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Jino Distasio Joins Senior Executive Team

University of Winnipeg President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Dr. Jino Distasio has accepted the role of Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation, effective March 17, 2013.

Distasio is currently Director of UWinnipeg’s high profile Institute of Urban Studies (IUS) and a member of the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Science. Under his leadership over the past decade, the IUS has grown significantly and developed a reputation as one of Canada’s leading centres of urban research.

“A member of the UWinnipeg community for nearly 15 years, Distasio has established himself as a dedicated researcher, teacher, and leader both locally and beyond,” said Axworthy. “He has a proven track record of securing major research grants from varied sources and managing complex research initiatives and important partnerships. He brings a wealth of invaluable skills to the senior executive team.”

Distasio most recently served as a Co-principal Investigator on the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s five-city study of mental health and homelessness. This landmark $110-million dollar demonstration project remains the largest of its kind and has contributed to the housing and support of more than a thousand Canadians over the past four years.

With Distasio’s appointment to the new position of AVP, Research and Innovation, oversight of the research portfolio at UWinnipeg will no longer reside with Dr. Neil Besner.  Besner has been responsible for overseeing this portfolio at the University since 2010 and has additionally been carrying the responsibilities of Provost and Vice-President Academic on an acting basis, from November 19, 2012 to February 28, 2013.  Besner’s appointment to the newly-restructured position of Provost and Vice-President, Academic and International took effect March 1.

MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca