TRU 2022 EMERITI
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY
TRU 2022 EMERITI
THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY
Dr. Tom Dickinson retired in 2022 following a 32-year career at TRU. He joined the Faculty of Science in 1989, at a transformative time in TRU’s history. A biologist whose research interests include the conservation of wildlife and wild lands, he taught courses in vertebrate biology, ecology and evolution. He served as the first associate vice-president of research and graduate studies, establishing the university’s initial research office. As dean of science from 2010 to 2020, he led the launch of the Master of Science in Environmental Science—TRU’s first graduate program—and helped to develop the university’s Bachelor of Natural Resource Science, Bachelor of Engineering and Canada Research Chair programs. He also took on the role of interim provost and vice-president academic. He was instrumental in establishing TRU’s Wells Gray Education and Research Centre, an educational facility that has been welcoming researchers to the diverse habitats of Wells Gray Provincial Park for three decades. Well-respected by students and colleagues, he received awards for distinguished service, teaching excellence and scholarly merit. TRU will continue to benefit from Tom Dickinson’s expertise as Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Iain Stewart-Patterson has been teaching in TRU’s Adventure Studies Department since 1992 and has been a leading expert in adventure education since 1979. His career in higher education began with a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Master of Education from the University of Calgary. In 2014, he became one of the few internationally-certified Mountain Guides to earn a PhD, which he completed at the University of Edinburgh and focused his research on the role that intuition plays in expert decision making. He has participated in several professional associations, including serving as founding director and president of Sport Climbing BC, and throughout his career has raised public awareness of the importance of outdoor safety and avalanche training. His awards include the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Distinguished Service Award in 2004, Sport Climbing BC’s Service Award in 2018, TRU’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2018 and TRU’s President’s Distinguished Teacher Award in 2021. TRU will continue to benefit from Iain Stewart-Patterson’s expertise as Professor Emeritus
Dr. Patricia Neufeld retired in 2021 following an 11-year career at TRU. Neufeld was a dedicated teacher, committed to supporting her students and the counselling profession. Her career began with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Tabor College and a PhD in Counselling and Educational Psychology from Kansas State University. At TRU, she was Academic Director-Education in Open Learning, and associate dean, interim dean and faculty member in the Faculty of Education and Social Work. As associate dean, she was influential in shaping TRU’s Master of Education. She served on several committees, including the course schedule committee and the Accreditation Steering Committee. In 2018, she received TRU’s Teaching Excellence Award and was awarded an International Teaching Fellowship at the Heidelberg University of Education in Germany. She is Professor Emeritus for Emporia State and remained an ctive participant in the counselling profession by serving as co-editor and member of various counselling journals and boards. Dr. Patricia Neufeld will be remembered at TRU for her dedication to teaching, scholarship and service to her students and colleagues.
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