Brock University today announced Peter Tiidus – a well-respected muscle and exercise physiologist who conducts research related to muscle healing and health – as the new Dean of its Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

Peter Tiidus

Tiidus, currently a professor and program co-ordinator in the Department of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, takes up his new position at Brock for an initial five-year term beginning July 1, 2015.

Kinesiology professor James Mandigo has been acting as Interim Dean while the University conducted its search for a permanent candidate.

“Recognized internationally for his research in exercise physiology, Peter brings to Brock an impressive record of scholarship and leadership experience,” said Neil McCartney, Brock’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic, in an announcement today.

Tiidus, who also served as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Science and Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education during his time at Wilfrid Laurier, says he’s excited about coming to Brock.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to join a dynamic Faculty with a great mix of programs and departments,” says Tiidus. “I welcome the opportunity to continue to expand its potential to develop and deliver outstanding education, research and service to Brock students and to the Niagara community.”

Throughout his 32-year academic career, Tiidus (BSc, MSc, York University, ’78, ’81; PhD, University of Waterloo ’93) has established himself as a well-respected scholar, leader and graduate student mentor. He has been a faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier since 1989 and before that he was for eight years a faculty member in the School of Physical & Health Education at the University of Toronto.

Tiidus sits on the editorial boards of several academic journals, including Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise and the Journal of Sport Science and Medicine. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and as chair of the Examinations Committee for the Ontario College of Kinesiologists.

He has published more than 90 peer-reviewed articles and given in excess of 100 presentations related to his research throughout North America and Europe. His recent books are Skeletal Muscle Damage and Repair (2008) and Biochemistry Primer for Exercise Science (2012) (with R. Tupling and M. Houston).

Tiidus also recently served as the co-chair of the Academic Priorities Review Team at Wilfrid Laurier that made academic and budget recommendations regarding future directions of the university’s academic development.