University Professor

submitted by Lakehead University, submitted 2012

At 27, Dr. Curtis Fogel represents a new generation of professors who are bringing innovation and new ideas to Lakehead University in Orillia, Ontario. Fogel was appointed Assistant Professor of Criminology in 2010 and, along with research and teaching responsibilities, he is developing a new Criminology major for Lakehead.

Originally from Spruce Grove, Fogel followed his sociology degree from Augustana with a Master's degree from Newfoundland's Memorial University in 2006. In 2009, when he was just 25, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Calgary. Prior to coming to Lakehead, Fogel taught at the University of Guelph and Thompson Rivers University.

Fogel's interest in criminology began as an undergraduate student at Augustana. As a research assistant with Dr. Geraint Osborne, he studied student marijuana use and developed a larger project on its use by students and professionals. They presented together at several scholarly conferences and published journal articles. Under Osborne's direction, Fogel learned the unique skills required to conduct qualitative research on criminological topics.

"I learned how to do primary research well before most students start," says Curtis. "With those research skills, I was able to complete a Master's degree in one year and a Ph.D. in three years."

"I had many really talented professors at Augustana who really knew how to teach and made the process of learning enjoyable," he continues. "I did not know it at the time, but I learned a lot of different things about being an effective teacher from each of them."

Fogel insists that anyone who is considering a law, graduate or other professional degree should place Augustana high on their list of choices. He has taught in lecture halls with over 400 students in a class and could see that the learning experience was not equivalent. "It was a big part of my decision to accept a position at the Orillia campus of Lakehead University, where 100 student classes are considered large and 20 is closer to the norm."

In addition to his research, teaching, and administrative responsibilities, Fogel has managed to retain his personal involvement in sport. He coaches an elite U19 basketball team in the Ontario Basketball Association and is a competitor on the Ontario Volleyball Association Beach Tour, competing in the men's two-on-two competition.