Dean's Office
Leadership team in the Faculty of Kinesiology
Nick Holt, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology
Dr. Nick Holt, PhD, is an award-winning academic, academic leader, athlete, coach, and leading scholar in youth sport and physical activity. He has published more than 200 journal articles and book chapters, and has a strong track record of funding, including grants from CIHR and SSHRC. In recognition of his scholarship, he was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada, College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists in 2017.
Dr. Holt began his term as dean on January 1, 2023, with the Faculty of Kinesiology at UCalgary. Dr. Holt is a professor and was the interim dean in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta. He previously held the role of vice-dean and associate dean research. He joined the University of Alberta as an assistant professor in 2004 from Brock University.
Dr. Holt holds a doctorate in physical education (sport psychology) from the University of Alberta, a Master of Science in exercise and sport psychology from Exeter University, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in geography with physical education and sports science from Loughborough University.
As a committed advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Dr. Holt seeks to ensure the Faculty of Kinesiology is home to a diverse and representative group of students, faculty and staff with inclusive spaces and opportunities that enable people to thrive. He is committed to furthering our journey to reconciliation and is a passionate advocate for mental health and well-being along with equity in sport.
Cari Din, Associate Dean (Interim), Academic
Dr. Cari Din, PhD, is an associate professor (teaching) in the Faculty of Kinesiology and specializes in sport and exercise psychology – leadership. She is an Olympic silver medallist (1996), a former national sports coach, and a recent recipient of a 3M National Teaching Fellowship.
Holding a PhD in sports psychology and leadership combines well with Dr. Din’s extensive personal experience in coaching and leadership behaviours in high performance sport. Dr. Din co-led an award-winning curriculum review and pushed for improved diversity and quality of teaching and learning in the Faculty of Kinesiology. She now co-chairs the Kinesiology Teaching and Learning Committee.
Dr. Din teaches with enthusiasm and her approach is to create safe learning environments for students to test, try, and reflect on what they learn in the classroom. Dr. Din partnered with a colleague, Dr. Martin McInnis, and the pair were nationally recognized with a D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning for their lab reform project.
Reed Ferber, Associate Dean, Research
Dr. Reed Ferber, PhD, is a professor and the director of the Running Injury Clinic and the Wearable Technology Research and Collaboration (We-TRAC) program.
He is internationally recognized as a leading expert in biomechanics research using wearable technology for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disease. Currently, he leads a team of UCalgary researchers in the NSERC Wearable Technology Research and Collaboration (We-TRAC) CREATE Training Program to train the next generation of wearable technology experts.
In 2013 he was inducted into the SU Teaching Hall of Fame after receiving the Student’s Union (SU) Teaching Excellence Award on four separate occasions.
Meghan McDonough, Associate Dean, Graduate
Dr. Meghan McDonough, PhD, is a professor in exercise, health and sport psychology in the Faculty of Kinesiology. She is also a member of the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, and Hotchkiss Brain Institute.
The focus of Dr. McDonough’s research is to examine the role of social relationships in physical activity and health behaviour. Her research is grounded in theoretical and empirical work on emotional and motivational processes, coping with stress, and self-perceptions. Dr. McDonough examines these questions in a variety of populations, with a particular focus on aging, people navigating chronic disease, and populations experiencing marginalization.
Dr. McDonough has a passion for fairness and equality, and she currently is serving as interim co-lead on the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility committee with the Faculty of Kinesiology.
Read more about her efforts to help aging Calgarians make social connections.
Contact the Dean's office at knesdean@ucalgary.ca.