UPDATE - Aug. 11, 2014

The following is an open letter from Dr. Mike Mahon to the University of Lethbridge Community

Further to the notice advising of Dr. Dan Weeks’s appointment as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia (below), I am pleased to announce that Dr. Matthew Letts has agreed to serve as the University of Lethbridge's Interim Associate Vice-President (Research) until July 1, 2015. Dr. Letts has been serving as the Acting Assistant Vice-President (Research). This interim appointment reflects the need for continuity and continued support to the research portfolio of the University of Lethbridge during this important transition period as we conduct the search for the Vice-President (Research). As noted earlier, Dr. Lesley Brown will serve as Interim Vice-President (Research) during this same period.

July 29, 2014

Weeks appointed President of UNBC

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Dan Weeks on his appointment as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia.

Dr. Weeks began a temporary reassignment of duties on July 1, 2014 and Dr. Lesley Brown was appointed Acting Vice-President (Research) with a term to end on December 31, 2014. With Dr. Weeks’s departure, Dr. Brown will assume the full portfolio of duties and serve as Interim Vice-President (Research) until July 1, 2015.  During that time, a search for a Vice-President (Research) will be conducted.

Dr. Weeks came to the University of Lethbridge in 2009 as Vice-President (Research) and was reappointed to a second term, effective July 1, 2014. During his term at the University, research funding grew and the University was recognized by Research Info$ource as the Research University of the Year - Undergraduate Category, in 2012. Throughout his tenure, many new research-enabling endeavours were initiated, including the formal establishment of the Centres and Institutes policy, the University’s first Strategic Research Plan and the establishment of the Interdisciplinary Research Development Fund, an internal grant opportunity dedicated to the growth of research at our university.

The position of Acting Assistant Vice-President (Research), established in response to Dr. Weeks’s temporary reassignment of duties, will no longer be in effect. Instead, a position of Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) will be established. The path forward for the staffing of this position will be announced in the coming days.  It is anticipated that this role also will continue through to the successful completion of the search for the Vice-President (Research).

Again, please join me in congratulating Dr. Weeks on his appointment and thanking him for his service to the University of Lethbridge.

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor