Five USask faculty members honoured with distinguished professorship

Professors emeriti and current USask faculty members who hold academic qualifications corresponding with an appointment at the rank of full professor are eligible for appointment to the distinguished professor position. Recipients of this lifetime award become distinguished professors emeriti upon retirement.

“Congratulations to this year’s five new distinguished professors, who each exemplify the university’s mission to pursue excellence in teaching, research, scholarly and artistic work,” said Dr. Vince Bruni-Bossio (PhD), USask acting provost and vice-president academic. “This year’s recipients are inspirations to our university community through their dedication to innovation and community engagement. They join a legacy of many others who have made significant contributions to their fields on local, provincial, national, and international levels and whose work truly embodies the spirit of the University of Saskatchewan. We are grateful to have colleagues who exemplify this level of impact in their work.”

This year’s recipients were selected by a committee made up of senior leaders, faculty and community members, who undertook an extensive review of all submitted nomination packages.

“Excellence comes in many forms, and this year’s awards recognize outstanding academic work across a wide spectrum of disciplines by professors employing very different teaching and research methods,” said Dr. Scott Walsworth (PhD), USask vice-provost, faculty relations. “The selection committee reviewed a wide range of submissions. The five professors who have been recognized with the ultimate distinction within the professorial rank were selected for their commitment to research, teaching and service. I extend my deepest congratulations to this year’s distinguished professors.”

This year’s distinguished professors are Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine (PhD), Dr. Julita Vassileva (PhD), Dr. Valerie Verge (PhD), Dr. Lorne Babiuk (PhD), and Dr. Verna St. Denis (PhD).

Muhajarine is one of Canada’s most accomplished population health researchers and a driver of change at the community level to promote better health. Specializing in social epidemiology, Muhajarine has excelled in conducting research that is translated into change. He has led projects nationally and internationally, built research institutions and infrastructure, and is a highly sought-after mentor. Muhajarine exhibits remarkable depth and range in his scholarly work, and is a highly respected researcher, leader, mentor, and teacher, and an exceptional academic who works effectively with people across sectors.

Muhajarine’s research, which spans local and global contexts, focuses on the impact of social factors on health outcomes in early stages of human life, such as in pregnancy, early childhood, and adolescence. His impactful research has included national evaluation of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, various early-childhood interventions such as Saskatchewan’s Kids First program and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing’s Healthy Populations. He has also spearheaded the Canada-Mozambique Maternal Health project, an international development project funded by Global Affairs Canada. Additionally, he is a sought-after teacher who has mentored well over 100 research staff, post-doctoral fellows, visiting research fellows, and graduate students.

In addition to his significant research, Muhajarine has held numerous leadership positions at USask, including head of the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology and director of the Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit. He also leads the Saskatchewan component of the National Health Data Interoperability Technology Development Program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Muhajarine played a crucial role in public communication and led a significant COVID-19 national research network through the Public Health, Health Systems, and Social Policy pillar of the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network. His contributions to both research and society have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Knowledge Translation Award, a University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Science Alumni Achievement Award, and the USask Distinguished Researcher Award. He was inducted as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2023, one of the highest recognitions for health scientists in Canada.

Vassileva earned her PhD in mathematics and computer science from the University of Sofia in Bulgaria, following a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and a Master of Science in cybernetics and control theory. Now a distinguished computer scientist and professor at USask, Vassileva has made groundbreaking contributions in user modelling and personalization, trust and reputation mechanisms, multi-agent systems, and decentralized systems for online collaboration. Her pioneering work in intelligent tutoring systems and culturally adaptive persuasive technologies has significantly impacted education and inclusivity in technology design. Her research spans artificial intelligence in education, persuasive technology, multi-agent systems, and blockchain-based decentralized user modelling.

With close to 15,000 citations and nearly 300 published papers, with an h-index of 60 according to Google Scholar, Vassileva is among the world's most cited researchers. According to the 2024 Ioannidis ranking by Stanford University and Elsevier, she ranks in the top 36.3 per cent of the 217,098 scholars included in the top two per cent most cited researchers in all areas, and in the top 0.38 per cent of 399,064 scholars working in Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing worldwide. She has received numerous accolades, including the USask Distinguished Researcher Award and the College of Arts and Science Distinguished Researcher (Science) Award in 2021.

Vassileva has been a leader and mentor for others in her field and beyond. She has supervised more than 60 graduate students, 33 undergraduate students and five post-doctoral fellows, many of whom now hold prominent positions in academia and industry. She received the Graduate Student’s Association Supervision Excellence Award in 2013 and the CGPS Distinguished Supervisor Award in 2014. Her initiatives as the NSERC/Cameco Prairie Chair for Women in Science and Engineering, have deeply impacted the university and beyond through initiatives such as the Science Ambassador Program, a 17-year program she spearheaded which has been managed by the College of Arts and Science since the end of the chair position. The program connects northern Indigenous communities with the USask community by pairing senior undergraduate and graduate students with schools across northern Saskatchewan. Vassileva’s dedication to community outreach demonstrates her deep commitment to fostering societal impact and community engagement.

