DEAN'S MESSAGE
CRAIG LOEWEN, PhD
Dean, Faculty of Education, 2010 to present
In 2017 the University of Lethbridge celebrated its fiftieth year, and it was a year of both looking back and looking forward.
This edition of Legacy looks at the journey we have taken as a faculty and as a university. We share with you both achievements and benchmarks. One of the strengths of this university and this faculty is that they have never resisted change, and have always kept a forward focus.
I am very honoured to share this dean’s message with my colleagues Eric Mokosch, Myrna Greene, and Jane O’Dea, all former deans of Education. Each has been for me at one time or another friend, mentor or teacher. They have contributed so much to the Faculty of Education through their leadership. Their efforts have guided us to the enviable position we are in today. We have excellent programs at all levels (including a new doctoral program due in large part to the leadership and vision of Richard Butt), a continually growing research reputation, a wonderful faculty that continues to build on the strengths of faculty members of the past, and excellent students who share with us a bright future.
I recently had a unique opportunity to sit and visit with three prospective students, each one hoping to enter the teaching profession. They wanted to explore with me the possibility of the faculty introducing a new minor in Liberal Education. While liberal education has been at the core of the University of Lethbridge since its inception, in its fiftieth year, a School of Liberal Education was founded under the leadership of Dean Shelley Wismath. These students clearly articulated how liberal education shaped their studies and how it could shape their work with children. They wanted to formalize that vision in a new and recognized minor. They voiced their ideas with meaningful passion, a collaborative approach and ultimately a solid proposal. The future is undoubtedly shaped by the successes of the past, but as it has always been, the future is built through the commitment and contributions of young people such as these.
As we set the course for the next 50 years, we are in good hands.
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DEAN'S MESSAGE
JANE O'DEA, PhD
Dean, Faculty of Education, 2000 to 2010
My first memory of the University of Lethbridge is being met at the airport by Dean Eric Mokosch. He was a tall, formidable figure to a fledgling academic who was still in the process of completing her PhD thesis. By the end of the day, however, I was completely won over, realizing that I had found in the U of L a diverse, inclusive, creative community of scholars, where an artist-philosopher and Irish immigrant could find a home and sense of belonging.
That diverse, inclusive sense of community has always been at the heart of the collegial learning environment in the Faculty of Education. It shows itself in our cohort admission systems where students are encouraged to come to know and support one another; in our collaborative program structures where faculty members share resources and work together in developing rich curriculum content and innovative instructional activities; in our vibrant, valued partnerships with professional teachers and educators in multiple constituencies; and in our espousal of innovative research and creative activities that span a plurality of academic and artistic paradigms.
Back then I did not know that our sense of community was rooted in the land itself and in the traditional values and culture of the Blackfoot peoples. That knowledge came later in 2004 when Red Crow Community College partnered with us in developing the Niitsitapi Teacher Education Program, giving us the opportunity to interact with Blackfoot Elders and community members and so to learn and appreciate the history and cultural traditions of the territory on which our university — Nato’ohkotok (Medicine Rock) — stands. Relationship and respect were the cornerstones of that program and it transformed and deepened our understanding of learning and teaching. I am delighted therefore that a second collaborative Niitsitapi is currently being offered.
On this our fiftieth anniversary, I offer greetings to all our alumni, friends and colleagues, those connected with us over the years and others yet to come!
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DEAN'S MESSAGE
MYRNA GREENE, PhD
Dean, Faculty of Education, 1995
When I became the dean of the Faculty of Education I knew it would be a brief term — I already had retirement plans in place. With this in mind, my main responsibilities were to maintain and promote the excellent reputation of the faculty. There was an undergraduate program, the new and innovative five-year combined degree program, and the university’s first-ever graduate program, which was really taking off. My contribution at this time was the introduction of the dean’s report at Faculty Council which kept faculty apprised of educational activity at the provincial level.
Two of my passions during my 10 years serving as associate dean, which continued into the deanship, was the Graduate Program and Gender Studies. The Faculty of Education was the first to offer courses in women’s studies and it was touch and go at first. But there was a great deal of interest from students throughout the faculty and even university-wide. Eventually, our program led to a women’s studies focus within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Our graduate program was highly competitive and considered to be very difficult (we had to prove ourselves!) but it, too, ventured into innovative territory and became exceedingly successful.
My time in the Dean’s Office, as associate dean and as dean, was great fun. Oh sure, there were moments when I wondered why anyone would stay in such a position — but the staff was wonderful, and you could often hear peals of laughter. Working for the
Faculty of Education was a highlight of my life. Knowing that I was part of a faculty that was respected throughout the country was genuinely rewarding.
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DEAN'S MESSAGE
ERIC MOKOSCH, PhD
Dean, Faculty of Education, 1982-1986; 1987-1994
It’s hard to believe that it has been 49 years since I stepped off of a Time Air plane to a place only vaguely familiar to someone coming from Edmonton — to be interviewed for a teaching position at the new University of Lethbridge.
I’ll be forever grateful to Dr. Aubrey Earl (one of the founding members of the U of L Faculty of Education). Aubrey served as an advisor while I was completing my Science Education doctoral program. He encouraged me to apply for the position while we were both at the University of Alberta.
Right from the start, I was impressed by the enthusiasm, backgrounds and abilities of the founding faculty members and administration of the U of L Faculty of Education. Their planning process was underway with the faculty and the university as a whole. It was not a matter of fitting into plans, structures and programs; rather, plans were evolving as time went on and the new hires were expected and encouraged to work alongside them.
The newly-approved Faculty of Education (persuaded to change its status from a school to a faculty) faced many challenges in those early years including the evolving status of the faculty within the university. There was also the need to develop courses and programs. Another important consideration in shaping the faculty was the development of structures and relationships with local and southern Alberta school jurisdictions, teachers, administrators, the local and provincial Alberta Teachers’ Association; and provincial bodies such as Alberta Education, and Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education.
Obviously many changes in courses, programs and structures were made over the years as the faculty grew in response to increasing student enrolments and the professional development needs of southern Alberta teachers and administrators. The major thrusts and mission of the faculty, however, remained strong, if not strengthened from the early philosophical underpinnings. Cornerstones included student experience through strong academic scaffold in their chosen specialization along with a rigorous theoretical and practical component and, of equal importance, developing strong relationships with schools.
Reflecting back on those busy but exciting years since 1968, and noting the faculty’s continuing outstanding status within the teacher education community, I am proud to have played a small part in its history of educating outstanding teachers over a number of generations and thereby improving the learning lives of teachers and children in our schools. In the final analysis, it’s the quality of teachers and schools that are the true measure of the faculty’s performance over the years. I’m confident that the faculty will continue its emphasis on excellence and collaboration with the educational community of southern Alberta and beyond based upon principles developed many years ago.
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For more information contact:
Darcy Tamayose
Communications Officer
Faculty of Education
(403) 332-4550
darcy.tamayose@uleth.ca
Turcotte Hall - T1H 404