David Strangway
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David William Strangway, OC, Ph.D., D.Sc., FRSC, P.Eng. is a Canadian geophysicist and university administrator. Strangway is the founder and President of Quest University Canada, a private non-profit liberal arts and sciences university in Squamish, British Columbia which opens in September 2007.
Strangway studied at the University of Toronto, earning a B.A. in physics and geology in 1956, an M.A. in physics and a Ph.D in physics in 1960. After work in the field of geology and three years on the faculty at M.I.T, in 1970, he joined NASA as the Chief of the Geophysics Branch and was responsible for the geophysical aspects of the Apollo missions. In 1972, he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for his scientific contribution to NASA.[1]
He was a vice-president at the University of Toronto and the chairman of its geology department from 1973 to 1983. Upon the retirement of James Ham in 1983, Strangway was appointed the acting president of the University of Toronto. He was unexpectedly elevated to become the university's eleventh president after the designated successor, Donald Forster, suddenly died of a heart attack in August of that year.[2]
From 1985 to 1997, he was the tenth President of the University of British Columbia. From 1998 to 2004, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure.
[edit] Honours
- In 1984, Strangway received the Logan Medal for his geological works. This award is the highest honour the Geological Association of Canada bestows. [1]
- In 1987, he received the J. Tuzo Wilson Medal from the Canadian Geophysical Union [2]
- In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for being an "internationally respected as an outstanding scientist and senior academic administrator". [3]
[edit] References
- Canada Foundation for Innovation biography. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.
- David W.Strangway,OC,PhD: Project Founder and Director of Sea to Sky Foundation, Quest University Canada. Retrieved on February 17, 2006.
| Academic Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert H. T. Smith |
President of the University of British Columbia 1985 – 1997 |
Succeeded by Martha Piper |
| Preceded by James Ham |
President of the University of Toronto 1983 – 1984 |
Succeeded by George Connell |
Categories: Canadian geologists | Canadian university and college chief executives | Canadian university and college vice-presidents | Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada | Geophysicists | Members of the United Church of Canada | Officers of the Order of Canada | NASA personnel | Presidents of the University of Toronto | University of Toronto alumni | Living people
