KAMLOOPS – After a national search, Thompson Rivers University has decided upon one of its own for the position of Dean of the Faculty of Science, TRU Provost and Vice-President Academic Mark Evered announced today.

“We conducted a national search and interviewed three candidates for the position,” said Dr. Evered, explaining that a ten-member search committee, with representatives from faculty, staff, administration and the student body made their final choice Mr. Larry Prins, who has served as interim science dean at TRU since 2003.

Mr. Prins joined the university in 1981 as a faculty member in the Allied Health department, where he taught respiratory therapy. He served as chair of the department for 11 years, and received a teaching excellence award in 1986.

He holds a diploma in respiratory therapy from Fanshawe College, Ontario, an instructor’s diploma from UBC, a master’s degree in administration and curriculum from Gonzaga University, and advanced certification from the Canadian Society for Respiratory Therapy. The published author of a number of scholarly articles, Mr. Prins is currently completing doctoral studies in higher education leadership with the University of Phoenix.

The Faculty of Science at TRU is comprised of five departments, including Allied Health, Agriculture Related programs, Biological Sciences, Natural Resource Sciences and Physical Sciences. About 63 full-time faculty serve approximately 830 students per year, graduating about 90 degree and 60 diploma receipients each year. TRU’s Faculty of Science offers a number of majors, honours, and co-operative education degree programs including the unique Natural Resource Science degree, as well as a diversity of diploma programs, including the only respiratory therapy and animal health technology programs in BC, and distance education programs in animal health and water treatment technology. The Faculty has just launched a new bachelor of health sciences degree option for health-care professionals, including dental hygienists, massage therapists and respiratory therapists, and is looking to establish graduate programs in science and environmental studies in the near future.

For more information, please contact Larry Prins at 250-828-5405 or Mark Evered at 250-377-6126.