Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Tanya Forneris has been appointed Dean pro tem for the Faculty of Health and Social Development at UBC Okanagan, effective October 1, 2025, for a one-year term.
Dr. Forneris has been part of the UBC Okanagan community since 2016 and is Professor of Teaching in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences (HES). She has served in several leadership roles at UBC Okanagan, including Associate Director of HES, Interim Academic Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning and, most recently, Interim Director of HES. Before joining UBC Okanagan, Dr. Forneris was an Assistant Professor in the School of Human Kinetics at the University of Ottawa.
Dr. Forneris holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and a Master of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick, as well as a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research and educational leadership interests have centred on community-based programming and its role in facilitating positive youth development, post-secondary curriculum development, and fostering student wellbeing and success.
A recipient of the 2025 Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation, Dr. Forneris also has a passion for supporting and mentoring excellence in teaching and educational leadership. She has been involved in many activities to mentor graduate students, faculty members and instructors across campus.
I am pleased to welcome Dr. Forneris to her new role.
Sincerely,
Rehan Sadiq
Provost and Vice-President, Academic
UBC Okanagan