Dr. David Gregory brings a wealth of expertise and accomplishments to his new role as Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Photos: U of R Photography
Beginning this week, Dr. David Gregory brings a wealth of expertise, accomplishments, and awards in administration and leadership to his new role as Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic) of the University of Regina. His predecessor, Dr. Thomas Chase, assumed the role of University Interim President and Vice-Chancellor on April 1. Before stepping into his new role, Dr. Gregory served as the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing since 2011.
"Moving into the Provost's Office at this time has been challenging," said Dr. Gregory. "As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, I've been quickly and thoroughly immersed in all University functions from academic and administrative, to operations, and to ensuring the health and well-being of our University community."
As Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Dr. Gregory's overarching priority is to serve the University of Regina and members of the broader external community as best he can, despite the current circumstances and uncertainty.
"Our community is strong. The current Winter term is poised to conclude because all members of the University community rallied to put all our classes into distance teaching/remote learning platforms. The University is moving forward with the Spring/Summer semester via remote learning, and contingency plans are in development for the Fall," stressed Dr. Gregory. "Our community will come out of COVID-19 even stronger."
While in his role as Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Dr. Gregory was named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2015, and is the only registered nurse in the province to hold this prestigious honour. Prior to these awards, Dr. Gregory received the 2013 President's Award for Service Excellence - University Spirit Award for his significant contributions to the University.
Of Dr. Gregory's many accomplishments, one of the most notable is his innovative leadership in partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to develop two collaborative nursing programs - the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) program and the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program (CNPP). The SCBScN program is offered in Regina, Saskatoon, and North Battleford, providing many students with the option of studying in or near their home communities.
The University's Faculty of Nursing has grown in size and is now a recognized leader in nursing education in Canada
"David has had a multitude of successes as Dean - in part based on his incredible vision," said Dr. Robin Evans, Associate Professor and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Nursing. "He worked tirelessly to ensure that the collaboration between the U of R and Saskatchewan Polytechnic was strong and solid, creating a number of avenues for our partners to have a more equal voice in decision-making for the SCBScN program."
In 2015, Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognized the University of Regina's Faculty of Nursing with its President's Program Partnership Award.
Under his leadership, the University's Faculty of Nursing has grown in size and is now a recognized leader in nursing education in Canada. In 2019, the Faculty of Nursing celebrated its 10th anniversary and boasts more than 1,100 undergraduate, masters, and doctoral alumni. Currently, the Faculty offers the province's only nursing program that provides students with first-year clinical experience, giving them the knowledge and practical skills needed to provide compassionate care to people in Saskatchewan's communities.
Promoting and advancing the education of Indigenous nurses at the provincial and national levels has been an important focus for Dr. Gregory throughout his career.
"The Faculty has increased its focus on Indigenization and Indigenous students through Dr. Gregory's leadership, including a presence at Treaty 4 days, the establishment of scholarships to support Indigenous students, and an increased focus on recruitment," said Dr. Evans.
Dr. Gregory has also partnered with La Cité Universitaire Francophone to create the SCBScN Program Bilingual Option with the aim of improving the quality of health care services for Saskatchewan's francophone community.
"Among the Fransaskois community, Dr. Gregory is considered a champion' for developing the bilingual option," said Francine Proulx-Kenzle, Liaison for the Bilingual Option SCBScN.
In his role as Dean, Dr. Gregory has worked hard to create the first national networking event for doctoral nursing students - the Canadian Doctoral Nursing Network Conference. Now in its seventh year, the conference is drawing international speakers and attendance from across Canada and internationally. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 conference is cancelled until 2021.
Dr. Gregory's leadership in health extends to the well-being of the entire campus. In 2019, he chaired the University's Taskforce on Sexual Violence Prevention and Response, and led the development of a new policy designed to educate the campus community, reduce the risk of incidents of sexual violence and misconduct, and respond fairly and effectively to disclosures and reports with a focus on supporting those who come forward.
A graduate of the University of Ottawa and the University of Manitoba, Dr. Gregory holds a PhD in nursing from the University of Arizona. He received the title Dean Emeritus from the University of Manitoba in 2011, and holds an honorary diploma from the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (now Saskatchewan Polytechnic). Dr. Gregory is the lead editor of the nursing textbook Fundamentals: Perspectives on the Art and Science of Canadian Nursing, which is used in nursing courses throughout the country and is now in its second edition.
Dr. Gregory remains Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic) until the successful conclusion of the search for the University of Regina's next President and Vice-Chancellor.
