The University of Prince Edward Island's Board of Governors recently accepted the recommendations of the search committee for the Dean of Arts and the Dean of Education positions. Interim Deans Dr. Neb Kujundzic and Dr. Ron MacDonald were successfully appointed as the Dean of Arts and Dean of Education respectively.

'I look forward to working with Neb and Ron on a number of initiatives that will continue to enhance the overall student experience in both the Faculties of Arts and Education,' said Vice-President Academic Dr. Christian Lacroix. 'Our University community as a whole will benefit from their experience and strong leadership abilities.'

In 1995, Kujundzic received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Waterloo. Kujundzic came to UPEI in 1997 as an assistant professor of philosophy, before becoming an associate professor in 2003, and Interim Dean of Arts in 2013. He is a member of the UPEI Board of Governors and the UPEI Senate. He also held positions on the UPEI Presidential Hiring Committee, the University Review Committee, and the Research Advisory Committee. Kujundzic was also Chair of UPEI's Department of Philosophy from 1998-2004.

In 2006, MacDonald received his PhD from the University of South Australia. MacDonald joined UPEI's Faculty of Education in 2005 on a term appointment before becoming an assistant/associate professor in 2006, and Interim Dean of Education in 2013. MacDonald has a variety of publications including four book chapters, 39 papers in refereed conferences, and eight invited contributions/technical reports. MacDonald has also been heavily involved in external research funding projects, including his most recent role as a principal investigator on project-based learning (PBL).

Both Kujundzic and MacDonald will begin their new roles for six-year terms effective September 1, 2014-June 30, 2020. Congratulations, Dr. Kujundzic and Dr. MacDonald.

Last summer, UPEI Panther Swim team captain Suzanne Nicholson set a goal to swim the Northumberland Strait. Nicholson accomplished her goal and raised over $10,000 for the Panther swim team.

After graduating this spring from UPEI, Nicholson passed on the swim challenge to her teammates to 'Conquer the Strait' in support of their personal and team goals for the upcoming season. The UPEI swim team has accepted the challenge and their swim is scheduled for Saturday, August 30 from the New Brunswick side, finishing on Island soil in Borden, PEI. Eight members will either compete in a relay or tackle the entire swim solo.

'We are really excited to continue the ‎event that started last season with Suzanne. Our athletes continue to impress me with what they are capable of achieving,' said UPEI swim team Head Coach Bill Calhoun.

Event organizer and the swim club's Executive President Blythe Martin is also impressed with the UPEI student-athletes' initiative. 'The fact that these athletes are swimming across the Northumberland Strait, battling the cold, the waves, the weather, and the clock, is a truly amazing feat. It shows the power of motivation led by Suzanne Nicholson, and I hope that people will come out and support these athletes.'

To support the Panthers, visit: http://makeachamp.com/upeiswimming

All funds collected directly support costs associated with 2014-15 team's training and travel to competitions.

For more information, visit www.gopanthersgo.com

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

The University of Prince Edward Island would like to congratulate former student athlete Tyler Shaw who was asked to write the official song for the U-20 FIFA Women's Soccer World Cup 2014 championships recently held in Moncton, New Brunswick. The video for the song, which appears on YouTube, features Shaw sporting a UPEI Panthers jersey.

'It was an honour and a privilege to have had the U-20 FIFA Women's World Cup official song for 2014. I've been a soccer player, and big fan, all my life, so if I can't play in a World Cup game, why not write a song for a World Cup,' said Shaw. 'Big shout out to the UPEI Panthers who are hosting Nationals this year. I may just be making an appearance to show my support.'

Shaw, originally from British Columbia attended UPEI and studied arts for one year, and was also a member of the UPEI Men's Soccer team. He then went on to begin a successful music career after his winning music video submission to Canada's Got Talent put him in the spotlight.

'Tyler was a great player to have on our squad in 2011. We had three great goalkeepers on the team who battled hard to play,' said UPEI Men's Soccer Head Coach Lewis Page. 'Tyler always brought a great work ethic to the field. His upbeat personality and positive attitude was a real asset to the team, and therefore I am not surprised by the success he has had in his music career. Tyler still follows our team and he has UPEI soccer in his heart, and we really appreciate that.'

