Dr. Jennifer Copeland is stepping into a new role and has been appointed Acting Associate Vice-President (Research) and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Copeland will assume the role beginning July 1, 2026, as Dr. Jackie Rice, who served in this capacity since 2020 and was renewed for a second term in 2024, is commencing a one-year planned Administrative Leave.
“I am very pleased Dr. Copeland will be assuming the responsibilities of these important portfolios, and I want to thank Jackie for her excellent service over the last five-plus years,” says Dr. Michelle Helstein, Provost & Vice-President (Academic). “Dr. Copeland is a respected faculty member and researcher who has also done outstanding work in her administrative appointments, spanning extensive work in both graduate studies and research across disciplines. Dr. Dena McMartin, Vice-President (Research) and I look forward to continuing to work with her in those capacities.”
Copeland has been with the University of Lethbridge since 2003 as a professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Physical Education and is currently an Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. She previously served as 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.
Her lab, the Healthy Active Healthy Aging Lab, examines how physical activity and sedentary behaviour influence health across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on functional capacity and healthy aging in older adults. Her program prioritizes community-engaged research and knowledge translation through collaborations with community partners and stakeholders.
“The University of Lethbridge is home to excellent graduate programs and a remarkable breadth of world-class research and creative activity,” she says. “I am excited to collaborate with faculty, institutional leadership, and the dedicated teams in ORIS and SGS to support and advance the University’s research and graduate education priorities.”