UPEI's International Relations Office was approved as a new member of the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) during its annual general meeting and symposium from June 13-15. The annual event was hosted by the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and it provided an opportunity for the ACIC to select new members, including UPEI.

The International Relations Office of UPEI is committed to collaborating with organizations that work in the international development field. By joining ACIC, the office is expanding UPEI's commitment of collaboration and partnership in the region, and around the world.

Two individual board members from PEI were also acclaimed-both with UPEI connections-Leo Cheverie, Librarian Technician, and Digafie Debalke, Project Officer in UPEI's International Relations Office. Cheverie, also involved in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) as the PEI representative, returns to ACIC as co-chair; while Debalke joins the board for the first time, as ACIC member-at-large.

Debalke believes the ACIC is an important organization in Atlantic Canada, one that is committed to advancing mutual collaboration and partnership with communities and international development organizations in Canada and beyond.

'The challenges facing ACIC and other international development organizations are numerous, and I am looking forward to serving the organization to the best of my abilities to address these challenges,' says Debalke. 'And in doing so, I hope to strengthen our vision for international cooperation.'

The ACIC has over 70 members located in Atlantic Canada, and is actively involved in a variety of activities, including public engagement, international internship placements, capacity-building efforts, and networking.

More about the ACIC

The University of Prince Edward Island's Board of Governors recently accepted the recommendation of the search committee for Dean of the School of Nursing. Dr. Rosemary Herbert, Associate Professor and coordinator of UPEI's Master of Nursing program, will begin her appointment immediately.

'I am pleased to announce Rosemary's appointment to the position of Dean of the School of Nursing. Rosemary brings with her an extensive academic background and leadership experience that will prove valuable in moving forward the many initiatives in the School of Nursing,' said Dr. Jim Randall, chair of the search committee.

'I would also like to extend my appreciation to everyone who participated in this search, including the Search Committee, the candidates and all those who submitted comments and input as part of the process. This truly was a community endeavor,' he added.

Dr. Herbert said, 'I am delighted to serve as Dean of Nursing. I love interacting with students and am excited about working on our many projects and programs with our strong team of faculty and staff at the School of Nursing, and continuing the great tradition, on PEI and at UPEI, of developing leaders in our profession.'

Rosemary has a strong history of academic and administrative achievement at UPEI,' said President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'I look forward to her success, and the continuing success of the School of Nursing under her guidance.'

Dr. Herbert is not entirely new to the position, having served as Dean of the School of Nursing from 2000-2003. Herbert was also the interim Vice-President Academic Development in 2006 and again from 2008-2010. During her time as V-P Academic Development, Dr. Herbert especially enjoyed her mentorship role with both students and colleagues, and found supporting new teaching initiatives and teaching workshops both interesting and rewarding.

A researcher in tobacco control, she is a long-time, active member of the PEI Tobacco Reduction Alliance and sits on the board of the Canadian Cancer Society (PEI Division). Dr. Herbert recently completed a six-year term on the board of the CHANCES Family Resource Centre and currently serves with Farmers Helping Farmers and on the UPEI Future Directions Steering Committee.

Herbert has been a faculty member of the UPEI School of Nursing since the School opened in 1992. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Nursing from Dalhousie University and a PhD from McGill University.

The University of Prince Edward Island announced today the appointment of Dr. Robert Hurta as the next Jeanne and J.-Louis Lévesque Research Professor in Nutrisciences and Health.

Dr. Hurta is a molecular/cellular biologist and an associate professor of biology at UPEI. His research focuses on investigating the possible health benefits of compounds found in plant and marine sources, and in particular, determining their possible roles in protecting us from, or preventing, cancer.

'There is a naturally occurring bioactive compound within the roots and bark of magnolia called magnolol which has been touted to have a number of health benefits. It has often been used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine,' said Dr. Hurta. 'My lab will investigate the effects of magnolol and its related compounds on the behaviour of breast and prostate cancer cells.'

This three-year professorship allows Dr. Hurta's lab to hire a graduate student to aid in his research, building the research capacity of the University and offering a unique training opportunity for students.

The Jeanne and J.-Louis Lévesque Research Professorship in Nutrisciences and Health is funded by a generous contribution by the Fondation J.-Louis Lévesque. Formed in 1961 by St. Dunstan's University alumnus J.-Louis Lévesque (BA'34, LLD'64), the foundation supports numerous teaching and research projects in regards to human health. UPEI is proud of its long-standing relationship with the foundation and its chair, Mme. Suzanne Lévesque, daughter of J.-Louis Lévesque.

'I want to congratulate Dr. Hurta on his new professorship; this demonstrates the excellence in research we have come to expect from his laboratory,' said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor of UPEI.

The Fondation J.-Louis Lévesque has supported research at the University of Prince Edward Island since 1999 with the purchase of a major piece of research equipment and the establishment of a Research Professorship in Respiratory Health. It also currently supports the Jeanne and J.-Louis Lévesque Research Chair in Nutrisciences and Health, held by Dr. Russ Kerr, and supports collaboration across the country.

