An experienced researcher and academic leader who has led Lethbridge College’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE) to unprecedented growth is moving up to a new position. Dr. Kenny Corscadden has been named interim Vice President – Research and Partnerships at Lethbridge College.
Corscadden joined Lethbridge College in 2017, first as Dean of the Centre for Technology, Environment and Design (CTED) and then as Associate Vice President – Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in 2018. During his time with CTED, Corscadden built key industry partnerships, particularly in the agriculture sector and undertook an inventory of the college’s research activities and engaged industry with innovative approaches to grow research capacity.
Since joining CARIE, the centre has grown exponentially, expanding from eight full time staff in 2018 to more than 50 in 2021, increasing external research funding from $1.5 million in 2018 to $6.8 million in 2021, and increasing student researchers employed by the college from six in 2018 to 20 in 2021. Lethbridge College was recently ranked 29th in the annual ranking of Canada’s top 50 research colleges.
“The numbers speak for themselves in terms of what Kenny has been able to accomplish in a short period of time as his team has created applied research opportunities that benefit industry and the economy in southern Alberta,” says Dr. Paula Burns, Lethbridge College President and CEO. “Beyond the numbers, Kenny is a strategic and personable leader who has a proven ability to inspire his team and make meaningful changes. He will benefit Lethbridge College’s Executive Leadership Team as we continue to develop our research operations and further engage with our community in new and innovative ways.”
Corscadden’s portfolio includes CARIE, LC Extension and the college’s Development and Alumni Engagement team, which are all areas focused on using Lethbridge College’s internal expertise to develop and foster external relationships. His goals include continuing to grow the college’s applied research operations, continuing to advance LC Extension as southern Alberta’s premier learning solution partner, teaming up with local and regional partners to find opportunities to support student success and developing strategic partnerships to provide continued support for Lethbridge College alumni. Bringing applied research, LC extension and development and alumni engagement under the same portfolio will expand the opportunities for industry partnerships and training.
“I am excited about the new portfolio and for the opportunities it will create for synergy and complimentary activities with our external stakeholders,” says Corscadden. “I believe we are positioned for success and continued growth for the benefit of students, alumni and industry.”
Within the past three years, Lethbridge College has received many of the largest applied research grants in the college’s history, including a $1.75 million Technology Access Centre grant to create the Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre, three Canadian Foundation for Innovation grants worth $5.7 million, and more than $400,000 in Equity, Diversity and Innovation funding. The college has also acquired management of the Irrigation Research and Demonstration Farm and the Brooks Research and Production Greenhouse, is creating physical space for the new Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training (START) centre, and had its microbiology lab federally certified to handle Level 2 pathogens.
“I believe Kenny is so successful at creating research and partnership opportunities because he is a researcher at heart,” says Dr. Samantha Lenci, Provost and Vice President – Academic. “With more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, Kenny has remained actively engaged in research throughout his career, so he understands the opportunities and how to bring others along. He is a great asset to our leadership team as Lethbridge College continues to make its mark as a leading Canadian research institution.”
Prior to joining Lethbridge College, Corscadden held a number of executive positions in engineering companies in the United Kingdom and Canada. He transitioned to academia as an instructor and assistant professor at Acadia University as well as an industry research chair in farm energy, department chair for engineering, and associate dean – Research and Graduate Studies at Dalhousie University in the Faculty of Agriculture. Corscadden is a professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers Nova Scotia and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology in the U.K.