Dr. John Meagher
1957 - 1971
The Bachelor of Physical Education degree program, the first in the Maritimes, is established as an integral part of the Department of Education within the Faculty of Arts. Montrealer and ex-Mcgill professor John Meagher is hired by President Colin B. Mackay to head up the program which operates out of the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium. In September, 6 women and 17 men enrolled in the first two years of the program.
Professor Barry Thompson
1971 - 1974
In 1972 Prof. Barry Thompson is appointed Acting Head and begins building support for a faculty separate from Education; a report to the Academic Planning and Campus Development Committee recommending the amalgamation of the Departments of Athletics and Physical Education is accepted in principle; curriculum changes include the introduction of a new freshman course in physical education and undergraduate courses in Outdoor Education, Movement Education and Elementary Physical Education.
Enrollment in the BPE program reaches 290 students; the faculty proposes the establishment of a School of Physical Education & Athletics; major curriculum changes are made in conjunction with the new Faculty of Education programs to prepare physical education specialists for elementary and secondary schools; Recreation and Sports Science options for the BPE programs are introduced.
In 1973, Enrollment in the BPE and BEd(PE) programs totals 320 students; the Outdoor Education School is formally established and the UNB Participate is officially opened by Governor General Roland Michener.
Dr. William MacGillivary
1974 - 1975/1980 - 1991
In 1974, Prof. Bill MacGillivary (UNB BPE'62) is appointed Acting Head; the MEd(PE) program undergoes major changes and is expanded to a full-time program commencing September 1st with ten students enrolled; the proposed Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation is approved by the Board of Governors and Senates, and the Martime Provinces Higher Education Commissions effective July 1, 1975.
In 1980, Dr. MacGillivary takes over as Dean. During his two terms as Dean the first scholarship program for undergraduates is established, varsity athletics builds a reputation of Academic All-Canadians, and Physical Recreation and Intramural greatly expands its programs and sport-club activities; the men's soccer team wins the CIS championship - the first for any sport at UNB.
Three new BPE majors including Recreation Administration are introduced.
Dr. Garth Paton
1975 - 1980
Dr. Garth Paton from the University of Western Ontario is appointed first Dean of the new Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation; a new organizational structure incorporating athletics, physical recreation and intramural, and the graduate and undergraduate programs is introduced; the academic orientation of the Faculty expands beyond teacher-training to a more discipline-based program enabling students to pursue an array of sport, recreation and allied health fields.
In 1976, the Aitken University Centre opens providing a state-of-the-art venue for intercollegiate hockey, basketball and volleyball, as well as campus recreation, convocation ceremonies and other university & community events; UNB PE grad and Canadian singing star Anne Murray receives an honorary degree; Joyce Slipp, UNB PE Graduate and 1976 Olympian, joins the Faculty as women's basketball and field hockey coach.
In 1978, the first MPE degrees are awarded; budgetary restraints affecting the university result in the elimination of several sports from the intercollegiate athletics program; a campaign to change varsity team nicknames to a single name proves unsuccessful.
Dr. Terry Haggerty
1991 - 1999/2005-2010
During the decade from 1989 to 1999 the Faculty proactively addressed the changing nature of the field in Canada with several key curricular changes, new degrees and a name change from the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation to the Faculty of Kinesiology. As a result, the program continued to attract an increasing number of undergraduate and graduate students and enrollment grew from 275 students in 1989, to 400 in 1992, to 465 in 1999.
Over the years, many renovations have occurred. In 1992, the folding wall in the large classroom in C209 was closed permanently and a new computer lab was created to meet the burgeoning needs of World Wide Web users.
In 1993, the Faculty faced a daunting milestone when we lost a cumulative of 125 years of expertise with the retirements of Professors John Meagher (Founding Director), Barry Thompson, Don Nelson and Malcolm Early.
In 1994, as the Faculty continued to grow in size, space in the LBG was scarce, a "temporary" cottage by the pool was added to house five staff.
In 1995, once again, playing a lead role in the Maritimes, the name of the Faculty is changed from Physical Education & Recreation to Kinesiology.
In 1998, UNB wins it's first-ever men's CIS hockey championship; the program attracts an increasing number of undergraduate and graduate students and enrollment grows to 465.
In 2006, Dr. Haggerty returns from his role as founding Dean of Renaissance College UNB, to Dean of the Faculty.
In 2007, men's hockey team wins it's second CIS championship; plans are unveiled for The Richard J. Currie Center. The anchor building of UNB's Healthy Living Village, the centre will provide facilities for fitness, recreation and high performance athletes, as well as a national caliber motion analysis lab, and serve as the home for Varsity Reds basketball and volleyball.
The Faculty of Kinesiology celebrates its 50th anniversary;
Dr. Christopher Stevenson
1999 - 2005
In 1999, Dr. Chris Stevenson is appointed Dean; his tenure is marked by the introduction of an interdisciplinary PhD degree program, accreditation of the BScKin degree, the recruitment of several outstanding young faculty members who collectively move the Faculty into a significantly higher level of research activity, and expand Campus Recreation programs and facilities, including a new cardio exercise room.
In 2002, UNB hosts the CIS men's Hockey Championship, positively impacting UNB's profile nationals. In 2004, women's hockey is introduced as a varsity sport.
The Forging Our Futures Campaign includes funding for the construction of a new facility for Kinesiology as the primary building project for the Fredericton Campus; in conjunction with the Faculty of Business Administration, a joint MBA/Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation is introduced.
Dr. Wayne Albert
2010 - present
With the opening of The Richard J. Currie Center in 2011, the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium under went significant changes. The "Cottage" was removed and staff were relocated back into the LB Gym. The creation of the High Performance Centre in the West Gym and our partnership with the Canadian Sport Centre-Atlantic provided our athletics with access to high level trainers and equipment. In addition to this, one half of the West Gym has been designated as a combative area for the Wrestling High Performance Training Centre.
The first Kin Society lounge was established. Thus giving Kinesiology students a place to gather and study close to their faculty.
A new multipurpose teaching lab was developed to provide hands-on learning experience for our Kinesiology students.
A new exercise physiology research laboratory was implemented.
The development of the new state of the art Andrew and Marjorie McCain Human Performance Laboratory.
In 2012, the University of New Brunswick (UNB) signed a 5 year Memorandum of Understanding with the University of West Indies (UWI) to provide a Master degree in Sport Science. This one year joint degree program will be offered at the UWI.
