Community kudos go to two UVic faculty members

by Maria Lironi

Leeming

Two UVic faculty members—recently retired mathmatician David Leeming and business professor Rebecca Grant—were honoured with Victoria's Leadership Awards last month.

A partnership between UVic, Leadership Victoria and the Rotary Club of Victoria–Harbourside, the awards recognize people who contribute to the community and inspire and mentor others to become involved and participate in the life of the city and surrounding community.

Leeming and Grant were winners in the University of Victoria Community Leadership Awards category, which acknowledges exemplary leadership in linking UVic and the community for greater public benefit.

Leeming has had a long and distinguished career in research and teaching which culminated in his receipt of a faculty of science Excellence in Teaching Award. However, his involvement in mathematics education goes far beyond the lecture hall.

Leeming has served on Ministry of Education committees that have set the post-secondary mathematics curriculum in B.C. He has brought mathematics to life with the "Math Mania" program, which exposes the fun side of math to K-6 schoolchildren. In addition, Leeming is managing editor of Pi in the Sky, a magazine designed to capture and develop the interest of high school students in math.

Grant

Grant joined UVic as an associate professor of information technology in 1993, and has been repeatedly recognized for her strong research and teaching in the popular new field of "e-business."

Grant has always been active in the local community, in such roles as a mentor to young entrepreneurs in Junior Achievement and as a leader in fundraising for the United Way. Grant was elected to the board of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce in 2000, and in succeeding years has willingly taken on more responsibilities.

Other 2006 winners are: Robin Irving (Vancity Youth Leadership Award); Hajimohammed Charania and Dr. Michael Kovacs (Rotary Community Leadership Awards); Robin Irving (Vancity Youth Award) and Fiona Hyslop ( Lifetime Achievement Award).

For more information visit www.leadershipvictoria.ca/VLA_Nominees_2006.pdf. (PDF document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)