Dr. James Mark Shields (1992)

The O’Brien Foundation recognizes the scholarly achievement of Fellows as they address a wide variety of issues both here at home and around the world.  One such scholarly work is that of Dr. James Mark Shields who received an O’Brien Fellowship in 1992 and is currently Associate Professor of Comparative Humanities and Asian Thought at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

He has become a recognized authority of Buddhist and comparative ethics.  James Mark is the author of the first book-length treatment designed to provide a critical and constructive analysis of Critical Buddhism, particularly as it relates to modern Japanese and Buddhist thought.

This work titled Critical Buddhism: Engaging with Modern Japanese Buddhist Thought was Published by Ashgate Press (UK) in 2011.  It is interesting to note that this book is a heavily revised version of his doctoral dissertation for McGill University.

When James Mark received his O’Brien Fellowship he was accepted into the graduate program of the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.  In addition to a Master of Philosophy, he has a Master of Arts and a PhD; the latter two degrees are from McGill.  He spent five years in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan studying Japanese and conducting research.

James Mark is currently in the process of writing a second book which is a “genealogy” of progressive and radical Buddhism in modern Japan.

His first book has a link on his biography cited in Where are they now? on the O’Brien Fellows website.     www.ashgate.com

Former UPEI president Wade MacLauchlan   O’Brien Fellow (1982)

Anne of Green Gables, a former premier and China have been keeping Wade MacLauchlan busy since he stepped down as University of Prince Edward Island president.

The longtime academic spent eight years each as a law professor at Dalhousie University and the University of New Brunswick before heading up UPEI from 1999 to 2011.

He and some business partners recently transcribed the classic Lucy Maud Montgomery story Anne of Green Gables into Mandarin for the Chinese market. Red Haired Anne, as it is known there, has been shortlisted as one of the 50 most influential books published in China in 2012 by state news agency Xinhua.

MacLauchlan is also working on a biography of longtime P.E.I. premier Alexander Campbell. This week, MacLauchlan is being honoured at a dinner thrown by Canada’s Public Policy Forum as one of three influential Atlantic Canadians.

The other honourees are Clearwater Fine Foods president John Risley and former New Brunswick lieutenant-governor Margaret McCain.

MacLauchlan spoke to The Chronicle Herald about the challenges, and their solutions, facing the Maritimes. His responses have been edited for length.

Since receiving her Fellowship, Felicia began medical school at Memorial University in St. Johns,   Newfoundland.  She is currently in her second year of studies and close to completing her thesis for her Master’s degree.
Felicia has just been selected to receive a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the National Board of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for her work as a volunteer.

Fredericton, November 22, 2012 -- A meeting between networking leaders from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Sackville on November 28th will help decide on methods to interlink high-speed networks, within and between the provinces.

“We are envisioning a new national dream,” said Gary Stairs, President of Fredericton-based Stellar Learning Strategies and Vice President, i-CANADA. “Our region is leading the development of a new Canada - one suited to the 21st Century. We are going to sketch out a plan to create an equitable high-bandwidth regional community, bringing ultra-high-speed service to homes and businesses throughout the twin provinces.”