Dr. Christian Lacroix New Dean of Science
Dr. Christian Lacroix has just begun a six-year term as the sixth Dean of Science at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). Dr. Lacroix has been an active professor and researcher in the Department of Biology at UPEI since 1990.
"UPEI is fortunate to have Dr. Christian Lacroix as its Dean of Science," said UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "He brings an impressive record of contributions in teaching, research and service, all areas which we expect to continue flourishing for the Faculty of Science and UPEI as a whole under his leadership."
During his time at UPEI, Dr. Lacroix has served as Chair of the Biology Department and as a member of numerous committees including Graduate Studies, Research and Ethics for the Faculty of Science. As well, he has devoted his time as UPEI's university representative and scholarship liaison officer with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) since 2002.
Beyond UPEI, Dr. Lacroix has been a member of the Board of Directors of Island Nature Trust since 1992, recently serving as President. He is the newly-elected President of the Canadian Botanical Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Plant Canada. Until recently, he was Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Botany and still continues to act as reviewer for various international botany journals.
Born and raised in Eastern Ontario, Dr. Lacroix attended McGill for both his Bachelor's and Master's of Science degrees before receiving his Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Guelph. He is fluent in both English and French.
Dr. Lacroix's research focuses on plant structure and growth as well as specialized microscopic techniques. He holds an NSERC discovery grant and plans to continue his work and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students at UPEI.
"I look forward to working with the dynamic group of individuals that makes up the Faculty of Science. Our faculty are committed educators and also productive researchers with strong funding. It is a very exciting time to be at UPEI," says Dr. Lacroix.
Dr. Lacroix's appointment comes as Dr. Roger Gordon steps down as Dean after nine years. Dr. Gordon will be taking an 18-month administrative leave, while still acting as Chair of the Atlantic Canada Network on Bioactive Compounds (ACNBC). The ACNBC is an Atlantic research initiative, based at UPEI, which looks at the development and commercialization of products utilizing the natural health benefits from wild rosehips and blueberries.
