News

StFX Professor receives top national honour

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:03:01

StFX University extends its congratulations to Human Kinetics Professor Dr. Angie Thompson on receiving the nationally acclaimed 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award.

This prestigious award exemplifies teaching excellence and educational leadership in Canada.

“I am incredibly honoured to receive this award that recognizes what is so true to me, teaching,” said Dr. Angie Thompson. “I feel a sense of responsibility that comes along with this award; that is to continue teaching to the best of my abilities, caring for each student, and putting my students first and foremost while offering them the best learning experience possible.”

“Our educational mission at StFX is to develop the best in our students. Essential to this is a highly personal learning environment fostering teaching that delivers well beyond the expected,” said StFX President Dr. Sean Riley. “Dr. Angie Thompson is a wonderful example of the pride we take in delivering a truly positive and life enriching experience.”

“ We are delighted to have one of our fine professors honoured in this way,” stated StFX Academic Vice-President and Provost Dr. Mary McGillivray. “Dr. Thompson is a highly regarded faculty member whose accomplishments in both teaching and research exemplify the synergistic relationship between the two. We at StFX are committed to the fullest learning experience possible for our students, and Dr. Thompson is a generous and energetic contributor to this mission.”

Dr. Thompson’s main research area is in child physical activity and health promotion. She has been actively involved with the Physical Activity Levels and Dietary Intake of Children and Youth in the Province of Nova Scotia. She also traveled to Uganda during her recent sabbatical to teach at eight universities. Her topic: How to teach health promotion. This latest national award is another addition to her impressive awards list.

Dr. Thompson is the only professor in Nova Scotia to receive this national award in 2010. There are just over 200 3M National Teaching Fellows across Canada representing a broad range of academic disciplines. The 3M National Teaching Fellowship, established in 1986, celebrates the exceptional contributions made by teacher-scholars across Canada.

StFX student Matthew Chisholm chosen as a 2010 ECO Student Ambassador

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:39:12

StFX student Matthew Chisholm chosen as a 2010 ECO Student Ambassador

A fourth year StFX political science student looking into low-carbon economies in Canada, Sweden and Denmark will have the opportunity to present his research at an international conference in Vancouver this month.

Matthew Chisholm, 21, of Antigonish, has been chosen as one of five ECO Student Ambassador Award 2010 winners, and as an award recipient will now present his research at GLOBE2010, a biennial conference and trade show taking place in Vancouver March 24-26.

As a student ambassador, he receives a $1,000 cheque to assist in travel and accommodation, a space at the ECO Canada booth at GLOBE to present his poster, and a delegate pass that allows unlimited access to the conferences at GLOBE.

“This program will provide me with an excellent opportunity to network with key decision-makers and prospective employers, thus learning how my skills will fit into the job market,” he says.

Mr. Chisholm, who returned to StFX in December after a four month Coady International Institute internship in South Africa, says the conference will be a great opportunity to meet industry representatives, government officers, and other students, and to learn about ECO Canada and the Canadian environment sector

The program provides the student ambassadors the opportunity to learn about current environmental issues in Canada and around the world and become acquainted with the services offered by ECO Canada, which was established in 1992 under the Sector Council Initiative from the federal government.

At StFX, Mr. Chisholm is working on his research study for an environmental social sciences course taught by sociology professor Dr. Rod Bantjes, and he says his professor’s willingness to allow him to fit the two together and to incorporate this experience into his academic study has been terrific.

High Commissioner of Kenya on hand as education students leave for international field practicum

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:32:47

High Commissioner of Kenya on hand as education students leave for international field practicum

As 14 StFX education students and two recent grads readied to leave for Kenya for six weeks of international field experience, no less than the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to Canada was on hand to wish them well in their teaching experience.

His Excellency, Simon Nabukwesi, who is also the Ambassador to Cuba, was on hand at StFX on March 5 to speak with faculty, staff, students and guests, and to present visas to the students going to Kenya with education professor Dr. Bosire Monari Mwebi.

This is the second time Dr. Mwebi has led a delegation of education students to his native Kenya.

“Our Canadian classrooms are becoming more diverse. It’s important for teachers to have a cross-cultural experience, that they can bring that to support their teaching,” he says.