UPEI's Institute of Island Studies (IIS), in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College's Rural Research Centre (soon to be the Rural Research Centre of Dalhousie's Faculty of Agriculture), and the Tatamagouche Centre invite the public to a lecture and discussion by Alastair McIntosh, a leading figure in Scottish land reform, and a well-known writer and broadcaster.

Entitled 'Rekindling Community,' the presentation will deal with many issues of current concern on Prince Edward Island, as well as offer persons of Scottish descent an opportunity to reconnect with what is happening in their ancestral homeland.

McIntosh notes that all around the world, rural communities are facing huge challenges to their cohesion. Globalization has changed the economic basis of agriculture and natural resource extraction, while high levels of mobility, made possible by cheap oil, have created fluidity in the social structure. In Scotland, as on PEI, many communities are undergoing a fundamental re-evaluation of what it means to be a community, and how to increase their resilience and maintain a better quality of life.

'We are very lucky to have such a wonderful speaker here on the Island. It is a timely opportunity to consider how our small communities can survive in the face of government funding cuts, outmigration, climate changes and other forces,' notes IIS Director, Dr. Irene Novaczek. 'Alastair's lecture will explore some of these issues based on his work with land reform. His presentation will also touch on community regeneration and explore the spiritual underpinnings of community.'

Alastair McIntosh's book, Soil and Soul, has garnered some interesting responses. It has been described by George Monbiot as 'world-changing,' by the Bishop of Liverpool as 'life-changing,' by Starhawk as 'inspirational,' and by Thoom Yorke of Radiohead as 'truly mental!' His most recent edited book, Radical Human Ecology is co-authored with colleagues from the Department of Native Studies at the University of Wisconsin. He is a fellow of the Centre for Human Ecology, and visiting professor of human ecology at the University of Strathclyde.

The presentation and discussion will take place on Monday, July 16, in the Faculty Lounge at UPEI's Main Building at 7:00 pm. The event is free of charge and all are welcome to attend.

UPEI graduate students, interested in conducting field work during their studies, were treated to a visit on July 9 from Dr. Luc Mougeot of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Dr. Mougeot spoke about funding opportunities and provided a chance for students to ask questions about field-work abroad.

Session participants included Mike Coffin, PhD Environmental Science; Mahendra Pallapothu, MBA; Dante Mateo, Postdoctoral Fellow, AVC; Dr. John Vanleeuwen, Professor, Epidemiology & Ruminant Health Management; Leslie Cudmore, Research Grants Officer, Research Services; Dr. Brian Wagner, Assistant Vice-President, Graduate Studies; and Digafie Debalke, Project Officer, International Relations.

'The University is committed to expanding its international development partnership, as well as international field research in the Global South,' said Debalke. 'To achieve this goal, we're striving to build and maintain a strong partnership with the IDRC, which is an important component of UPEI's vision to promote global citizenry and responsibility.'

The role of IDRC is to support field research that offers practical hands-on tools for advancing international development. UPEI continues to strengthen its collaboration with IDRC.

The IDRC is a leading organization in Canada that creates opportunities for international research collaboration on a range of topics that are important to Canada and the countries in the Global South. Over forty years of its existence have provided more than $133 million from close to 65 Canadian universities.

More about the International Development Research Centre

The UPEI Executive MBA (EMBA) program recently partnered with a local company, Newman Estate Winery, in a marketing challenge for students. Five EMBA teams in the Business 603 Marketing Management class were tasked to prepare a comprehensive marketing plan to help with the launch of two new winery products. Each group presented their marketing plan to the company, the class, and a panel of judges. The winning team-Angie Cormier, Adam Proud, Mary Jane Webster and Bai Yunpeng-took home a Newman Estate Winery sponsored prize of $1,000.

Judges included Brian Howatt, Results Marketing & Advertising; Miriam Briggs, Briggs & Briggs Marketing; and Mike Newman, owner and operator of Newman Estate Winery, located in Gladstone, Prince Edward Island.

'The opportunity to work with a real company and to assist them in achieving their goals and objectives allowed everyone in our cohort to feel invested in this project,' said Webster. 'This was an incredible learning experience, and I believe Mike will appreciate all of the time and energy that the groups dedicated to his company.'

Newman always believed there would be a benefit of introducing 20 students to his company, but the value he received far exceeded his expectations. 'The groups really took the time to understand the business, and come up with some tactical strategies and innovative solutions to help out with some of the issues I was facing,' he said. 'I am already implementing many of these ideas into my business and I look forward to working with the School of Business on future projects.'

Launched in September 2008, the UPEI Executive MBA program provides a unique opportunity for working professionals to advance their education while continuing to work. It employs an integrated approach, peer-to-peer learning, and an emphasis on developing global perspectives to prepare graduates to act as leaders and innovators in an ever-changing environment.

Two UPEI professors, Malcolm Murray (Philosophy) and Alan Harrington (English) appear in the first anthology of contemporary short fiction by PEI authors: Riptides: New Island Fiction, along with staff member Orysia Dawydiak (Department of Biomedical Sciences) and former Psychology professor Fiona Papps. Another half-dozen authors are UPEI graduates. The anthology was edited by Richard Lemm (English), and includes an introductory essay on the development of PEI fiction.

