Just prior to the academic year, new faculty got a chance to explore the campus and mingle with their fellow new recruits with events including a bus tour of DalhousieÕs three campuses and information sessions on research, the libraries and other topics. They also met some of the universityÕs top administrators, including President Tom Traves, who spoke about the importance of faculty members finding balance, be it between teaching and research or between their academic and personal lives.
HereÕs just a few of the new academic staff who were in attendance:
Fiona Martin (Sociology)
Martin is Canadian by birth but has lived and studied in Australia for the past seven years, earning her PhD in Sociology from the University of Melbourne. In addition to teaching first year sociology, sheÕll be teaching a course in her personal area of interest, the sociology of addiction. Her most recent research is studying young mothers and pregnant women who are disengaging from injection drug use. Martin is also REALLY looking forward to teaching (emphasis hers).
Francesco Ciabattoni (French)
Originally from Italy with a PhD from John Hopkins University, Francesco Ciabattoni completed his first degree in Turin. He is a new professor of Italian studies and his area of specialty is medieval Italian literature. As a professor in a relatively new program, heÕs looking forward to helping the Italian program grow. ÒI hope to attract more students to learn about Italian literature, language and culture,” he says.
Luis Quiterio (Dentistry)
New to the Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, QuiterioÕs research is in the field of endodontics, otherwise known as everyoneÕs favourite dental operation, root canal therapy. Originally from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, heÕs only ever been to Canada once before on vacation. HeÕs excited not only about teaching, but the opportunities to work with others doing citations, articles and books in his field.
Gianna Aleman (Chemistry)
Aleman may be more familiar that some of the other new faculty around campus. ThatÕs because the Havana, Cuba native earned her MasterÕs right here at Dalhousie. While she has worked as a TA for a few years, this is her first time in a regular teaching role. Her area of interest is physical chemistry, but sheÕll also be teaching first year general chemistry as well. ÒThe quality of teaching is really high here,” she says. ÒI love the people too. I feel like IÕm home.”
So if you see one of these people around campus, or any other new faculty members, take a minute to stop and welcome them to Dalhousie. TheyÕve got an exciting year ahead of them.