I am pleased to announce that Professors Lael Parrott and John Klironomos will be joining the executive team as associate deans of the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.
Lael Parrott has been named associate dean, strategic personnel planning and development, and John Klironomos has been named associate dean, research, graduate and postdoctoral studies
We will benefit from their breadth of experience and knowledge during this time of transition for the School.
Lael Parrott is a professor in sustainability, cross-appointed to the departments of biology and earth, environmental and geographic sciences. She leads an internationally recognized research program in managing contemporary regional landscapes and ecosystems as complex human-environment systems.
Dr. Parrott has directed the Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services (BRAES) since 2013, has published more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and has an extensive record of graduate training.
John Klironomos is an ecologist in the department of biology. His research is focused on understanding the causes and consequences of plant and fungal diversity in terrestrial ecosystems. He has been awarded over $25 million in research grants, has trained over 60 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and has published 165 peer-reviewed papers, including 10 in Nature and Science.
Dr. Klironomos’ research has earned him a large number of awards and recognitions, including an NSERC Steacie Fellowship and a Canada Research Chair in Soil Biodiversity. He was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Dr. Klironomos also served as associate dean, research for the Barber School from 2013 to 2015, and has been a member of the Board of Governors since 2017.
Please join me in welcoming Lael and John to the Barber School executive.
I would also like to thank Dr. Mike Evans and Dr. Sylvie Desjardins for their dedication and contributions to the School during their terms as associate deans.
Gino DiLabio
Dean Pro Tem, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences