University of Saskatchewan appoints Ernie Barber as interim provost

Ernie Barber has been appointed interim provost and vice-president academic of the University of Saskatchewan effective July 1, 2014.

"After careful consideration, and after talking with a number of people and having the chance to listen to a variety of perspectives, I know we have made a good decision in having Ernie in the role of provost," said Gordon Barnhart, interim president and vice-chancellor, who announced the appointment today. "I have complete confidence in him and I respect not only his skills, but also the collegial way he approaches his work."

Barber has had a distinguished career at the University of Saskatchewan, including serving as acting provost and vice-president academic (2007-2008), vice-provost teaching and learning (2008-2010) and in two deanships, in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (1999-2007) and in the College of Engineering (2010-2013). He is currently managing director of the Global Institute for Food Security while the institute searches for a permanent executive director and CEO.

"This is a great university recognized locally and globally for its distinguished accomplishments in learning, discovery and community service," said Barber. "I am proud to have been a part of the University of Saskatchewan for 33 years and I feel privileged to serve in whatever capacity I'm needed. I look forward to lots of listening, to lots of debate and to making decisions together with the campus community to guide the academic life of the university."

Barber holds a master's degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Alberta and a PhD in engineering from the University of Guelph. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades, including four research awards from the Canadian Society for Biological Engineering, and a fellowship in that society. He has received a number of teaching excellence awards including being voted professor of the year by both agriculture and engineering students.

Barber will hold the interim position until a search is undertaken and a permanent provost appointed to the role. Plans for continuity of leadership in the Global Institute for Food Security will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

"Given Ernie's long history at the university, including serving once already as acting provost, I know he will help us stabilize and move forward over the important year ahead as we continue to enhance our academic excellence and strive for financial sustainability," said Barnhart.

Searches for the permanent provost and president positions have not been announced.

For a photo and bio, please see attached.

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For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Thoma

Media Relations Specialist

University of Saskatchewan

306-966-1851

jennifer.thoma@usask.ca

Bio - Dr. Ernie Barber, PAg, PEng

Dr. Ernie Barber is currently serving as the managing director of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), while the institute searches for an executive director and CEO. Dr. Barber was initially appointed as GIFS' founding deputy director and chief operating officer in February 2013. He was a key member of the team that negotiated the terms of reference to establish GIFS as a public-private partnership with PotashCorp and the Government of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Barber has had a long and distinguished career at the University of Saskatchewan. He served as the Dean, College of Engineering for three years (2010-2013), as vice-provost teaching and learning (2008-2010), acting provost and vice-president academic (2007-2008), dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (1999-2007), and head of the Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering (1994-1999).

A graduate of the University of Alberta (BSc 1972 and MSc 1974) and the University of Guelph (PhD 2001), Dr. Barber began his professional career in 1974 with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture as a specialist in engineering for livestock production, including farmstead planning, animal housing systems and waste management. He successfully led the development and implementation of a system for industry self policing of pollution and nuisance problems. In 1981, he joined the University of Saskatchewan in the College of Engineering where his research focused on heating and ventilating equipment and controls, livestock transport, design and testing of technology for improving air quality in livestock buildings, and quantifying the impact of indoor quality on agricultural workers, animals and the environment. His scholarly work has been characterized by a deep commitment to interdisciplinarity and industry relevance and he is a strong proponent for the integration of teaching, research and community engagement.

Dr. Barber has taught undergraduate and graduate students and was honoured with several teaching excellence awards, as well as being named professor of the year by students in both agriculture and engineering. He has received four awards from the Canadian Society for Biological Engineering, and was named a fellow of the Society in 2001. More recently, he received the U of S Students' Union Doug Favel Spirit Award.

Dr. Barber has served on a number of national committees, including the Canada Plan Service and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's mechanical engineering grant selection committee, and on a number of provincial boards, including Ag-West Bio, POS, Prairie Swine Centre, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, Saskatchewan Agrivision Corporation, Saskatchewan 4-H Foundation, the Saskatchewan Action Committee on the Rural Economy and the Saskatchewan Farm Leaders' Advisory Group.
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