Our Team

Dr. Augie Westhaver

Academic Director

Chair of Sociology and coordinator for the Health, Wellness, & Sport in Society (HWSS) program, Dr. Westhaver is a sociologist with a long history of teaching and research in qualitative methodology and ethnography. Since joining Saint Mary's in 2004, he’s focused his energy on addressing computational approaches in the social sciences and teaching courses in the sociology of sport. More recently, as part of his work with the centre, he’s turned his attention to actions we can take to support the well-being of those working and playing in the sport sector. 

Dr. MacIntosh Ross

Teaching Fellow

Dr. MacIntosh Ross earned his PhD in sociocultural kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario. Prior to his doctoral studies, Mac completed his MA in history at Saint Mary's University under the supervision of the Scott McCain & McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health founder Dr. Colin Howell. As a scholar, Mac focuses on the intersection of sport and human rights, employing a multidisciplinary approach.

His work has appeared in the Journal of Sport History, International Journal for the History of Sport, Sport History Review, and Sport and Social Issues. Mac is committed to amplifying the voices of survivors of abuse in sport, organizing and coordinating the group Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport (SAACS) to further these efforts. Once SAACS fulfilled its mandate, Mac and several other activists joined forces to create the Canadian Collective for Human Rights in Sport, of which he is the inaugural chair.

In 2024, Mac was awarded the North American Society for Sport History (NASSH) Sport History and Social Justice Award, alongside CBC journalist and fellow Nova Scotian, Shireen Ahmed. He was taught at the University of Windsor, St. Francis Xavier University and Western University

Janice Cougle

Managing Director

Janice is an experienced sport professional with a strong background in leadership, coaching, and athlete development, bringing valuable expertise from her time with Sport Nova Scotia. Janice is the Head Coach for the SMU Huskies Women's Rugby team and is a former varsity athlete at both the University of Lethbridge (3 time Monilex Trophy CIS, now USPORT National Championship) and Acadia University. She has a deep personal understanding of high-performance sport and the student-athlete experience—experience which she draws on in her role at the centre.  

Janice has coached rugby across multiple levels, including community club, provincial, and university programs, giving her a well-rounded perspective on player development. Janice holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and a Bachelor of Community Development from Acadia University, combining academic insight with practical experience. Her approach to sport emphasizes growth, resilience, and lifelong connection.  

When she’s not leading from the sidelines, Janice can still be found immersed in the game—playing, refereeing, or staying connected to the rugby community in any way she can. Outside of sport, she enjoys unwinding with Lola, her four-legged companion and, in her words, “the best dog friend in the world.”  

Ryan Foster

Operations Support Specialist

Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Ryan joined Saint Mary’s University in 2015 as a quarterback recruit for the SMU Huskies football team.

As a student-athlete, Ryan earned his stripes as an Academic All-Canadian, received a Third M award, and a participated in a Loney Bowl appearance before graduating with a BA in Social Justice and Community Studies. Following graduation, he spent a season as a Special Teams Quality Control Coach with the Huskies.

Off campus, Ryan lent his expertise to the Halifax Regional Centre for Education before returning to his alma mater to help coach the next generation of Huskies Wide Receivers. As a member of the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health, Ryan is looking forward to working with athletes on a regular basis with an emphasis on mental health initiatives and providing opportunities to strengthen the SMU student-athlete and student social community.

Lauryn Collins

Senior Communications Officer

Lauryn Collins is an experienced communications professional with a background in academic, corporate, and creative writing. Holding a masters degree from Dalhousie University, where her research examined the politics of disability in Victorian literature and beyond, she entered the world of corporate communications as a marketing specialist before shifting fully into strategic communications. She is an avid ballroom dancer, and in her spare time, you can often find her in the studio perfecting her footwork for her Classic Latin dance repertoire.