Acadia University today celebrated 10 distinguished faculty members who were awarded endowed departmental Chairs in the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences over the past academic year. These Chairs are named for many of Acadia’s most familiar and influential faculty, staff, and alumni. The awards will encourage Chair holders to pursue their scholarly interests and help defray the associated costs of travel, publication and student support.

“The most satisfying and rewarding aspect of this program is that the Chair holders have been recognized and nominated by their peers,” said Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia’s vice-president Academic. “Earning peer recognition and respect is a significant achievement for any scholar and Acadia’s named Chair program is a small but significant way that we can celebrate our own faculty. In turn, these faculty members, through their appointment, contribute to our internal and external communities by encouraging further research, discovery and dialogue. A robust Chair program allows us to showcase our outstanding faculty talent. Congratulations to all of today’s honourees.”

 The ten named chairs are:

•             Dr. Svetlana Barkanova – Ivan Curry Chair in Physics
•             Dr. Sandra Barr – J. Austin Bancroft Chair
•             Dr. Craig Bennett – R.A. Jodrey Chair in Physics
•             Dr. Amitabh Jha – George H. Wallace Chair
•             Dr. Stephen Maitzen – W.G. Clark Chair in Philosophy
•             Dr. Robert Raeside – Edwin David King Chair
•             Dr. JennieRand – Alan D. Foulis Chair in Engineering
•             Dr. Donna Seamone – Lumsden Chair in Religious Studies
•             Dr. Elhadi Shakshuki – Wheelock Chair
•             Dr. Dan Toews – Charles F. Myers Chair in Biology

About Acadia
Acadia University, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, has long been recognized as one of Canada’s premier post-secondary institutions. With its nationally and internationally recognized undergraduate and graduate research initiatives, small classes and technology-rich teaching and learning environment, Acadia offers students an experience that includes academic achievement combined with personal growth and development. Acadia also offers distance learning, certificate programs, language training and other university extension programs through Open Acadia. For more information about Acadia University, visit our website at www.acadiau.ca.

-30-