New faculty members, staff join HSDÂ
Human and Social Development has welcomed two new school directors in recent weeks: Kristen Cheney to the School of Child and Youth Care and Vera Caine to the School of Nursing.
Cheney (pictured above) joined Child and Youth Care on July 1 after almost 12 years at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands, where she was an associate professor in children and youth studies. She takes over from acting director Doris Kakuru.
Cheney’s research deals with children’s survival strategies in difficult circumstances and the politics of international development and humanitarian intervention for children. Her most recent research examines the impact of the global ‘Orphan Industrial Complex’—including orphan tourism, childcare institutions, and intercountry adoption—on child protection in developing countries.
“I’m honoured to be stepping in to lead the dynamic team of dedicated faculty and staff at the School of Child and Youth Care—especially at such an exciting time when programs are being revamped to serve a diverse group of students as well as the broader community,” Cheney says.
“I look forward to contributing to the critical conversations already underway about how to reimagine child and youth care in these challenging yet hopeful times.”
The School of Nursing welcomed Caine as its new director in May. She joined UVic after 14 years at the University of Alberta. Caine (pictured above) has a long-standing interest in HIV research, and currently serves as vice-chair for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research HIV/AIDS and STBBI Research Advisory Committee. Her current research explores the experiences of families with young children who arrive in Canada as refugees.
Caine, who takes over from acting director Lenora Marcellus, says she is excited to be part of UVic’s School of Nursing and to take up a leadership position at a critical time in the profession.
“The school has a long history of community engaged scholarship, and a strong focus on equity and inclusion – a wonderful foundation that will help us act on new possibilities in nursing education, research, and practice,” she says.
HSD is welcoming other new faculty members, including Shemine Gulamhusein and Farah Mawani, who joined Child and Youth Care in July as research faculty. Bryan Silverman joins the school as a new term graduate faculty member. New faculty members Amanda Lavallée, Jaehee Ye and Gaben Sanchez joined the School of Social Work on July 1. And Claudia Lai will take up the role of assistant professor on Sept. 1 in the School of Health and Information Science.
In staffing news, Heather McCue joined Nursing as practica coordinator in April, while Bernadette Zakher joined as JBI research coordinator in May. Laleh Mousavi is now in a permanent role as program assistant in the School of Public Health and Social Policy, and Gillian Dolding is now in a permanent role as admission and academic advisor.
Jason Hicks joined the School of Public Administration in July. Judy Selina retired as graduate administrative assistant on June 30. Kimberley Cook was appointed to program assistant.
In Health and Information Science, Jenna Dobson joined as administrative assistant and Caleb Chan as marketing and recruitment assistant. Marina Bochar joined Social Work as program manager in February.
In promotion news, Donna Jeffery and Bruce Wallace have been promoted to professor, while Billie Allan and Rhonda Hackett have been promoted to associate professor. Nancy Clark started on July 1 as director for UVic’s Social Justice Studies interdisciplinary undergrad program.