I am pleased to announce the extension of the appointment of Dr. David Kitts as Dean pro tem for the UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS), for the period October 1, 2025, until the earlier of September 30, 2026, or the appointment of the new Dean.
Dr. Kitts is a food scientist who served as the Associate Dean of Research in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems from 2012 until his appointment as Dean pro tem on October 1, 2024, and prior to that as Director for the Food, Nutrition and Health Program. His research is transdisciplinary, spanning food science, nutrition/dietetics, biochemistry and molecular biology. Over the past 40 years, he has contributed to the body of knowledge related to food chemistry, food toxicology and nutritional sciences, helping the Faculty and UBC grow to become a well-respected institution in food science.
As Dean pro tem, Dr. Kitts has been leading a Farm to Fork strategy, ensuring that the Faculty is recognized for advancing its academic and community impact through a holistic lens – from growers to food processors to consumer health and public policy. He has been strengthening partnerships to promote a more food-secure future and to ensure students can access experiential learning opportunities as they become equipped to solve complex issues that encompass food sustainably and food security. The strategy acknowledges the importance of continuing to work towards inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing, culture, and worldviews as the Faculty addresses some of the goals outlined in UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Recently, Dr. Kitts and members of the Animal Welfare Program successfully obtained a major investment from Farm Credit Canada to advance dairy science at UBC’s Dairy Education and Research Centre. The funds will support the creation of an integrated data system to facilitate data-driven innovations, including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The Centre will develop a robust digital architecture to provide valuable insights to improve animal welfare, productivity and livestock management, and create a dedicated postdoctoral fellow position to work with dairy cattle researchers.
I am grateful to Dr. Kitts for his work to date as Dean pro tem, and look forward to working with him and the Faculty of Land and Food Systems leadership team in the coming year.
Simon Bates
Acting Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver