This morning, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Steven Dew announced the appointment of a new dean to the School of Public Health. The full announcement follows below.
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Shanthi Johnson has accepted the position of Dean of the School of Public Health effective July 1, 2018. Currently a professor in the University of Regina's Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, she will bring to the University of Alberta her passionate commitment to public health and her strong vision to position the school as an international leader of public health education, research, practice and policy.
She is an internationally renowned researcher. Dr. Johnson's broad academic and professional qualifications span the disciplines of kinesiology, nutrition, health studies and gerontology. She holds a PhD in Kinesiology from Western University in London, Ontario, and an MPhil in Nutrition from Avinashilingam University in Coimbatore, India. She has a well-established research record in the area of aging and health and has secured significant provincial, national and international grants, including CIHR, CFI and others for over 20 years, delivered over 300 presentations, published over 150 articles and reports in prestigious journals such as the Lancet, appeared before the Canadian Senate Committee as an expert witness, and served on many grant adjudicating panels nationally and internationally including the CIHR, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, European Commission, United Kingdom-Joint Call for Research on Ageing, and South Africa - National Research Foundation.
Dr. Johnson also brings significant leadership and administrative experiences. From 2008-2014, she was Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research) in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina. She has also served on various boards and committees from local to international levels such as the Eastern Kings Community Health Board and Annapolis Valley Health in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, and President of Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. Since 2012, she has been a member of the National Seniors Council which advises the Government of Canada on aging issues. She holds a Masters of Administration in Leadership from the University of Regina's Kenneth Levene Graduate School of Business.
Other noteworthy national and international roles/recognitions include: Fulbright Scholar in the US, Endeavour Executive Fellow in Australia, Global Initiative of Academic Networks visiting professor in India, and a Deutscher Akademischer Austaussch Dienst Scholar in Germany. Given her academic and research leadership, she has been awarded fellow status with Dietitians of Canada, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Gerontological Society of America. In 2014, Dr. Johnson was named the Female Professional of the Year by the India Canada Chamber of Commerce and, in 2016, received the Award of Innovation by the Regina Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Johnson will continue to propel the School of Public Health forward, advancing the school's profile and excellence, and I thank the current dean, Dr. Kue Young, for his dedication and leadership to the School. The successful conclusion of this search is largely due to the commitment and efforts of the search committee and I would like all of the members for their service and advice. It is our great pleasure to welcome Dr. Johnson to the University of Alberta. Please join us in congratulating her on her appointment as Dean of the School of Public Health.
Steven Dew,
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)