Congratulations to the following recently retired long-term faculty members, each of whom received professor emeritus status. They were honoured at the service excellence dinner along with employees marking service milestones and the employee excellence award winners.

UFV grants the honourable designations of Professor and Librarian Emeritus in recognition of long service and contributions to the institution.

How does someone earn emeritus status?

The designation of “Professor Emeritus” or “Librarian Emeritus” may be awarded by the Board of Governors to a retired faculty member who has served a minimum of 15 years as a full-time faculty member or librarian at UFV. This time period may include service as a UFV Academic Administrator.

2023 Professors Emeritus

• Dr. Robert Harding, Social Work and Social Services
• Patrick Harrison, Biology
• Dr. Wayne Henry, Philosophy
• Dr. Bruce Kirkley, Theatre, and Program Development and Quality Assurance
• Dr. Maple Melder Crozier, Child Youth, and Family Studies

Dr. Robert Harding

Professor Robert Harding’s 25-year career at UFV reflects a commitment to Indigenizing the Academy, a strategic objective of the university. Shortly after starting at UFV in 1998, he took on a leadership role in responding to the local Indigenous child welfare agency’s request that UFV develop culturally appropriate education for Indigenous child welfare workers.

He was tasked with developing an Indigenous Social Services diploma, a project that involved extensive community consultations, curriculum development, and relationship-building with local Indigenous communities.

In 2001, the School formally launched the Social Services diploma – First Nations Option, and Dr. Harding co-taught (with Stó:lō Elder Herb Joe) the first offering in the new program. These courses have since been moved to the College of Arts, where they remain in high demand, and are key components of the BA with a major in Indigenous Studies.

Robert’s teaching, which spans all levels of the School of Social Work and Human Services’ programming, as well as required courses in Indigenous Studies and Global Development Studies; his service, which encompasses committee work, program and curriculum development across several disciplines, and internationalization initiatives; and his scholarly activity, which orbits Indigenous issues, child welfare social work, and social policy issues are truly exemplary.

Patrick Harrison

During Patrick’s 19-year career at UFV as a biology lab instructor, he inspired many students to become outdoor activists. An American by birth, he served in the US Army and was a Vietnam veteran before becoming a US Park Ranger, where he developed a love for nature and became fascinated by the mysteries of fungi.

He completed a master’s degree from the University of Montana and upon moving to BC worked at UBC for over 20 years before coming to UFV.

Pat had a distinguished career not only as an academic but also as an environmentalist, having established the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at UFV and having been involved in many community projects including the Federation of Mountain Clubs in BC. He served on the City of Surrey Food Security Advisory Committee, the Board of the Surrey Farmer’s Institute, and the Metro Vancouver Regional District Agriculture Advisory Committee.

In 2016, he received the Faculty of Science Superb Service Award and was part of the Green Team that won the inaugural team excellence award for UFV in 2016. Students appreciated Pat’s ability to treat them with respect, his knowledge of subject matter, and caring attitude.

Dr. Bruce Kirkley

Bruce served as a faculty member and administrator at UFV from 1994-2022, as an instructor, associate professor, theatre department head, and as the associate director of program development and quality assurance.

Bruce worked tirelessly to ensure the Theatre’s continued success following the move of the Chilliwack campus to Canada Education Park and the eventual move of Theatre to the Abbotsford campus. Concurrently, he initiated a process of significant curriculum renewal and program development, while also overseeing the renewal of Theatre faculty and staff due to retirements.

He chaired the Bachelor of Media Arts and the Theatre Major program working groups, steering both proposals through to approval by the Ministry of Advanced Education. Bruce also guided the university’s successful Quality Assurance Process Audit conducted by the Ministry of Advanced Education in 2019-20 and produced UFV’s Institutional Report and Action Plan outlining the directions for Quality Assurance development in the university for 2021-2026.

Bruce deeply cared about students and their learning: a testament to his impact on students was clear at his retirement party, which was attended by over 20 program alumni.

Dr. Maple Melder-Crozier

Maple first joined the institution when it was UCFV in 1993 and was instrumental in establishing the Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care program. This was the beginning of the ECE/CYC department, which would later become Child, Youth, and Family Studies.

Maple has provided steady influence and leadership of the department, most significantly in her service as head of the department during three terms, which represents significant service to the university and academic community of practice. Her breadth of teaching has reached far and wide with 22 different core and elective topics courses taught within the degree program during her career.

Maple provided her wisdom and perspectives to the contributions of UFV’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Divisional Rank and Tenure Committee for Professional Studies, the Race Antiracism Network, Senate Graduate Studies Committee, and UFV’s Research Advisory Committee to name a few.

Maple has added value through her service in the Fraser Valley supporting and leading in the development of conferences, community board strategic planning, partnering with school districts, and presenting at conferences provincially, nationally and internationally. Maple’s colleagues speak to her energy, knowledge, and kindness. Thank you for all you’ve done for UFV.