Nipissing's Board of Governors Executive approved the appointment unanimously on Thursday, July 14, following the recommendation of the search committee.
“It gives me great pleasure to introduce Dr. McAuliffe as Nipissing’s dean of graduate studies and research,” said Dr. Harley d’Entremont, provost and vice-president academic and research. “He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in developing strong and successful programs. He also possesses a deep understanding of research excellence that will be a significant benefit to Nipissing’s faculty and students as we continue to build and foster an environment that actively supports research and creative production for the benefit of all Canadians.”
“I’m delighted to begin this new chapter in my career at Nipissing,” said Dr. McAuliffe. “Nipissing is home to some terrific faculty members, conducting leading-edge research that impacts our region as well as all of Ontario and Canada. Nipissing’s graduate programs are gaining momentum and growing, with new programs launching this year. It’s an exciting time in both research and graduate studies and I’m proud to be able to play a role in supporting and enhancing the research and graduate culture that exists here.”
As dean of graduate studies and research, Dr. McAuliffe is responsible for the management and operation of the offices of Research Services and Graduate Studies, including establishing strategic directions, policies and priorities for those offices. He will provide direction and support for the university research agenda and will promote greater awareness of research funding opportunities, document and publicize research activities, and foster internal and external research collaborations.
Dr. McAuliffe is a full professor and most recently served as the director of Nipissing’s Bachelor of Physical and Health Education (BPHE) program.
Born and raised in North Bay, Dr. McAuliffe attended the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with a bachelor degree and a master degree in Physical Education. He then headed to the University of Alberta for a doctoral degree in Physical Education and Sports Studies, graduating in 1992. Following his doctorate degree, Dr. McAuliffe began his career at Lakehead University, teaching in the Kinesiology program. From 2000-05 he was the graduate studies coordinator for the School of Kinesiology at Lakehead, and in 2006-07 he was the coordinator for the Master of Public Health program. He began his career at Nipissing in 2007 as the inaugural director of the new BPHE program and was instrumental in that program’s development, as well as the creation of the Centre for Physical and Health Education and the new master of science in Kinesiology. He also served as vice-dean of the Schulich School of Education at Nipissing in 2010-11.
Dr. McAuliffe research record is impressive with numerous publications to his credit in refereed journals. His research interests include visual attention, and motor learning and control. In 2011, Dr. McAuliffe was part of a research team investigating concussions in youth sports; their work helped inform and advise the medical community on protocols for an athlete’s safe return to play following a concussion. He has held research grants from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and Auto21 Network of Centres of Excellence.
The appointment is for a five-year term.