Check out Shaw's music video here

Way to go, Tyler!

The University of Prince Edward Island announced today that Mark English has accepted the position of head coach of the UPEI Women's Basketball program, effective immediately.

English, who holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from Memorial University, has an extensive basketball background. He was most recently the assistant coach of the men's basketball team at Lakehead University and was their chief recruiting officer. While English was at Lakehead, the team had four consecutive appearances in the CIS nationals. He is also the director of Blaze Basketball, the local club program in Thunder Bay.

Previously, English was the coordinator and lead instructor of Memorial University's basketball camps and assistant coach with the men's basketball team. He has been both a head coach and an assistant coach with numerous Newfoundland provincial teams.

UPEI Vice-President Administration and Finance Jackie Podger said, 'On behalf of the University, I extend a warm welcome to Mr. English. Mark brings with him significant experience, a proven track record of success, and a wide range of connections that will help him recruit top-notch student athletes to the program. We know he will inspire and lead our women's basketball team to new heights.'

English said, 'I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to coach this talented group of young women and cannot wait to get started. It's obviously late in the process, but we will get organized and on the court as quickly as possible.'

Podger added, 'I also would like to sincerely thank all of those who applied for the position as well as the community members and alumni on the volunteer selection committee, George Morrison, SDU'68, Doug Newson, BBA'97, and Heather Howatt, BBA'91 along with chair Stephanie Knickle-Currie for their time and effort given to the hiring process.'

Over twenty people applied for the position with candidates shortlisted based on several criteria including coaching credentials, proficiency in fundraising and recruiting, and coaching experience at the university level.

English will be arriving on Prince Edward Island next week.

Harry Thurston is one of Atlantic Canada's premier nature and environmental writers, and also one of the region's finest poets. Thurston has collaborated with New Brunswick poet and songwriter-musician Allan Cooper on a poetic dialogue about the natural world.

Thurston and Cooper will read from their new book The Deer Yard on Monday, September 22, at 7:30 pm in UPEI's Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building. They will also read on Tuesday, September 23 at 7:00 pm in the Summerside Rotary Library.

These readings are organized by the UPEI English Department, with funding from The Canada Council for the Arts. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

For information:
Dr. Richard Lemm
Professor, Department of English, UPEI
Winter's Tales Authors' Reading Series
(902) 566-0592, rlemm@upei.ca

UPEI is pleased to announce a program that will enhance its student support services. Through a partnership with Shepell, UPEI will now offer a Student Support Program (SSP) for all students, effective September 1, 2014.

Students will have access to many different professionals 24/7, 365 days a year, including counsellors, nutritionists, lawyers, financial experts and others. Students can receive support on a variety of topics including relationships, childcare, landlord/tenant issues, and health and financial issues. These services are available in over 200 different languages.

'I am so excited to be able to expand the supports offered to UPEI students,' said UPEI's Manager of Student Affairs Treena Smith. 'Our students are always on the top of our minds and now that they can receive support 24 hours a day, that helps me sleep better at night. Student Affairs continues to offer all supports for our students with fantastic professional counsellors, academic coaches, accessibility services professionals, writing professionals, student life events, student diversity, and our student leaders, and the Shepell Student Support Program is one more support that students can add to their list.'

Barb Veder, Vice President, Clinical Services and Research Lead with Morneau Shepell spoke on behalf of Shepell and shared the enthusiasm of this new partnership. 'We're honoured to be a partner with the University of Prince Edward Island and to be able to provide assistance and support to its students,' said Veder. 'Our innovative and unique service will be able to give students support anytime, anywhere, and anyhow as we offer support solutions around the clock using our digital platforms through our EAP app, online, or by telephone.

For more information on this new program, contact Treena Smith, Manager of Student Affairs at (902) 566-0674 or trlsmith@upei.ca

CLIVE, the coastal erosion visualization tool created by UPEI's Climate Research Lab and the Spatial Interface Lab at Simon Fraser University, has reached the FINALS in MIT's CoLab Communicating Coastal Risk and Resilience contest. Now it needs your votes to help it win the Popular Choice award. Register to vote at the contest website.

