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People and titles

HOW TO INCLUDE JOB TITLES

  • In a first reference, give an individual’s full appropriate title. In the second and subsequent references, use their surname only. 
  • Use professor, not “assistant professor,” “associate professor” or “research professor” as personal titles. 
  • Use president-designate, not “president-elect,” when referring to the next University president.
  • Use Dr. only for licensed health-care professionals who are members of the following colleges or their equivalents in other jurisdictions:  
  • the College of Chiropractors of Ontario. 
  • the College of Optometrists of Ontario. 
  • the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 
  • the College of Psychologists of Ontario. 
  • the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario. 
  • the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario, provided the member holds a certificate of registration that entitles them to use the title “doctor” (not all do). 

A member of the College of Naturopaths of Ontario may be called a “naturopathic doctor” (ND) but not “doctor” alone.

CAPITALIZATION

  • Lowercase job titles. The job title should follow the name.
  • The job title should not precede the name.
    Note: This style differs from The Canadian Press Stylebook. 
  • Do not capitalize occupations, professions or job names. 
  • Capitalize only current title holders. 
  • Job titles/professions can be capitalized when titles stand alone or are used in email signatures, website contact cards, lists and business cards and lists. 
  • Refer to the brand standards for guidelines on information to include in your Waterloo email signature.  

Note: Job titles may appear in all caps when placed in design layout. 

Examples: 

  • Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor, will deliver opening remarks. 
  • Dr. Vivek Goel is president-designate for the University of Waterloo.
  • The current chancellor is His Excellency Dominic Barton, Canada’s ambassador to China and global managing partner emeritus of McKinsey & Company.
  • David Johnston, former president of the University of Waterloo 
  • former president James Downey 
  • Sheila Ager is Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts dean
  • Jim Rush, vice-president academic and provost 
  • Cindy Forbes, chair of the Board of Governors 
  • Raouf Boutaba, associate dean (innovation and entrepreneurship) in the Faculty of Math 
  • Nobel laureate Donna Strickland 
  • Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, the Governor General (Canada), the governor general (others), former governor general Ed Schreyer, governors general (pl.), Governor General's Awards, Governor General's Literary Awards (never GG or GGs), Governor General's Horse Guards

See Organization charts for a current list of Waterloo senior leadership and staff, as well as their titles. Refer to The Canadian Press Stylebook for style rules about to titles of nobility, government, military, etc.  

See Buildings for the full names of buildings named after notable people. 

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University of Waterloo
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Waterloo, ON, Canada  N2L 3G1
+1 519 888 4567
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The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.

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