I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kyra Pyke as Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation (KSR) for a five-year term, effective August 1, 2022.
Dr. Pyke joins us from Queen’s University, where she is currently a professor and Director of the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, as well as Lead Investigator of the Cardiovascular Stress Response Lab. In addition to these roles, Dr. Pyke served as a member of the Queen’s University Senate, where she helped guide numerous academic and policy decisions, and on multiple advisory committees at both the department and faculty level. Her deep engagement with university leadership and governance, coupled with her penchant for collegiality, have enabled her to successfully lead through periods of change.
Dr. Pyke received her PhD and MSc in Kinesiology from Queen’s University, and her BA in Kinesiology from York University. Her research program explores the impacts of exercise, diet and psychosocial stress on cardiovascular function and structure in order to improve physiological measures of cardiovascular function and health. Her work on the cardiovascular function of the integrated human system has received Canada Foundation for Innovation and NSERC funding, and has resulted in numerous publications.
Dr. Pyke is succeeding Interim Dean Dr. Nick Holt, who will complete his term on July 31, 2022. I want to thank Dr. Holt for his leadership in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation and the institution during his tenure and wish him luck in his upcoming position as the Dean (Kinesiology) at the University of Calgary.
Lastly, I want to thank the Dean Selection Committee for their efforts and recommendations on this important decision for the future of KSR.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Kyra Pyke to the University of Alberta.
Steven Dew
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)