies, community relationships and research growth. Among the highlights are the faculty being awarded its first two Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Tier II Canada Research Chairs, launching an innovative nurse-practitioner-led mental health and well-being clinic, and revitalizing rural nursing through curriculum redesign, student recruitment and online education delivery.

 

 

Dr. Mary-Jo Romaniuk became vice-provost (library and cultural resources) in 2018. She joined UCalgary from the University of Manitoba, where she had been university librarian since 2014. Romaniuk is a leader in the field with a focus on user needs and the role of technology and new services in creating memorable experiences for new and returning students. She has encouraged and supported inclusivity, particularly through enhanced programs, services and scholarly dissemination to support Indigenous students.

 

 

 

Dr. Bill Rosehart has been dean of the Schulich School of Engineering since 2014. He has led the school to launch several new undergraduate, graduate and transfer programs — expanding access to the engineering profession. During his tenure as dean, the school has welcomed record numbers of engineering students, dramatically increased student retention rates, significantly expanded student work placements and supported faculty to secure more federal funding for high-impact research than ever before.

I hope you’ll join me in thanking Penny, Sandra, Mary-Jo and Bill for taking on these leadership roles.

Regards,

Dr. Ed McCauley
President and Vice-Chancellor