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.
William Bridel, Senior Associate Dean, Academic
Dr. William Bridel has been with the University of Calgary since July 2014 and served as associate dean (academic) from 2021 to 2024. He brings a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility to teaching and learning and was awarded a University of Calgary Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award in 2021. He is also the recipient of three Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards for teaching in the Faculty of Kinesiology. He strives to adopt a trauma-informed and queer pedagogical approach in his teaching and incorporates a variety of learning assessments to help encourage and support student success. His research has focused primarily on 2SLGBTQIA+ participation in sport and other physical activities historically and in contemporary times, as well as inclusion and safe sport policies and practices in the Canadian sport system. He employs a variety of qualitative methods in his work, with his research being largely informed by intersectional and poststructuralist theoretical perspectives on sex, gender, and sexuality. Outside of academia, Dr. Bridel has been a group fitness instructor for 25 years and enjoys indoor and outdoor ice skating.
Nicole Culos-Reed, Associate Dean, Research
Dr. Culos-Reed is a professor of Health and Exercise Psychology in the Faculty of Kinesiology and a UCalgary Research Excellence Chair; Adjunct professor in the Department of Oncology in the Cumming School of Medicine; and director of the Health and Wellness Lab and Thrive Centre. She holds a Research Associate appointment with the Department of Psychosocial Resources at the AE Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Cancer Care, Alberta Health Services, and is a Killam Laureate. As of July 1, 2025, Dr. Culos-Reed is the associate dean (research), in the Faculty of Kinesiology.
Dr. Culos-Reed’s research takes a transdisciplinary approach to understanding and improving the quality of life of individuals living with and beyond cancer, developing, delivering, and evaluating physical activity programs to address the physical and psychological challenges experienced throughout treatment and into survivorship. This research includes national and international collaborations, working with populations from pediatric to adult, including those with advanced cancer. Her effectiveness-implementation work in Alberta is funded by the Surerus Community Support Fund, and across Canada the EXCEL project is funded by a Canadian Institute of Health Research-Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Survivorship Team Grant (2020-26), with additional support from Alberta Cancer Foundation, to bring her team’s exercise oncology program to underserved rural and remote populations across Canada. Dr. Culos-Reed is the co-chair for the PEOC meets FORTEé International conference in pediatric exercise oncology (Mainz Germany, 2026).
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.