David W. Atkinson
Encyclopedia
David William Atkinson is a Canadian academic and President of Grant MacEwan University. He is the former president of Kwantlen Polytechnic University
and two Ontario
universities, Brock University
in St. Catharines and Carleton University
in Ottawa
.
David W. Atkinson was born in Sunderland, England
, and immigrated to Canada
when very young. Educated in Calgary
, he attended the University of Indiana, where he was an All-American in Cross Country, and a member of the Big Ten Championship Cross Country Team. He returned to the University of Calgary
, where he completed his B.A.
degree (1970), and subsequently earned an M.A.
(1971), and a Ph.D.
degree (1975) in English.
David Atkinson was a faculty member at the University of Lethbridge
from 1977 to 1991, where he took on increasingly senior administrative positions, including Director of Applied Studies, Chair of Religious Studies, Associate Dean of Arts and Science, and Dean of Student Affairs. In 1991 he was appointed Dean of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan
. In 1997 he was appointed President of Brock University
in St. Catharines, Ontario
, and in 2005 President of Carleton University
in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was appointed President of Kwantlen University College in Surrey, British Columbia
, which in May, 2008 was designated as Kwantlen Polytechnic University
. He resigned to take up the post of President of Grant MacEwan University on July 1, 2011.
David Atkinson has held faculty positions in both English and Religious Studies. He has published widely in both disciplines.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is a public degree-granting undergraduate polytechnic university with four campuses located in the South Fraser region of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland...
and two Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
universities, Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
in St. Catharines and Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
David W. Atkinson was born in Sunderland, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and immigrated to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
when very young. Educated in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, he attended the University of Indiana, where he was an All-American in Cross Country, and a member of the Big Ten Championship Cross Country Team. He returned to the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
, where he completed his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree (1970), and subsequently earned an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(1971), and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree (1975) in English.
David Atkinson was a faculty member at the University of Lethbridge
University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a publicly-funded comprehensive academic and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with two other urban campuses in Calgary and Edmonton. The main building sits among the coulees on the west side of...
from 1977 to 1991, where he took on increasingly senior administrative positions, including Director of Applied Studies, Chair of Religious Studies, Associate Dean of Arts and Science, and Dean of Student Affairs. In 1991 he was appointed Dean of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. In 1997 he was appointed President of Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
in St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines, Ontario
St. Catharines is the largest city in Canada's Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario, Canada, with 97.11 square kilometres of land...
, and in 2005 President of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was appointed President of Kwantlen University College in Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
, which in May, 2008 was designated as Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is a public degree-granting undergraduate polytechnic university with four campuses located in the South Fraser region of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland...
. He resigned to take up the post of President of Grant MacEwan University on July 1, 2011.
David Atkinson has held faculty positions in both English and Religious Studies. He has published widely in both disciplines.