Nearly 600 projects were submitted to MIT's Climate CoLab for this year's competition. CLIVE made it through several rounds of competition and broke through to the finals against two other projects. It is eligible for the 'Popular Choice Award,' as determined by online voting, and for the 'Judges Choice Award,' based on the project's merits as determined by a panel of judges.

Voting is currently open and runs until September 30. Log on and vote to support this great co-initiative with SFU and UPEI!

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications Officer, UPEI
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

As UPEI is busy with the first week of classes and welcoming new and returning students to campus, its focus remains on upcoming priorities around delivering high quality educational programs, strong student experiences, a growing exploration and discovery agenda, long-term sustainability and building vibrant communities.

The recent discussion of UPEI Athletics and Recreation touches on the majority of these priorities in various ways, and a public search is now underway for a Director of Athletics and Recreation at UPEI. The position posting can be found here.

The hiring committee consists of Jackie Podger, Vice President, Administration and Finance - Committee Chair; Dave MacNeill, Lead Consultant, Athletics Review - Community Member; Norman Beck, Principal Stonepark Intermediate School - Community Member; Tracey Ellsworth, Principal Sherwood Elementary- Representative of Athletic Advisory Board; Tony Sauer - Scotia McLeod Wealth Advisor- Community Advisor; and Jonathan Oliver - Director Ancillary Services at UPEI.

A research project at UPEI is looking for volunteers who enjoy gardening, cooking, and working with children. Dr. Lyndsay Moffatt, assistant professor of education at UPEI, is looking for 23 elders (50+), and 23 young adults (16-30) or adults (30-50) who are willing and able to meet approximately once a month during the school year to plant seeds, make food, sing, talk, and tell stories with Kindergarten students.

Dr. Moffatt is studying how this kind of intergenerational project can support the kindergarten language and literacy curricula. To participate in 'Start With A Seedling,' volunteers will need an up-to-date police record check. This police record check is free if you present a letter from Dr. Moffatt that outlines the study.

Interested? Contact Dr. Moffatt at lemoffatt@upei.ca or (902) 620-5177.

'Start With A Seedling' is supported by a Joint Education Research Grant (JERG) from the Prince Edward Island English Language School Board, UPEI's Faculty of Education, and the PEI Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, as well as a Charlottetown Micro-grant.

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications Officer, UPEI
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

UPEI Women's Rugby Head Coach Shannon Atkins is very pleased to announce that former rugby player Cassie MacKenzie will join the Panther coaching staff for the 2014-15 season.

MacKenzie, a two-time team MVP, two-time AUS All-Star, during her first season with UPEI, was also selected to play rugby for the U-19 Canadian Women's Rugby team. MacKenzie is known as a 'no-nonsense' scrum half who directed her team on both offensive and defensive strategies. She was admired and respected throughout the league for both her athletic ability, as well as her community involvement, in particular with rugby in PEI.

'Cassie played rugby at UPEI from 2004-08, and received many awards for her contributions on the field,' said Atkins. 'Since then, she has gone on to coach both at the high school level (for nine years), and as a provincial rugby coach (for five years). Cassie has always made the University proud in the classroom and on the pitch, and has received two degrees from UPEI (BSc and MBA). She is second to none in her coaching abilities, and I am really looking forward to the team benefiting from all of her expertise.'

'I am very excited to be joining the Panthers coaching staff this season, and look forward to coaching at a new elite level,' said MacKenzie. 'As a former Panther, this team is very special to me and I am grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a program that provided me with so many opportunities. The Panthers have a talented group of women, and I look forward to helping this young dynamic team build on their potential.'

In addition to being introduced, MacKenzie will also be honoured for her rugby accomplishments during the Women's Rugby home opener tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm on MacAdam Field where the team will take on the Acadia Axewomen.

'There are a few female players on the Island that have directly contributed to the success of women's rugby in the province, and Cassie is one of them,' added Atkins, who is also the Women's Coordinator for the PEI Rugby Union.

Go Panthers Go!

For information:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca