Earlier this year I announced the Advisory Committee to recommend a Vice Dean, Undergraduate (VDU), effective July 1, 2024. As part of this work, the Advisory Committee reviewed the VDU position description and portfolio, consulted directly with administrative leaders of units reporting to the VDU, and solicited feedback from the wider FASE community. Informed by their review, consultations, and community input, the Advisory Committee recommended a revised position description for the VDU, which included a realignment of the reporting structure for 4 units, the Engineering Career Centre, the Educational Technology Office, the Engineering Computing Facility, and the Outreach Office.
Effective July 1, 2024, the Engineering Career Centre will report to the Dean. The Educational Technology Office and the Engineering Computing Facility will report to the Chief Administrative Officer.
The Outreach Office will report into an expanded Engineering Student Recruitment and Outreach Office. As part of this expansion, I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Ingrid Schvarczkopf as Associate Registrar and Director, Engineering Student Recruitment & Outreach, to lead this blended portfolio. Ingrid has made outstanding contributions on behalf of our recruitment efforts since she joined the office in 2015, and particularly since her move into the leadership role in 2018. I look forward to seeing the exciting new opportunities that will emerge from this portfolio under Ingrid’s exemplary leadership.
I extend my thanks to the leaders and staff in each of the above-named units for their collegial support of this realignment.
An announcement of the incoming Vice Dean, Undergraduate will be made separately.
Professor Markus Bussmann is currently on leave. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Aimy Bazylak as Acting Chair, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (MIE) until June 30, 2024. Professor Greg Jamieson will serve as the Acting Chair, MIE from July 1, 2024 to July 26, 2024.
Professor Aimy Bazylak is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering and joined the department in 2008 as an Assistant Professor. She was promoted to Associate Professor in 2013 and Professor in 2018. Aimy has served in several leadership roles within the Faculty and won numerous awards. She directs the Bazylak Group, which focuses on the study and utilization of microfluidic and nanofluidic transport phenomena to achieve unique designs, operation strategies, and water management techniques for clean energy technologies.
Greg A. Jamieson is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto and joined the department in 2002. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2007 and Professor in 2017. Greg has served in several leadership roles within the Faculty and won numerous awards. He directs the Cognitive Engineering Laboratory, which conducts applied human factors engineering research in the natural resource and energy industries.
Please join me in thanking Aimy and Greg for taking on this important leadership role within the Faculty.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Hani Naguib as Chair, Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) for a five-year term beginning on July 1, 2024. Professor Hani Naguib joined the University of Toronto in 2005 as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2008, and Full Professor in 2012. He has led new strategic initiatives at the University of Toronto such as the founding Director of the Toronto Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and the Associate Director of the Robotics Institute. Additionally, he is the recipient of many honors and awards such as the Canada Research Chair, the Premier’s Research Award of Ontario, and the faculty Early Teaching Award. His research and teaching expertise are on emerging advanced manufacturing technologies for the next generation smart and programmable materials. The main goal of his research program is to develop sustainable and transformational materials and manufacturing for health care, energy, and environmental sectors.
Please join me in congratulating Hani on his appointment and wishing him a rewarding journey for his term.
I extend my deep appreciation to the community for input and the following members of the Advisory Committee in this search for their time and thoughtful input:
- Professor Vina Goghari, Vice-Dean Research and Program Innovation, School of Graduate Studies (SGS)
- Associate Professor Teaching Stream Scott Ramsey, MSE
- Associate Professor Naomi Matsuura, MSE and Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME)
- Professor Eli Sone, MSE and IBME
- Professor Chandra Veer Singh, MSE
- Professor William Cluett, Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry
- Amanda Morelli, Undergraduate Student, MSE
- Masha Stanko, Graduate Student, MSE
- Fanny Strumas Manousos, Director of Administration, MSE
I also would like to take this opportunity to extend gratitude and warm thanks on behalf of the Faculty to Associate Professor Jane Howe who served as the Acting Chair, MSE since December 2023. Additionally, I would like to thank Professor Glenn Hibbard, Chair MSE since July 2019. Under Glenn’s leadership he guided the department through the pandemic, led efforts to revise the undergraduate curriculum, and was instrumental in forging the linkages with FASE and the Acceleration Consortium. We are grateful for your service and wish you continued success.