Our History

1984 - 1986: Beginnings

In 1984, the first graduate program - the Master of Education (MEd) was established at the University of Lethbridge. There were just 12 students in the inaugural cohort. In 1986, the first M.Ed. degrees were awarded to the first cohort of graduate students. 

2000: Establishment

In 2000, the School of Graduate Studies was formally established. The University of Lethbridge Board of Governors created the School of Graduate Studies, consolidating the graduate programs into an administrative structure under centralized governance. Later, graduate programming grew into business and management fields when Master of Science in Management (M.Sc.Mgt) was approved. 

Shamsul Alam (2000 - 2006)

Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research)

Shamsul Alam served as the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) from 2000 to 2006. He holds BA, MA, and PhD. 

Early 2000s: Steady Growth

In the early 2000s, graduate programming expanded into science and interdisciplinary areas, including neuroscience research degrees and other science masters degree programs. The collaborative Master of Counselling (MC) program was established across partner institutions, including the University of Lethbridge, and Athabasca University. In 2003 - 2004, new doctoral fields in sciences were introduced, including bio-molecular science, bio-systems and biodiversity, earth, space, and physical sciences. 

Mid-2000s: PhD in Neuroscience

In the mid-2000s, the first graduates from the PhD in Neuroscience program completed their degrees. 

Jo-Anne Fiske (2006 - 2010)

Interim Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research)

Jo-Anne Fiske served as the Interim Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) from 2006 to 2010. She received her masters (1981) and doctorate (1989) in Anthropology from the University of British Colombia and taught in the Women & Gender Studies Department at the University of Lethbridge. 

Robert Wood (2010 - 2019)

Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research)

Robert Wood served as the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) from 2010 to 2019. He earned his BA Honours at the University of Alberta in 1995, an MA from the University of Toronto in 1997, and his PhD at the University of Alberta in 2001, all in sociology.

2016: PhD in Education

In 2016, the PhD in Education was established. This marked the first doctoral intake in the Faculty of Education. 

Jackie Rice (2020 - Present)

Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research)

Dr. Rice is a Professor of Computer Science and is currently serving as Associate Vice President (Research) and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. She has served in this role since March 2020 and was renewed for a second term in 2024. She attended the University of Victoria and received her B.Sc. in 1993, her M.Sc. in 1995 and her Ph.D. in 2003.

2020s: Modernization

In the 2020s, graduate curriculum was modernized to include contemporary specializations, cohort redesigns, new clinical and professional degrees including the Master of Clinical & Counselling Psychology.

Present

In 2026, the School of Graduate Studies celebrated 40+ years of graduate programming at the University of Lethbridge. The School of Graduate Studies offers more than three dozen master's and doctoral programs across fields including Arts & Science, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, Education, Business, and interdisciplinary research. 

Jennifer Copeland (2026 - Present)

Acting Dean of the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs and Acting Associate Vice-President (Research)

Dr. Jennifer Copeland is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education. She previously served as an Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts & Science and an Interim Associate Vice-President (Research) in 2019-20. Dr. Copeland earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Mount Allison University before completing an MSc and PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of New Brunswick.