The students agree. Not only is the trip self-funded, the two grads, teachers now, are in fact taking an education leave from their jobs in the local school board to participate.

The group will teach in Grade 9-12 classrooms from March 6-April 19.

“This trip will have a profound impact on my career in teaching,” says education student Kyle Andrew Sarka. “To be in a place like Kenya and to be able to dive into something as special as their education system is something that will change the way I think about teaching in general.”

Mr. Sarka says his sister had a similar experience in Kenya, and he was thrilled to learn he’d have an opportunity from StFX. “Her experience was priceless so when she found out that I had the potential to go I jumped on board.”

As a social studies teacher, Mr. Sarka says the fact that he has had the opportunity to teach in an international setting is something that brings a real experience to discussions and lessons.

“Also, I am sure I will learn lessons both in and out of the classroom there that will help solidify my teaching philosophy. It is a very special experience and I am sure I will draw on it for the rest of my career.”

Sherrill Lindsay, a teacher from Pictou Academy, will be part of the Kenya field experience, and she says the students from Nairobi will be linking with her Canadian classroom. “This cross-cultural connection among not only teachers but students brings a new synergy to education and more specifically sexual health education. I am excited to have my students connect with the Nairobi school through an online Moodle and research and discuss real, useful information from within the classroom but truly of use outside of the classroom. As a teacher this is very gratifying to teach relevant information and have the students produce their own resource.

“The personal experience speaks for itself. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, perhaps. I have wanted to teach in an African school for many years and now my life long dream is coming true. The bonus is the professor, Bo and 14 pre-service teachers and a graduate studies teacher all having the same desire in common. A truly unique experience.”

The Library Survey running March 8-28

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:17:05

The Library Survey running March 8-28

The Angus L. Macdonald Library is conducting a quality assurance survey. The Library Survey, which will run from March 8-28, measures library users’ perceptions of the libraries’ service quality.

To do this the Library will be using an international survey called LibQUAL+™. This instrument addresses three survey quality dimensions that have been found to be valid in previous assessments of library services: Affect of Service, Library as Place, Information Control. Each question has three parts that ask respondents to indicate (1) the minimum service level they will accept, (2) the desired service level they expect, and (3) the perceived level of service currently provided. This design permits analysis of gaps between expectations, perceptions, and minimum acceptance level of service. The responses are completely confidential. The results of the survey will be posted on the Library website at a later date. For more information on the survey check http://library.stfx.ca/feature/libqual.php.

Please use this chance to provide input. Those who complete the survey will have a chance to win a prize. The survey is available at http://library.stfx.ca/survey

Lengthy lecture and research trip takes Dr. Will Sweet to South and West Africa, the Middle East and India

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:13:21

Lengthy lecture and research trip takes Dr. Will Sweet to South and West Africa, the Middle East and India

StFX philosophy professor Dr. William Sweet was recently featured in The Gulf Today and in Emirates Business concerning a lecture he gave in the Emirate of Sharjah on the philosophical implications of parental licensing. While in the Emirates, Dr Sweet was a guest of the American University of Sharjah.

Dr Sweet’s visit was part of a lengthy lecture and research trip that brought him to South and West Africa, the Middle East, and India. In South Africa, Dr Sweet gave a keynote address to the Philosophical Society of Southern Africa, in Johannesburg, on themes related to his recent book, The Moral, Social, and Political Philosophy of British Idealism (2009). In Ghana, he gave the keynote paper at an international conference on intercultural philosophy, held at the University of Cape Coast; while in Ghana, he met Prof Joe Amoako-Tuffour, who is currently on leave from StFX working in a senior advisory capacity to the Ghanaian government. In India, Dr Sweet was invited to lecture in Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai on the theme of Freedom of Religion, the subject of another of his latest books, which will appear in mid-March.

Currently on sabbatical leave, Dr Sweet will be giving invited lectures in late March at the Political Studies Association (UK) in Edinburgh, and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. In April, he has been asked to speak on contemporary challenges to intercultural philosophy at Fu Jen University in Taipei, Taiwan, during the University’s celebrations in Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of Matteo Ricci; the theme of conference is “The Genesis and Development of East-West Dialogue.”

