Capilano University welcomes Dawn Whitworth as the inaugural director, Creative Activity, Research and Scholarship (CARS)
-v2.jpg )
Capilano University is pleased to announce that Dawn Whitworth has been appointed as the director, Creative Activity, Research and Scholarship (CARS) effective Aug. 1, 2019. Whitworth joins CapU from the University of British Columbia where she was a director within the office of the vice-president of research and innovation.
Whitworth held previous leadership positions at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Emily Carr University of Art + Design and British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where she built educational programming and grew intersectoral research through partnerships within the technology, social profit, cultural and business sectors, which included corporations such as Apple and Facebook and local venture start-ups.
Over her career, Whitworth has realized hundreds of successful inter-institutional funding bids through federal, provincial and international funding agencies. Her recent conference presentations include topics such as: diversity as an enabler for innovation; and competitive advantages for large-scale university funding bids. She was also a faculty member within the Interactive Design program at Capilano College between 2004 and 2007.
Whitworth brings a wealth of experience, relationships and expertise to contribute in support of faculty and student research. These well-honed abilities will enable her to facilitate CARS discussions, foster intersectoral research collaborations, coach and mentor and develop additional services and supports for faculty and students, including sourcing, securing and leveraging external research funding. Whitworth’s diverse background and education in visual arts, technology and management has enriched the equity, diversity and inclusion lens she applies to all of her work within teaching and research universities.
“CapU plays a prominent role in the dynamic evolution of North Vancouver and beyond. The University is well situated in a research landscape where post-secondary institutions are encouraged to explore and respond to the key questions facing society,” says Whitworth. “The inaugural directorship of Creative Activity, Research and Scholarship provides a timely opportunity to build reciprocal partnerships between faculty, students, staff, community groups, companies and governments to create the best possible environment for CapU’s creative activity, research and scholarship to flourish.”
Whitworth holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Simon Fraser University, a master’s degree with distinction in cultural management from Northumbria University (Newcastle, U.K.) and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts (honours) from Newcastle Polytechnic (Newcastle, U.K.).
Submitted by: Lara Chibuk