News

Tony Walker, Léo-Paul Dana, Mike Smit, Alana Westwood, Dominika Wranik and Jennifer Bain

The Faculty of Management has honoured three professors for their exceptional contribution to research in their fields of study. Dr. Alana Westwood, an assistant professor, has received the Rising Star Research Award, Professor Dr. Léo-Paul Dana received the Research Star Award and Dr. Tony Walker was presented a Research Impact Award.

During the ceremony, Associate Vice President of Research at Dalhousie, Dr. Jennifer Bain, noted that not all faculties take the time to celebrate the contributions of their faculty. These annual awards, she says, speak to the seriousness with which the faculty regards research.

Acting Dean Dr. Michael Smit agreed, emphasizing the commitment of the faculty to the community, and how, even in research, these individuals embody those civic-minded values. “If you’ve ever been to one of their classes, you know that what they’ve learned about the world through their research is being passed on to their students. It’s truly incredible to see,” he adds.

The Rising Research Star Award is given to faculty members who are not yet tenured and is based on their record of publication and how much money they’ve captured in grants. In addition to having just received one of three teaching awards for her courses in the School of Resource and Environmental Studies, Dr. Westwood has published in three top-tier journals and contributed to five government reports. Her research is on topics related to forests, watersheds, environmental assessment and government policy.

Associate Dean Research Dr. Dominka Wranik says, “The committee was particularly impressed with the calibre of our pre-tenured candidates. This was not an easy choice. We have a number of outstanding emerging scholars.”

Also celebrated was Dr. Léo-Paul Dana, receiving the Faculty’s Research Star Award for his prolific scholarship around entrepreneurship and Indigenous entrepreneurship. His publication record for the past year was too vast and long to read out.

Dr. Tony Walker, who like Dr. Westwood is part of the School for Resource and Environmental Studies, received the Management Impact Award for his body of work over the past ten years. As Dr. Wranik pointed out, his volume of work is impressive. Dr. Walker has published 152 peer-reviewed articles, 30 reports, one book and presented at over 100 conferences. The global effects of his investigations into the impact of human activity on water, she describes as ‘profound’.

Acting Dean Smit says all his colleagues are to be commended for the research they’re pursuing. He adds, “Research in this faculty is gaining momentum. You see it in the continued growth and the available funding to support students, you see it in increased publications.”