Acorn Press, the Island's major publisher, will launch the anthology which includes twenty-three stories by twenty-three writers, some of whom have established reputations as fiction authors, and others who have emerged more recently as talented writers. The launch will take place on Wednesday, July 18, at 7:00 pm at The Guild on Queen Street in Charlottetown.

Readers will discover a rich variety of settings, characters, situations, and crises in Riptides-from a woman returning to Chernobyl after the nuclear disaster to a married couple playing a dangerous game of hide-and-seek in rural Nova Scotia. One young woman hankers to free herself from her life in Alberton, while another arrives on an outback sheep ranch, and an older man travels on the Enlightenment Tour bus to meet Canadian gurus.

Riptides introduces and features Island fiction writers of the 21st century, a hundred years after another fiction writer made PEI the Land of Anne and Emily. With Riptides, we're not in Avonlea anymore.

Following the artistic success of the Cadenzas Day Recital at UPEI on July 1, UPEI professor and clarinetist Karem J. Simon will give encore performances of this work on Wednesday, July 18 at 12:10 pm at the Kirk of St. James in Charlottetown, and on Thursday, July 19 at 12:15 pm at UPEI's Robertson Library. Collaborating with Dr. Simon is Summerside percussionist, Krista Carruthers, who is Director of Bands at Three Oaks High School.

Simon has also been invited to perform Canadian composer Alexina Louie's 'Cadenzas' at this year's International Clarinet Association (ICA) Conference, which will be held in Lincoln, Nebraska, August 1-5. The ICA ClarinetFest 2012-Heritage to Horizon-is a series of performances and lectures that showcase emerging trends in clarinet performance, practice, and pedagogy. Many of the world's finest clarinetists, researchers, and pedagogues will perform at this conference.

Completed in 1987, 'Cadenzas' is a four-movement work, seventeen minutes in duration that exploits the technical and expressive components of each instrument. As its title suggests, the music sounds improvisatory. In combining the clarinet with percussion-vibraphone, marimba, orchestral bells-novel colours are created. This music is an engaging tour de force that is accessible for both novice and seasoned concert goers. As the drama of the music unfolds, the listener will experience a wide range of emotions and moods.

For more information, contact Karem Simon at (902) 566-0702 or ksimon@upei.ca

The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain was at the University of Prince Edward Island today to announce a $3-million gift. UPEI is recognizing this generous gift from Margaret and the late Wallace McCain through the naming of the Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health.

The inaugural Chair in Human Development and Health, Dr. William Montelpare, will direct his research toward issues in public health and exercise science, with specific focus on injury prevention in sport and recreational pursuits, including concussions as well as promoting daily quality physical activity, balanced energy consumption, and tobacco exposure avoidance.

'Wallace was proud to have made this donation and I am proud to be here today to announce it,' said McCain. 'I have had the privilege of meeting Dr. Montelpare, and I share the University's confidence in his research and teaching in the field of human development, which I know will benefit not only UPEI, but all those who live in this wonderful province.'

'I am thankful for the opportunity to take up this position as the Margaret and Wallace McCain Chair in Human Development and Health,' said Montelpare. 'This is an exciting time of research momentum at UPEI, and I'm proud to be a part of it.'

The McCains' gift supports human development and health research, a component of the University's research cluster. This support recognizes the growth and innovation that UPEI stands for, and the contribution to research and excellence that has become synonymous with UPEI.

'I am delighted to be a part of this special announcement and on behalf of the University, I am thankful to Mrs. McCain and her late husband Wallace for their generous gift to support UPEI research,' said UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'Through this donation and the creation of this new research chair, the McCain family continues to invest in young children and their families which will have an impact on PEI and well beyond Island shores.'

A portion of the gift is in the form of a planned gift. Margaret and Wallace McCain join over 70 members of the UPEI Visionary Society (for planned giving) and are part of the UPEI Lifetime Honour Roll which recognizes donors with cumulative giving over $1 million.

Learn more about UPEI's Visionary Society (for planned giving) here

Read more about Dr. Montelpare's research here

University of Prince Edward Island President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz and Dean of Education Miles Turnbull recently visited Iqaluit, Nunavut. They were there just as two weeks of intensive face-to-face summer courses for UPEI's Master of Education in Leadership in Nunavut (Nunavut MEd), and Certificate in Educational Leadership in Nunavut (CELN) were drawing to a close. Forty-four students from across the territory participated in these summer courses.

After a lively, open discussion with the MEd students about the program, Abd-El-Aziz and Turnbull met with representatives from Nunavut's Department of Education, including: Kathy Okpik, Deputy Minister; Peter Geikie, Assistant Deputy Minister; Cathy McGregor, Executive Director, Curriculum and School Services; and Darlene Nuqingaq, Leadership Development Coordinator.

The Nunavut MEd program was developed as a partnership between UPEI and the Nunavut Department of Education. This part-time, ten-course blended delivery program allows qualified Nunavut teachers to access graduate-level education without leaving the Territory. Discussion during this visit focused on the special convocation for the current cohort to be held in Iqaluit in June 2013. This ceremony will mark the graduation of a second cohort of Nunavut students with master of education degrees from UPEI.