mount allison university--the record (winter 2010 (part 1 of 4))
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mount allison university alumni magazineTRANSCRIPT
PlusShooting for the stars
Naturopathic doctorturned best-selling author
Harvard researcher honoured by Obama
The sooner.The better.Dr. Phil Tibbo makes
sense of schizophrenia
Regulars4 Events and Gatherings
6 Campus Beat
8 Student Spotlight
10 Research
26 Bleacher Feature
29 JUMP Update
30 In Memoriam
31 Class Notes
Contents
CoverStory12 — The sooner. The better.
Dr. Phil Tibbo (’86) is breaking
new ground when it comes
to detecting and treating
schizophrenia
18
20
24
Features
16 Helping kids excelHarvard professor Nonie Lesaux (’99) brings conversation and creativity back to the classroom with her award-winningresearch in language and literacy.
18 The doctor is inAuthor of the best-selling health and lifestylebook, The Hormone Diet, Dr. Natasha Turner(’93) uses an alternative approach to treatpatients and promote healthy living.
20 Allisonian and spaceJohn Thaler (’06) learns about life on Mars and works to improve the health ofastronauts who spend time in microgravity.
22 Out of this world discoveryEllen Milley (’07) discovers valuablespace rocks on a frozen pond inSaskatchewan.
24 Joint adventuresA pioneer in the practice of hip and jointreplacement, Dr. Seth Greenwald (’59) hasimproved the lives of patients worldwide.
Mount Allison Record Winter 2010 No. 93 — NewSeries The Record is published three times annually.
Editor: Anthony (Tony) FrostAssistant Editor: Tracy BellArt Director: Shane McDonald, Tin Design
Contributing Writers:Tracy BellMona Estabrooks (’79)Tony FrostMelissa LombardSusan Rogers (’12)Sue SeabornCarolle de Ste-Croix (’90)
Photography:Alasdair Dunlap-Smith (’10)Lesley Johnson (’94)Sue SeabornGrady SemmensShari Tucker
Address correspondence regarding editorial policy and subscriptions to:Mount Allison Record65 York StreetSackville, NB E4L 1E4Tel: (506) 364-2529 Fax: (506) [email protected]
Contents Copyright 2010 by Mount Allison Universityand may not be reprinted without permission.
Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Mount Allison University.
Single Copy: $9.00Subscription: $25 for three issues
ISSN 1702-2525
Mailed under Canada Post Publication MailSales Agreement no. 40006414
Mailed by: Precision Direct Marketing
Printed by: Advocate — Imprimerie Maritime Press
If you wish to make a donation to Mount Allison,please contact Susan Springer at (506) 364-2341 orby e-mail ([email protected])
Please forward change of address information to JoyWilbur ([email protected]) (506) 364-2608.
Cover Photo: Dr. Phil Tibbo (’86), the Dr. PaulJanssen Chair in Psychotic Disorders
2 | WINTER 2010 RECORD
Mount Allison University is a science powerhouse
What did that headline say? Mount Allison, the great liberal arts university, is a science powerhouse? How did this happen and says who?
Being a “liberal arts university” with such well-known people and programs in arts(think Colville and the Pratts), music (we practically owned the East Coast MusicAwards this year), and social science (anyone need a Rhodes Scholar?) it may surprisesome people to discover that Mount Allison has quietly built one of the finest under-graduate science programs in the country.
So how did this happen you ask? I wondered that myself and apparently it has much to do with—go figure—the students. I have been pouring over the survey andfocus group research we have done over the years (how scientific of me, eh?) and I cantell you with full confidence that the results show that those who study science here arethe “cream of the crop.”
Coming from all corners of the globe, they are as diverse a group as you will find, butthey are singularly united in their academic capacity as well as their stated intention topursue post-graduate studies.
Of course, having brains is only half the equation. Once inside the hallowed halls of Flemington, Dunn, Crabtree, Barclay, and Avard-Dixon they work with award-winning professors such as Bob Hawkes, Cathy Baker, Rob Ireland, Steve Wescott,Terry Belke, and others who nurture their intellectual curiosity, preparing them for thenext step.
From there, anything is possible and, in the pages that follow, you will read about theastonishing impact that our alumni are making on the world today and the meaningfuldiscoveries that are being made on campus right now. Appropriately, the last word goesto Dr. Jeff Ollerhead, Dean of Science, who talks about where the faculty is heading.
Almost a century ago, French physiologist Claude Bernard wrote “the joy of discoveryis certainly the liveliest that the mind of man can ever feel.” While this could equallyapply to the arts, social science, or music faculties, it is, at least for this issue, distinctlyapt for science.
Tony Frost Editor of the Mount Allison Record, University Advancement(506) 364-2345 | [email protected]
Editor’sNote
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Here’s to a fantastic 2010at Mount Allison
We have now emerged from the holiday season in one piece (hopefully) and bet-ter rested from what was certainly an eventful and, at times, taxing 2009. We
saw, among other things, the global economy pull back from the brink of collapse,the battle against the H1N1 “pandemic,” and the continuing efforts to build a sus-tainable green world. While we are not out of the woods on any of these fronts, the“green shoots” that exist in Canada and abroad put us in a more optimistic placeentering 2010 than we were in 2009.
Students of history know that times of crisis almost always bring times of innova-tion. In this issue of the Record, you will read about Allisonians who have takentheir science education and entrepreneurial initiative and developed innovativeideas and built new businesses. While not necessarily products of the recent crises,their inventiveness and entrepreneurial vigour will undoubtedly have an impact inmaking our world a better place. They should all be applauded for the work they aredoing.
While not without its challenges, Mount Allison bucked the trend in 2009. We onceagain sit at the top of the Maclean’s rankings for primarily undergraduate universi-ties; our 48th Rhodes Scholar, Susan Humphrey, will head off to Oxford in the fall;and Peter Mansbridge will replace John Bragg (himself an innovator) as Chancellor.And these are just the large, public developments. There are countless others, allequally important, that go unheralded on a daily basis. This issue is about those suc-cesses, too.
Andrew Clark (’98)
AlumniPresidentMount Allison AlumniBoard of DirectorsPresident:Andrew Clark ’[email protected]
Vice-President & Secretary:Anne-Katherine Dionne ’[email protected]
Past President:Barbie Smith ’[email protected]
Honorary President:Louise (Oates) Cooke ’[email protected]
Directors:Sean M. Connors ’[email protected] Fisher ’[email protected] Leggett ’[email protected] MacAdam ’[email protected] Pergau ’[email protected] (Doane) Poole ’[email protected] (Hemeon) Rafuse ’[email protected] Rose ’[email protected] Scott ’[email protected] Tippett ’[email protected] Vroom ’[email protected] Williamson ’[email protected]
Executive Director:Carolle de Ste-Croix ’90Tel: 506-364-2348 Fax: [email protected]://alumni.mta.ca
Nominations Call — Nominations are open for theAlumni Board. The Board works to promote and motivatethe participation of alumni and friends of Mount Allisonwith the University, through effective communication,events, and special initiatives.
Address nominations to:Carolle de Ste-Croix, Alumni Office 65 York St., Sackville, NB E4L 1E4or [email protected]
University | 3
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4 | WINTER 2010 RECORD
From left to right are alumnus Josh Bragg (’08),
Mount Allison’s director of football operations
Mike Glover (’10), and the University’s Director
of Athletics and Recreation Pierre Arsenault
From left to right are Kimberley Keats (’02), Jason Robinson (’06), Dr. Spencer
Bridget, Monica Bridget (’54), Adam Reid (’03), Bill Driedzic (former faculty),
Cathy Driedzic, Ina (Chafe) Kearley (’77), Carolle de Ste-Croix (’90), Alex
(Howson) Pratt (’78), Valerie Pike (’76), Flo Pike, Janine (Pike) Vallis (’76), John
Pike (’50), Dr. David Pitt (’46), and his daughter Ruth Francis
GoMounties!
Mountie fans at an away game
Thanksgiving Football Game at Rocky Stone Field in Moncton
Football Mounties
Away Game
at Laval Rouge et Or
Get-Together at The Yellow
Belly Brewery in St. John’s, NL
For more photos from the events listed below, please visit the Chapter pages on Alumni Online: http://alumni.mta.ca
500090 MtA Record_Winter Record 20065.0 10-02-08 9:10 AM Page 6
University | 5
Alumni volunteers Miranda MacPherson (’02),
left, and Dana McBain (’04) with guest speaker,
physics professor Dr. Robert Hawkes (’72)
Approximately 100 residents from Campbellton
and area came out to celebrate the accomplish-
ments of Mount Allison’s 48th Rhodes Scholar
Susan Humphrey (’10), pictured here with Gail
Blanchette, her former teacher and Vice-Principal
of Sugarloaf Senior High School.
Cele
brat
ion
Even
t in
Cam
pbel
lton,
NBReception at Métropolitain
Brasserie in Ottawa, ON
Other Past Events • 17th Annual Canadian Universities Alumni
Reception in NY, NY — September 24, 2009 • Atlantic Universities Alumni Pub Night in Tokyo,
Japan — September 26, 2009• Network Canada Alumni Night in London, UK
— November 20, 2009• Allisonian Art Garden Event in Sackville
— November 27, 2009• “Brunny at the Duke” Event in Toronto
— December 21, 2009
EVENT CALENDAR:Please visit the Chapter pages on Alumni Online(http://alumni.mta.ca) for information about upcoming events.
• February 21 – Osaka, Japan• February 22 – Beijing, China• February 23 – Bermuda Cocktail Reception in
conjunction with Mount Allison’s Soccer TeamTrip to Bermuda
• February 24 – Hong Kong, China• February 25 – Tokyo, Japan• February 26 – Bermuda Pub Night in conjunction
with Mount Allison’s Women’s Soccer Team Tripto Bermuda
• April 18 – Event at Hugh’s Pub with the Barra MacNeils in Toronto, ON
• April 29 – Ottawa, ON• President’s Cross-Country Tour 2010
It’s time the talented young people in yourlife knew about the #1 undergraduate university in Canada. Refer a potentialAllisonian today. Our admissions team willcontact the student with information on howto start their journey this Fall.
www.mta.ca/referral
Pass it on.
500090 MtA Record_Winter Record 20065.0 10-02-08 9:10 AM Page 7
CampusBeat
He’s been gracing our television screens as chief correspondent and anchor of CBC’s The Nationalsince 1988 and is host of CBC’s Mansbridge: One onOne. Now, Peter Mansbridge is Mount AllisonUniversity’s Chancellor.
In his role he will act as the University’s ceremonialhead, presiding over Convocations, conferring alldegrees, and acting as an ambassador. His term runsfrom January 2010 to December 2013.
“I am thrilled to further cement my relationshipwith one of the country’s most respected universitiesand I look forward to my first official duty asChancellor, Convocation 2010,” says Mansbridge.
Mansbridge has covered the most groundbreakingevents of our time, including the 911 attacks, thedeaths of Princess Diana and Pierre Trudeau, andthe Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He holds 12 GeminiAwards, six honorary degrees, and is an Officer ofthe Order of Canada.
Renowned journalist becomes Mount Allison Chancellor
Mount Allison has again been named the #1 undergraduateschool in Canada by Maclean’s magazine — a ranking ithas maintained for 13 of the last 19 years and one thatis unmatched by any other university in Canada.
The University received top or high marks in manycategories, including Student Awards, FacultyAwards, Library Holdings and Support, andStudent to Faculty Ratio. Mount Allison alsoranked fourth overall in the reputational survey,which asked experts, educators, and communityleaders for their views on quality, innovation,and leadership at Canadian Universities, andin the top five for Best Overall, HighestQuality, and Most Innovative.
“Our approach has always been to mixthe best features of Mount A’s past, with the
new and innovative, in an intimate, high-quality envi-ronment,” says Mount Allison President and Vice-Chancellor,Dr. Robert Campbell.
Mount Allison ranked best in Canada…again
6 | WINTER 2010 RECORD
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University | 7
The numbers are in and first-year enrollment is up over100 students from last year, reaching 829, with a total stu-dent body of 2,398. This count has also jumped from2007, which saw the student tally at 651 and overallenrollment at 2,069.
“Having the increase in students allows us to improve thestudent experience and continue to emphasize our goalsof quality and innovation at Mount Allison,” says Vice-President, International & Student Affairs Ron Byrne.
The growth also fosters a rich university environment.
“More great minds means a heightened level of learningand appetite for extracurricular activities, resulting in anincreased energy on campus,” says Byrne.
Byrne believes there are many reasons students are con-tinuing to choose Mount Allison. Apart from the
University’s top-notch reputation, he credits the increaseto its personalized approach.
“From including hand-written notes on our acceptanceletters to ensuring our knowledgeable admissions team isalways available, everything we do has a personal touchand everyone here understands that attracting students isa university-wide job.”
Enrollment on the rise
Two of Canada’s most creative couples joined one of theCBC’s most noted personalities, Shelagh Rogers, for aconversation at the Owens Art Gallery in October. Thequartet discussed their work and creative lives.
Former New Brunswick Lieutenant GovernorHerménégilde Chiasson (’72) is a poet, filmmaker,visual artist, and playwright, who was most recentlynamed Mount Allison’s Artist-in-Residence. His wifeMarcia Babineau has also pursued a creative path, andis the founder and Artistic Director of ThéâtreL’Escaouette in Moncton.
Joseph Boyden is the 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning author, recognized for novels and short storycollections such as Born with a Tooth, Three Day Road,and Through Black Spruce. Amanda Boyden is anEnglish professor at the University of New Orleans andauthor of Dirty Little Pretty and Babylon Rolling.
Mount Allison English and Canadian Studies professorand event organizer, Dr. Christl Verduyn, believes in thepower of this kind of cultural forum.
“These types of events allow our students and the surrounding community to explore the role of art andliterature in the human experience and are an integralpart of what Mount Allison is all about.”
A Meeting of the Creative Minds
Pictured here from left to right are Dr. Christl Verduyn,Herménégilde Chiasson (’72), Marcia Babineau, ShelaghRogers, Joseph Boyden, Amanda Boyden, and Dr. RobertCampbell.
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8 | WINTER 2010 RECORD
Look up. Look way, way up.
There are peoplewho do wonderfully
artistic work andpeople who are
interested mostly inthe science of it —
he does both.
“”
Honours chemistry student Alasdair Dunlap-Smith shoots for the stars
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