VIU Names New Associate VP of Research

Dr. Nicole Vaugeois takes on key role for University

Dr. Nicole Vaugeois has recently taken on the role of Associate Vice-President of Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity (AVP SRCA) at Vancouver Island University (VIU). Dr. Vaugeois will work across the institution to create a culture of learning through research. This includes developing a strategy that enables students, faculty and staff to engage in a broad range of scholarship, research and creative activities. She will also enhance the profile of the work happening across the institution by bringing it into the public realm to benefit the region. 

Dr. Vaugeois brings to the position many attributes, including a focus on how scholarship, research, teaching, community engagement and experiential learning are interwoven activities that create transformative learning experiences for students and mutual benefits for communities. 

Prior to this role, Dr. Vaugeois was the BC Regional Innovation Chair in Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development at VIU and the Director, Strategic Initiatives – World Leisure Centre of Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation. She earned her PhD in Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University; a Master of Arts, International Leisure Studies from the World Leisure Recreation Association International Centre of Excellence, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; a Bachelor of Arts, International Leisure Studies, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; and a Bachelor of Arts, Recreation Administration, University of Alberta.

Dr. Vaugeois has a strong track record of scholarly activity and research, much of it involving her undergraduate and graduate students, and communities across BC and beyond. She has led numerous research teams with a vast network of interdisciplinary scholars and community partners on projects related to rural economic development, amenities, tourism planning, the artisan economy, agri-tourism, cultural mapping, market research and labour market analysis. Her expertise has aided in policy and program development for local, regional, provincial and national agencies such as the Canadian Rural Secretariat, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and the BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.

Dr. Vaugeois has actively shared her scholarship in numerous publications and via digital media, and she has been an invited speaker in communities and at academic and industry conferences. She was recognized with a Provost Award of Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Vancouver Island University in 2014 for her community-engaged teaching practice, and was named World Leisure International Scholar in 2000, among other accolades. She is currently a Board member for the Travel and Tourism Research Association, Canadian Chapter and the BC Rural Network.

Dr. Vaugeois assumed her new role on January 5, 2017.

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