In announcing the appointment University President David Barnard said Heinrich made a significant contribution to the remarkable growth of the University during her first term as academic vice-president.
“Kathy’s contribution to the growth in our provincial funding, the influx of new faculty and the strengthening of our ties with the local and provincial communities has been remarkable,” Barnard said. “In particular her dedication to working with the province’s Francophone community to establish the Institut français, and her support for the University’s affiliation with the First Nations University of Canada, have brought us closer to achieving our goal of service to the diverse communities that support us.
“In the next five years we face significant and very welcome challenges in planning and providing resources for our programs in learning and teaching, aboriginal education, faculty and academic development, partnerships with the broader community, and the environment,” Barnard added. “It will be a pleasure to work with Kathy as a continuing member of our executive team.”
As vice-president (academic) Heinrich is responsible primarily for the advancement of academic excellence in eight faculties (Administration, Arts, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Kinesiology and Health Studies, Science, and Social Work), the Centre for Continuing Education and the Library. She also provides leadership to the Institut français, to student services, and through Associate Vice-President Stephen McClatchie to the Teaching Development Centre and the Centre for Academic Technologies.
A mathematician with a PhD from The University of Newcastle, Australia, Heinrich has also served at Simon Fraser University as special assistant to the vice-president academic for academic planning; as professor and department chair, mathematics and statistics; and as Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council university research fellow in mathematics and statistics.