Geoff Payne’s passion for university varsity sports is blatantly obvious.
If there’s a soccer or basketball game home or away that involves the University of Northern BC Timberwolves, chances are you’ll see the UNBC president on the sidelines or in the stands cheering on the guys and gals wearing green and gold.
Payne, UNBC’s president and vice chancellor, has been chosen to serve as the Canada West Conference presidential representative for the nine-member U SPORTS board of directors for a two-year term that starts this month.
He will represent the TWolves and 16 other Canada West universities in the U SPORTS national organization, assuming the role the role from Dr. David Docherty, president and vice-chancellor of Brandon University.
"UNBC is proud to be part of the U SPORTS community, and I’m honoured to take on this role as a representative for Canada West," says Dr. Payne.
"Our athletes, coaches, and staff demonstrate that excellence isn’t limited by size or location. It’s driven by passion, commitment, and opportunity. Representing northern British Columbia at the national level is a responsibility I take seriously, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the country to strengthen the future of university sport together."
The U SPORTS board maintains authority over and responsibility for the systems and structures employed by the organization to direct and manage its general operations.
Payne, a native of Newfoundland, was named UNBC sixth president in February 2020.
Currently in his 10th year as a professor, he joined the teaching staff at the Cranbrook Hill campus as founding director of UBC's Northern Medical Program in June 2004.
He’s a PhD graduate of Memorial University on St. John’s, Nfld., who specialized in cardiovascular and renal physiology, and followed that a fellowship in cellular and molecular physiology at Yale University.