Verge is a leading researcher at the USask College of Medicine with a research program that focuses on enhancing nervous system repair, particularly for peripheral nerves and for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). She earned a Bachelor of Science from Concordia University, as well as a certificate in computer programming and a PhD in neuroscience from McGill University. Her work is known for explaining the molecular basis and application of innovative therapies that enhance nervous system repair, including electrical nerve stimulation and non-invasive acute intermittent hypoxia. Verge’s work has established her as a pioneer in the field.

With a large research funding portfolio and a prolific publication record, Verge’s work has earned her a place among the top two per cent of the most highly cited scientists worldwide as named by Stanford University in 2019, with more than 10,890 citations attributed to her name to date. Her longstanding, high-impact research program has been supported by multi-million CAD in research funding secured by Verge from national and local organizations, including the Medical Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research and MS Canada.

Verge has held significant leadership roles at USask and beyond. She was the first female PhD hired as an assistant professor in her department in 1992. She played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Cameco MS Neuroscience Research Centre (CMSNRC), where she has served as director since 2006. Under her tenure, the CMSNRC has reached an all-time high in research intensity. She has been a strong advocate for neuroscience research, influencing policy and investment especially during her tenure as president of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience. Her mentorship has guided numerous undergraduate, master’s, PhD and post-doctoral trainees through their research training, fostering the next generation of health science professionals. Verge’s contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including being named an MRC Fellow and Scholar and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada 2025 Scientist Award.

Babiuk earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and his Master of Science in soil biology from the USask College of Agriculture and Bioresources before going on to complete his PhD at the University of British Columbia and his earned Doctor of Science in veterinary microbiology. He began his professional career in 1973 in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and became a full professor in 1979. In 1980, he joined the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), where he held various positions that culminated in his appointment as director in 1993.

Babiuk is broadly recognized as one of the USask’s most renowned experts in life sciences and vaccine research. Babiuk’s contributions to immunology, virology, and vaccinology have led to the development of vaccines that significantly impact global health outcomes by reducing animal mortality and morbidity. Babiuk played a key role at USask in establishing several programs and initiatives, including the School of Public Health, a new graduate program in vaccinology, and interdisciplinary courses in virology and microbiology, among others. In 2003, Babiuk was the innovative leader behind a new laboratory Level 2 building in 2003, and in 2012, led the acquisition, development and funding of USask’s high-containment Level 3 facility, which was one of the largest in the world. Notably, he directed a major international research collaboration funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under the Grand Challenges in Global Health Program, known as one of the most prestigious funding competitions in history. With over 1,600 applications received, Babiuk’s team was selected as one of 41 to receive funding in this prestigious competition.

Babiuk’s tenure at VIDO lasted until 2007, after which he served as vice-president of research at the University of Alberta until 2019. He currently holds the title of professor emeritus at both the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta. His extensive research has resulted in more than $200 million in research funding, with his work cited over 38,000 times, according to Google Scholar. Babiuk has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including a Saskatchewan Order of Merit Award in 2006. He was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 2005, a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2006, and a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (U.S.) in 2016. Babiuk has been awarded three honorary Doctor of Science degrees throughout his career in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to science, including from Colorado State University, the University of Guelph and the University of Saskatchewan, respectively.

St. Denis holds a Bachelor of Education from the USask College of Education, a Master of Arts from the University of Alaska/Fairbanks and a PhD from Stanford University, a designation she earned while she attended as a prestigious Fulbright Scholar. St. Denis is a prominent figure in anti-racist and anti-oppressive education, and has significantly advanced theoretical, empirical, and practical knowledge in the growing field of scholarship that demonstrates how colonial injustice and racism have structured educational practices, policies and relationships. Her research has gone hand-in-hand with a deep commitment to provide language around systemic injustice, and to support educators, students and school systems in the transformation of these systems. Her work has shaped Canadian educational studies, built a new subfield of education, and influenced policy conversations around equity and decolonization on a global scale. St. Denis has made substantial contributions to teacher professional development and training, impacting educational practices at various levels through her highly recognized research program. Her research, scholarship and leadership have directly improved the educational experiences of Indigenous and racialized students in Saskatchewan and beyond.

St. Denis has held many roles at USask throughout her career, including teaching roles in the College of Education’s Indian Teacher Education Program and Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program, as well as serving as a full professor in the Department of Educational Foundations until her retirement in 2023. She has mentored numerous students, fostering the next generation of educators. She currently holds the title of professor emerita at USask and was named special advisor to the president on anti-racism and anti-oppression in 2021. In addition to her academic work, she has held numerous advisory roles with provincial and national government bodies including the Saskatchewan Judicial Advisory Committee and Equity Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board of the Deputy Minister’s Office of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and recently was the recipient of a King Charles III Coronation Medal. In 2023, St. Denis was invited to give the prominent keynote lecture, the Sherman Lecture, the highest profile annual lecture in the field of education in Canadian Higher Education.

More information about the Distinguished Professorship Program, including a list of past recipients, is available online.