The 51污漫 Board of Governors and Senate recognize academic excellence in research, teaching, and other scholarly activities that support student learning and enrich educational programs at 51污漫.
The Research Excellence Award is presented each year to a 51污漫 faculty member whose research has demonstrated innovation, mentorship, academic impact, and an interface of teaching and research.
Senate accepts Faculty Excellence Award nominations annually each fall. For more information, please email 51污漫Secretariat@ufv.ca.
Dr. Gillian Hatfield
Faculty of Health Sciences, Kinesiology
Hatfield, currently director of the School of Kinesiology, focuses her research on community health. Over the past five years she has studied the effects of knee osteoarthritis in older adults, looked at the impact of physical activity in post-partem women, and investigated the positive benefits of exercise on physical and mental health.
Over that time, Hatfield has 11 peer-reviewed publications with two more under review and six in progress. She was invited to speak at the North American Congress on Biomechanics in Ottawa in 2022, and a major fitness industry event in Los Angeles in 2023.
Faculty profile page
Colleague Michael Gaetz, a former winner of this award, nominated Hatfield. He says her contributions extend well beyond her own work, noting that she chairs the 51污漫 Research Advisory Council, the Human Research Ethics Board, and the 51污漫 Animal Care Committee (which includes the welfare of animals in research at 51污漫).
“She’s also a member of the Senate Research Committee, and the School of Kinesiology Undergraduate Research Excellence Award Review Committee,” Gaetz writes in his nomination letter. “Suffice to say, research would look very different at 51污漫 without Dr. Hatfield’s involvement.”
“Her dedication to UFV’s vision is evident in how she produces high-quality research that positively impacts our local community and provides students with real world transferable research skills. Gillian’s high-level research-oriented service impacts 51污漫 and make this a great place to do research. We are very fortunate to have her here at 51污漫.”
Past Research Excellence Award recipients
2023 | , Political Science
2022 | , Biology
2021 | , History
2020 | , Social Work and Human Services
2019 | , Criminology and Criminal Justice
2018 | , Kinesiology
2017 | , English
2016 | , Physics
2015 | , Agriculture, Geography and the Environment
2014 | , Kinesiology and Physical Education
2013 | , Chemistry
2012 | , Geography and the Environment