StFX students helping Haiti

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:33:05

Appeared in The Chronicle Herald
By MONICA GRAHAM
Monday Mar 1

St. Francis Xavier University students scrounged for beer bottles, gave up their party money and emptied their pockets in a grassroots drive that raised $12,500 for the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

When matched by the federal government, that means the 5,000 campus students raised a total of $25,000 for the Caribbean country.

Information technology students Sarah Furey and Mitchell Ogilvie started the campaign.

"As an individual, it’s difficult to make a difference, but as a student body (working) together, we were able to tap into all the diversity," Ogilvie said in an interview.

The university’s Haiti effort aimed to raise a loonie from every student to donate to the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, Furey said.

But the huge response saw fundraising events happening every day, a website and Facebook site established, collection boxes set up at numerous campus venues and students from every department and discipline coming together for the same cause, Furey said.

"Everyone wanted to pitch in."

Those without spare cash donated their time for such tedious tasks as rolling mountains of pennies to meet the cut-off date for Ottawa’s contribution-matching promise.

"It was really almost magical," Furey said, noting that the effort attracted people who don’t normally get involved in such campaigns.

Alumni groups donated funds set aside for class programs, parents made donations and students operated a hotdog stand to raise money.

But most of the funds came directly from students, Ogilvie said.

"I don’t know where students came up with $12,500."

Ogilvie said students were galvanized by the poverty-stricken nation’s emergency.

"We far exceeded our initial goal."

The Antigonish campaign is the latest in a number of Haiti relief fundraising efforts across Nova Scotia.

A group of Kentville-area musicians raised $9,300 at a concert, Annapolis Valley soccer players raised $10,600, a Halifax concert raised $3,500 and the Halifax for Haiti event raised $135,000.

mgraham@herald.ca

StFX students named regional champs in Green Challenge competition

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:11:07

StFX students named regional champs in Green Challenge competition

St. Francis Xavier University's "Students In Free Enterprise," or SIFE team, has been named the SIFE Green Challenge Regional Champion by national charitable organization Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE).

All Atlantic-based SIFE teams were judged by live panels of business professionals and regional champions were announced on Friday, February 26th in Halifax at the 2010 ACE Atlantic Regional Exposition, supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The SIFE team from StFX stood out to the judges because of their dedication to environmental issues specifically on campus. Accomplishments to date include supplying each of the 73 apartments in Somers and Power Halls, which house almost 300 students, with a kitchen compost bin, and an informational sheet with the environmental and financial benefits of composting. The next phase will be addressing the oil and electricity use in these two buildings.

"Winning the SIFE Green Challenge has given us the confidence to go out on a limb, and trust our instincts so that we can make a difference on our campus, and in our community", explains StFX SIFE project manager, Maura Casey. "Without SIFE, this would not be possible for us."

Ms. Casey also credits StFX Facilities Management, who purchased the bins and “are super keen into doing waste management, and to helping in any way they can.”

The end goal of this annual challenge is for SIFE teams to provide others with the knowledge required to make positive environmental decisions, both in their personal and professional lives. Teams have been provided the necessary tools and training from ACE to develop and implement their extensive projects to help others.

The StFX team now moves on to the national level of competition taking place in Calgary on May 11th.

“The StFX team is breaking new ground in the environmental arena at their campus - these accomplishments should not go unnoticed," says ACE president, Amy Harder. “I would also like to thank ACOA for their support in Atlantic Canada; with their assistance we continue to provide a platform for young easterner's to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career option."

StFX student on to nationals in entrepreneurship competition

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:49:47

StFX student on to nationals in entrepreneurship competition

StFX student Jeremy Flynn, owner of Flynnweb and a full time student, has been named the 2010 Student Entrepreneur Regional Champion by national charitable organization, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) and program supporter, CIBC.

Mr. Flynn says his early business success is due to the StFX experience. "I couldn't be happier with the quality of business education here at Saint Francis Xavier University. I'm proud to state the majority of the lessons I've learned here in my academic endeavors I've been able to apply to my business in some form or another. This speaks volumes of the accuracy and appropriateness of the educational approach held by StFX’s Schwartz School of Business. Furthermore, beyond the influence of the scholarly curriculum, the institutions professors have continually demonstrated a sincere interest in furthering the development of young business minds; particularly inspiring and supporting a spirit of entrepreneurship. While many of my firm's demands are self-taught through experience, I simply wouldn't have achieved the early success I have to date if it wasn't for my experience at StFX."

