In recent months, the Faculty of Health has had several new additions, including two new directors and a chair.
Claire Mallette has been appointed the new director of York’s School of Nursing, Angelo Belcastro the chair of the School of Kinesiology & Health Science and York psychology Professor Yvonne Bohr the director of the LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence & Conflict Resolution.
Right: Angelo Belcastro
Prior to joining York as the new chair of the School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Belcastro was the research director in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. He has taken over the position from Professor Ira Jacobs.
“Dr. Belcastro is internationally recognized for his scholarship, is an effective educator and has outstanding leadership qualities and experience,” says Harvey Skinner, dean of York’s Faculty of Health.
In addition, Belcastro has held senior administrative roles in a variety of academic settings, including as director of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of British Columbia, founding dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario, vice-president academic at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, and vice-president academic & provost at Royal Roads University. He also has extensive experience in academic planning, visioning and program execution, says Skinner.
Left: Claire Mallette
Prior to becoming director of the School of Nursing, Mallette was director of nursing education, placement & development at the University Health Network in Toronto, while holding an adjunct appointment in the Faculty of Nursing at York and at the University of Toronto. Mallette was also the chief nursing officer and director of professional practice at the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board of Ontario from 2002 to 2006. She has held various teaching positions at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, Sheridan College, John Abbott College and the University of Alberta Hospital School of Nursing, from 1987 to 2002, as well as staff nurse positions in hospitals in Montreal, Ontario and Alberta.
In addition, Mallette has been the principal or co-investigator of six funded grants or programs totalling approximately $1.4 million dollars for research examining educational methodologies, virtual worlds, simulation, and new nursing graduate competencies and decision-making.
“Mallette has extensive experience and strengths as an academic nurse leader, educator and researcher,” says Skinner. “These are a perfect fit for leading the school forward to accomplish its vision and strategic directions.”
Right: Yvonne Bohr
As the new director of the LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence & Conflict Resolution, Bohr is on familiar ground. As an executive member of the LaMarsh Centre since 2004, she has actively participated in the redevelopment of the centre’s mission and vision. Her research encompasses issues of mental health and well-being among young children, and she actively engages the community both as collaborators in the research and for the mobilization of knowledge.
“A real strength of Dr. Bohr’s work experience, in light of the vision and mission of the LaMarsh Centre, is the breadth of her experience in both international and local partnership, both with other academics and with community members,” says Skinner. “Her existing partnerships, and her knowledge of how to build and sustain partnerships, is consistent with the LaMarsh Centre's goals to influence policy, engage the community, and build local and global learning networks.”
A clinical psychologist and psychology professor, Bohr is engaged in academic collaborations with colleagues at the Sapienza University of Rome and several centres in Canada and the United States. She also continues to lead an infant and child mental health team at Aisling Discoveries Child & Family Centre, a community treatment clinic in East Toronto.