Dr. Airini (PhD) and Dr. Baljit Singh (PhD) joined USask’s leadership team February 1, 2021, each bringing extensive experience in their roles to add value to the USask campus community and to improve educational experience, and research and innovation opportunities at the university.
The campus community is proud to have Dr. Airini and Singh join the senior leadership team, as they aim to move USask forward on its commitment to be the university the world needs.
In the role of the provost and vice-president academic, Dr. Airini will be the senior academic, planning and budget officer at USask. Working with colleges and schools, Dr. Airini will lead the development of an academic agenda that is connected to the university’s financial realities in order to give students an outstanding experience at USask.
“To be called to this role is a true honor and delight,” said Dr. Airini. “It’s been humbling to experience the renowned warmth of welcome from so many across the USask community and beyond. This was on my mind as my husband Brandon and I drove across provinces to the university's location on Treaty 6 territory and the homeland of the Métis. This is a journey of respect and for the good ways committed to in the University Plan, for reconciliation, and for all the diverse communities the university serves - to experience exceptional levels of learning, scholarship, success, and influence through USask.
“It’s very special to begin this role at the same time as Dr. Baljit Singh returns to USask,” continued Dr. Airini. “I am so looking forward to our roles working together in partnership to support USask leaders and the exceptional scholarship, learning and community engagement made possible across our university.”
As USask vice-president research, Singh will assume a critical role for both USask and the province in driving outstanding research and innovation as one of Canada’s top 15 research universities. Singh is already highly familiar with the campus, having spent 17 years at USask, including as associate dean of research for USask’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine from 2011 to 2016.
He looks forward to returning to USask to help bring more opportunities to the province.
“Much has changed since I left in the summer of 2016. I don't know what possessed me,” said Singh. “New programs have been launched and many scholars have joined the community. A new plan—The University the World Needs—has been developed. Because the landscape has evolved, and in keeping with the commitment I made at the announcement of my appointment, I will focus on learning carefully about the breadth and the depth of the scholarly enterprise at USask. I request your help and guidance in this effort.”
Please give both Dr. Airini and Dr. Singh a warm welcome as they begin their appointments to the leadership team.