Since May 2008, Jeremy has owned and operated Flynnweb, a web and graphic design and development firm, specializing in building brands and affordable marketing material for small business owners. Core competencies include services such as logo and stationary design, marketing material, website systems and developments, and any other facet that can help a firm "Stand Out" from the competition.

One of his largest business accomplishments to date is the company’s early transition into an effectively lean production structure. This has provided Flynnweb with the opportunity to increase capacity and increase growth over the long-term. Flynnweb now manages over 10 contract-based production teams across the globe. Since beginning operations, Flynnweb has worked with a vast range of fields, industries, and client sizes, completing over 60 major projects throughout the world.

Exchange a positive experience, student says

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:17:30

Exchange a positive experience, student says

Alex Meeker is living a long held academic dream.

In January, the third year dean’s list arts student traded in an active life on the StFX campus for a semester in Guanajuato, Mexico investigating water issues while completing a term of academic study in a very dry area of Mexico and learning about sustainability.

Ms. Meeker received funding through the North American Mobility Program that StFX participates in, its theme being “Education for Sustainable Communities.” She is the first StFX student participating in this three-year program, which pays $3,200 per student for travel and living expenses.

“I had always wanted to participate in an exchange program since I started applying for universities back in 2007. Studying abroad just seemed like such an incredible learning experience that I didn't want to pass up,” says Ms. Meeker, a 21-year-old Toronto, ON native who is majoring in interdisciplinary studies in aquatic resources and public policy and social research.

She has also played two years for the StFX rugby team, was vice-president of MacIsaac, and has worked for Campus Police and as a campus tour guide.

“Being such an involved student at StFX made the decision to leave for a semester that much harder,” she says.

But she is glad she did.

Ms. Meeker arrived in Mexico on January 14 and in addition to taking courses, she is working on a research project concerning the types of programs and curriculum that Guanajuato and Mexico have for youth about water conservation and education.

“This will help give me a more international perspective on issues in my field and when I return to Canada I would like to do a comparative study,” she says. “Additionally, having Spanish as my third language will hopefully open up many doors for me and give me the opportunity to enjoy my future travels.

“The great thing about Mexico is that I am picking up Spanish very quickly because all of my classes are in Spanish and I am completely immersed in the culture as well. I am living with a Mexican family and it has been a positive experience so far in every single way. My classes are going well, I thought I would have been a lot more overwhelmed but my studies in Spanish with Professor Paz at StFX before I came here prepared me well.”

Ms. Meeker says at StFX, International Exchange Coordinator Brenda Riley and Aquatic Resources Coordinator Lynn Patterson were both very positive and patient influences throughout the application process and helped her get to where she needed to be.

Ms. Riley says her office is now recruiting student candidates to do a semester exchange in the 2010-2011 year. StFX has funding to support three students each year in the three year program. Interested students are asked to contact her for more information, telephone (902) 867-4532, email briley@stfx.ca or http://people.stfx.ca/int-exchange/

Students can choose to study at partner institutions in Canada, the USA and Mexico. Students who participate usually gain an increased understanding of the complexities of the relationship between the three countries, increased knowledge of environmental and regional perspectives within North America and enhanced career opportunities.

Under this same program, StFX is currently hosting a Mexican student, Daniel Martinez from the University of Guanajuato. His degree is in engineering with a focus in hydrology. He is currently taking courses at StFX primarily in earth sciences.

New Grad Students in Marine Ecology Lab

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:29:24

NEW GRAD STUDENTS IN MARINE ECOLOGY LAB --- Dr. Ricardo Scrosati’s Marine Ecology Lab in the Department of Biology has recruited a PhD student from Egypt, Ehab El Belely, and a M.Sc. student from British Columbia, Elise Keppel. Ehab comes with a $52,300 scholarship from the Government of Egypt, while Elise will benefit from a $30,000 scholarship from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. They are both involved in experimental research on the ecology of our marine rocky shores.