University of the Fraser Valley

Hodges new Dean of Health Sciences at UFV

Hodges new Dean of Health Sciences at UFV

Dr. Alastair Hodges is the new Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UFV.

Dr. Alastair Hodges has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UFV.

As an associate professor in Kinesiology, Hodges most recently held the positions of Department Head of Kinesiology and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UFV. He previously held faculty positions at Dalhousie University and the University of Alberta before coming to UFV in 2011.

“I’m excited and honoured to work with the many excellent faculty members, staff, students, and administrators who make up the UFV community,” noted Hodges. “Students at UFV experience learning in a way unique to our institution, and our faculty are leaders in forward-thinking health education.”

Hodges earned an undergraduate degree in kinesiology from the University of British Columbia, a master’s degree in exercise physiology from McGill University, and a doctorate in exercise physiology from the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre at UBC. He has completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

He is a member of UFV Senate, and chair of the Graduate Studies Committee of Senate.

“We are very pleased to have a highly qualified and dedicated leader like Alastair take on the role of Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences,” said Dr. Eric Davis, UFV Provost and Vice-President, Academic. “His service and commitment to UFV throughout the years have been exemplary and innovative. I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Hodges supported a number of special projects that developed hands-on learning opportunities for Health Sciences students. He played a major role in health and wellness outreach with faculty and community partners that resulted in real world learning opportunities for students.

When teaching, he draws on his theoretical knowledge, career and athletic experience, and lessons learned in a variety of team environments.

“Often I think back to my days as an athlete and as a tree-planter and I remember the dedication required in pursuit of a goal, the team-work, and the drive and motivation needed to overcome physical and mental challenges and adversity. I think those are all life lessons I’ve tried to pass on to my students even though I teach them completely different subjects.”

As an exercise physiologist certified by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, Hodges values the benefits of physical activity and is an avid practitioner of what he teaches. He lives with his wife Jackie and their two children in Chilliwack, where the outdoor recreation possibilities are part of what he loves about living and working in the Fraser Valley.

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