UVic names three new academic leaders and reappoints Blackstone

Three new academic leaders will take up their posts at UVic this summer, with the appointments of Dr. David Capson as dean of graduate studies, Dr. Saul Klein as dean of the Gustavson School of Business and Dr. Andrew Marton as new associate academic vice-president international.

Dr. David Capson is the current chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McMaster University and served as associate dean of graduate studies at McMaster from 2001 to 2008. He is a specialist in the development of algorithms and architectures for high-speed image analysis with an application for engineering problems, including sensory-based servo system design, multi-camera distributed imaging systems and sub-space methods for image data reduction. Capson’s research has been funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) since 1985, and he has received several teaching awards. Capson has been a registered professional engineer in the province of Ontario since 1987.

“Dr. Capson has a distinguished record of achievement as a researcher, teacher and administrator,” says Dr. Reeta Tremblay, UVic’s vice-president academic and provost, and the chair of the appointment and reappointment committees for all three positions. “His references emphasized his sincere commitment to students and graduate students especially. We are pleased to welcome him to the university community and look forward to his contributions.” Capson’s five-year term as the dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies will run from Aug. 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017.

Dr. Saul Klein is the Lansdowne Professor of International Business at the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business. He joined the school in 2001 and has been the champion of the international business area since 2002 and the director of executive programs since 2004. He was a professor of the Graduate School of Business at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (1996-2001), senior fellow, Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration at the National University of Singapore (1994-96), and an assistant professor of marketing at the College of Business Administration, Northeastern University (1986-1993).

Klein’s research interests span the study of emerging market multinationals, global strategic alliances, international market entry modes, and competition and competitiveness of emerging markets. In 2005 he received the Excellence in Teaching Award of the school of business.

“Dr. Klein has a strong record of academic leadership with a proven ability to establish priorities and develop strategies to achieve goals,” says Tremblay. “I am positive that with his experience and knowledge the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business will continue to flourish.”
His term as dean runs from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2017.

Dr. Andrew Marton will also take up his role as UVic’s new associate academic vice-president international on Aug. 1, 2012. Marton is currently vice-provost, teaching and learning and dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo, China.

He is a specialist in Chinese studies and has explored the study of patterns and processes of spatial economic transformation in China’s extended metropolitan regions with a particular focus on the lower Yangtze River delta. Other research interests include Chinese administrative restructuring and urban and regional development, curricular reforms and geographical education, and the emergence of new urban spaces for the visual arts and other creative industries in Shanghai and Ningbo.

“Dr. Marton will be an invaluable asset in furthering the strategic vision for internationalization. He brings a wealth of experience to this role,” says Tremblay. Marton’s five-year term runs until June 30, 2017.

Dr. Sarah Blackstone has also been reappointed to a second term as dean of fine arts for a five-year term starting July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017. A professor in the theatre department at UVic, Blackstone is highly regarded as a scholar and dedicated leader in the university sector. “We are confident that Dr. Blackstone will continue to bring integrity, leadership and dedication to the fine arts and art education at UVic,” says Tremblay.