The School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism is very pleased to announce that Denise Gardner will be returning to the School of HRT in the role of Acting Associate Dean for the Health and Wellness cluster of programs. 

Denise's background, experience and credentials are ideally suited to manage this large and diverse group of Faculty, Staff and programs. Denise has been honored with the college’s Teaching Excellence Award (2012) given to only one exemplary faculty member per year, The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education College Sector Education Award (2011), and The John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College (2013). Denise’s academic preparation includes an undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo, a graduate degree in Neuroscience from the University of Western Ontario and a Master’s degree in Education from Medaille College. 

Denise began her Humber career in 2006 in the School of HRT as a Professor and Program Coordinator in the Fitness and Health Promotion Program. She also taught in our Post Graduate Certificate in Exercise Science and Lifestyle Management and in the University of Guelph-Humber Kinesiology Degree. 

Denise accepted the position of Director, Professional Development in the Centre for Teaching and Learning in 2013. In this role she has been instrumental in establishing many new initiatives such as the Cultural Inclusive Educator's Certificate (CIEC), and the Designing Differentiated Learning (DDL) Certificate. Additionally, Denise led The Teaching Excellence Program, and provided oversight to the The Teaching Effectiveness Certificate , Humber's annual Showcase, Humber's Part-time Faculty Conference and organized hundreds of faculty workshops and training opportunities yearly. Denise also co-chaired the Internationalization Committee and helped launch Humber's Global Citizenship Certificate. 

We are thrilled to have Denise return to the School of HRT and we look forward to the new insights and learning she will bring to our School. Denise will start on-boarding with Kristan Lingard the week of July 25. Please join me in giving Denise a very warm "welcome home!"

Susan Somerville
Dean, School of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism