Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Faculty of Arts on centre stage at Convocation

Convocation continues today with two ceremonies for the Faculty of Arts.

At 10:00 a.m. this morning, 740 graduates will cross the stage as degrees are handed out in Accounting and Financial Management, Anthropology, Computing and Financial Management, Classical Studies, Drama and Speech Communication, Economics, English Language and Literature, Fine Arts, French Studies, Geography and Environmental Management, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Global Governance, History, Medieval Studies, and Music.

Bearing the mace will be Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies William Chesney.

Professor Wendy Mitchinson will be given the title Distinguished Professor Emerita. Mitchinson has had a long and distinguished career at the University. Since her arrival in the history department in 1985, she has become one of the leading scholars in Canadian gender and medical history with nearly 40 articles and book chapters, and seven books, including Canadian Women: A History, the first and only textbook on the history of women in Canada. Her monograph Giving Birth in Canada: 1900-1950 won the Jason A. Hannah Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. She closed out her career as Canada Research Chair in Gender and Medical History.

Beyond her extraordinary teaching and research, she has been an active citizen in both the University and the profession, sitting on important departmental and university committees and serving for three years as the English language editor of the Journal of the Canadian Historical Association.

Gianine Nicole Mapula will deliver the morning's valedictory address.

Greta Kroeker will be presented with the Distinguished Teacher Award. An associate professor in the Department of History, Kroeker joined the University of Waterloo in 2007. Kroeker goes beyond the expected levels of an instructor by creating a “learning environment all its own,” as one alumnus describes it. She uses her own enthusiasm, humour, and deep understanding of the content to encourage students to work at what they are learning. As one graduate student shares, “Dr. Kroeker encouraged me to continue to pursue my studies in history, thereby greatly impacting and influencing my own learning”.  By acting as a mentor and a motivator, Kroeker allows students to “feel safe and secure in their learning environment”, and dedicates many hours to supporting them. Innovating courses that students with an outside perspective may view as content-heavy is another way Kroeker goes beyond the realms of teaching. By structuring tutorials and assigning group projects that encourage creativity, students are able to develop “‘out of the box’ thinking when presenting research information”, which is an aspect an alumnus appreciated. As her fellow colleague explains, “Dr. Kroeker personally builds a compelling case for higher education, linking practical skills with intellectual achievement”.

Michael MacDonald will also be presented with the Distinguished Teacher Award. An associate professor in the Department of English Language and Literature, MacDonald joined the University of Waterloo in 2001. MacDonald surpasses student expectations as a result of his remarkable ability to “communicate content seamlessly through his ability with speech”. Teaching material that can be viewed as ancient is a challenge that MacDonald breaks down and assists students in grasping. He ensures students have an understanding of what is expected, and structures his courses such that students are able to remain focused and on-track. Outside of the classroom, MacDonald is dedicated to remaining connected and fostering constant interaction with his students. He responds “promptly to students queries on the LEARN discussion boards” and “makes himself available to students” if they ever have questions. MacDonald is always happy to make time to explain concepts further, which provides a highly positive impact on student learning. As an undergraduate describes, “his easy-going but professional demeanour ensured that he commanded respect from the class, while also creating a non-intimidating atmosphere that made the classroom feel like a safe place to speak and promote ideas”.

At 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, 665 students will receive degrees from St. Jerome’s University, Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, Independent Studies, Liberal Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Service, Religious Studies, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies, Social Development Studies, Sociology and Legal Studies, Spanish and Latin, American Studies and Women’s Studies.

University Librarian Mark Haslett will bear the mace.

Professor Mark Zanna will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Over 39 years at the University of Waterloo, Zanna has risen to become the very top social psychologist in Canada and among the top in the world. His work on attitudes, stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice, and social intervention made him an influential leader in the field throughout his career, a career featuring 150 papers in top journals plus 66 book chapters in highly visible outlets as well as several edited books. He served on the editorial boards of 11 top journals, including as associate editor; further, for 30 years he edited two prestigious book series.

He was recognized within the university for his stellar career with the inaugural Excellence in Research Award in 2000 and three Outstanding Performance Awards, and also nationally and internationally with Fellow status in the Canadian Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology; he has also served as president for a number of these groups. In 1999, he was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of Canada and the Killam Prize Laureate for the Social Sciences, Canadian Council for the Arts in 2011, amongst many other career honours and awards.

He twice served as chair of the department, providing strong leadership and always displaying the attributes of the consummate academic.

Barbara Ehrenreich will receive the first honorary degree of Convocation week. Ehrenreich is an American writer, investigative journalist and public intellectual. In her career she has made many significant contributions to fields including: the history of medicine, sex, gender and social class in times of economic upheaval and social change.

Ehrenreich received her PhD in 1968 from Rockefeller University. She has authored 20 books, numerous magazine articles, and has gained renown among scholars for her effective advocacy for social justice in the fields ranging from philosophy, sociology, recreation & leisure studies, history, economics, and women’s studies. She has written important books on the intersecting topics of health, financial insecurity and class, especially in North American society, and the struggle for the rights of women.

She combines rigorous scholarship with a commitment to using her learning to make change in the world, and has received many honours to date, including: two National Magazine Awards; named "Humanist of the Year'' by the American Humanist Association; won the Puffin/Nation award for creative citizenship; received the Hillman award for journalism; and has received a Guggenheim fellowship, the Freedom from Want Medal from the Roosevelt institute, and a MacArthur Grant. Professor Ehrenreich will address convocation after receiving her degree.

Andrei Serban Bucur will deliver the afternoon valedictory address.

William Coleman will be invested with the title of University Professor. William D. Coleman is a professor of political science and was the Founding Director of the Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition at McMaster University.

He has been the Project Director of the Globalization and Autonomy Series of books that is being published by the University of British Columbia Press, where he is editor or co-editor of eight books. He was awarded the Charles H. Levine Prize for the best book in the fields of public administration and public policy by the Structure of Government Research Committee of the International Political Science Association. Additionally, he has written articles dealing with Quebec politics, business government relations, changes in agricultural policy, the making of financial services policy and globalization that have been published in journals in Canada, People's Republic of China, the United States and Europe.

Among his many awards and honours he was Canada Research Chair in global governance and public policy in 2001, he was elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2009 and he was a Trudeau Fellow in 2007. He has twice been visiting professor at Nanjing University in China, and was visiting scholar at the Max Planck Institute in Cologne, Germany.

Judson "Jud" Whiteside (BA 1970, Political Science) will receive the Arts Alumni Achievement Award. The award recognizes Waterloo Arts alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their professional field and in community and/or public service.

Whiteside holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Ontario, and also successfully completed executive programs at both Harvard and Stanford Universities. In 1975, he was called to the Ontario Bar, and in 1985, the Alberta Bar.

He is a senior partner of Miller Thomson, one of Canada’s leading business law firms. From 1992 to 2007, Jud served as the firm’s Chair and CEO. Throughout his career he held several directorships, including at Arise Technologies, MI Developments, and Tesma International Inc. He has balanced his career success with a strong commitment to his community, as evidenced by his involvement with numerous organizations, including Markham Stouffville Hospital and Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, the YMCA, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Whiteside is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Markham Board of Trade Tony Roman Award as business leader of the year, and the University of Waterloo’s 50th Anniversary Alumni Award.

While at Waterloo, Jud represented St. Paul’s University College on Athletic Council, and he served a three-year term as the Council’s president. In 1992, he was inducted into the University of Waterloo’s Athletic Hall of Fame. His dedication to a broad education led him to create the Whiteside Family Scholarship which supports student athletes enrolled in Arts. Jud has served the University in several senior roles, including his membership on Senate, the Board of Governors, and Vice-Chair of the Arts Talent Trust Campaign.

Vanessa Pinelli (BA 2010, Liberal Studies) is the recipient of the 2015 Faculty of Arts Young Alumni Award. This award recognizes young alumni who graduated within the last 10 years with an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from the Faculty of Arts, and who have made outstanding contributions to their professional field and in community and/or public service.

While at Waterloo, Vanessa served as vice-president and secretary on the Board of Directors of Imprint. After graduation, she moved to Vancouver, where she was first employed in the finance sector, including Deloitte & Touche and The England Group. In 2012, she co-founded Troico Home Solutions and Manufacturing Inc., in Coquitlam, British Columbia. In her role as chief operating officer, she has seen the company grow from three to 25 employees. 

Pinelli was one of the 2014 recipients of the Top 30 Under 30 Awards given by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, and her company’s cabinetry has been featured on the TV program Love It or List It Vancouver, several times. In 2014, Troico was a nominee for the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award for 10-50 employees.

Marina Gallagher will be awarded the Governor General’s Silver Medal.

Lingzhi Han will receive the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for recognition of academic achievement.

The Reginald Haney Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Legal Studies Program will go to Zara Wong.

The following graduates will receive departmental awards for distinguished academic achievement:

Accounting and Financial Management Studies – Xuan Chen, Anthropology – Amreet Kular, Classical Studies – Andrew Noakes, Economics – Rachel Appasamy, English Language and Literature – Janina Bielak, Fine Arts – Reka Szepesvari, French Studies – Eric D’Avernas, Germanic and Slavic Studies – Janna Flaming, History – Istvan Szepesi, Independent Studies – Sharon Polsky (Fall 2014), Legal Studies – Justin Larson, Medieval Studies – Shawn Dickinson, Music – Marina Gallagher, Peace and Conflict Studies – Rachel Shipley, Philosophy – Carlos Mendez, Political Science – Heather Whiteside, Psychology – Xiao Qi Mu (Fall 2014), Religious Studies – Douglas Wilson, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies – Thyra Calvert, Social Development Studies -Amanda Buchnea, Sociology – Jacquelyn Saracuse, Spanish and Latin American Studies – Tina Chan, Speech Communication – Kandis Dyack, and Women’s Studies – Son Min Bong (Fall 2014)

Malambo Moonga will receive the Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies award in the master's category.

Co-op student plays role in leukemia discovery

by Clare Flood.

Waterloo co-op student and soon-to-be-graduate Abilasha Rao had an exceptional final co-op term at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Abilasha chose to complete her post-secondary studies at Waterloo because of its strong international reputation for innovation, and her interest in the co-op program. Abilasha’s work terms enabled her to realize how much she enjoyed working in molecular biology research labs, and that her dream job was to work in a hospital laboratory doing disease research.

Her first work term was with Bio Agri Mix Ltd. as a quality control technician, followed by a term as a microbiology research assistant with Germiphene Corporation, and two terms in her dream job at Princess Margaret Hospital as a laboratory assistant. 

At Princess Margaret, Abilasha worked with Dr. Liran Shlush to uncover the cellular origins of leukemia relapse. She found evidence that suggests acute myeloid leukemia relapse can be caused by pre-leukemic stem cells that survive chemotherapy. Previously, relapses were believed to be caused by surviving cancer cells.

“I believe we are living in a generation of incredible discoveries and closer than ever to finding a cure [for cancer],” says Abilasha. “It was extremely rewarding to work in a lab that continues to be at the forefront of leukemia research.”

Her work has been documented in a high impact manuscript with her listed as a co-author, and will greatly change the field of acute leukemia treatment. At the end of her term, she was recommended to return to the laboratory to work under Dr. John Dick as a graduate student.

Abilasha completed an Honour’s degree in Biology, and will be attending her convocation this week. She aspires to work in a disease research laboratory after completing graduate studies in a related field.

She would like to thank all of her previous co-op employers for allowing her to grow into the person she is today, especially Dr. Shulsh for giving her the opportunity to be involved in his projects, and investing time to teach and guide her.  She would also like to thank the co-op department at Waterloo, and finally her family and friends for their support during her entire university career.

Wednesday's notes

Information Systems and Technology (IST) has announced a number of staff retirements and is inviting the University community to join them in celebration of their years of service.

• Jim Marshall is retiring after 40 years with the University. A retirement party will be held in his honour on Thursday, June 18, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Fed Hall. Send an RSVP to mykurtman@uwaterloo.ca if you wish to attend.
• Pat Lafranier is retiring after 40 years with the University. A retirement party in her honour will be held on Thursday, June 25 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in EC2's second floor open area. Send an RSVP to mykurtman@uwaterloo.ca if you wish to attend.

The University of Waterloo Finance Association (UWFA) will be holding its first Co-op Discussion Panel entitled "Let's Talk: Investment Banking, Private Equity, Algorithm Trading & More!” for those who are interested in the field of finance.

“We've brought together a finance panel with a deep pool of knowledge and experience, and we're just as excited as you to hear them speak!” writes organizer Joy Yang.

Together, the panel has work experience in investment banking, private equity, sales and trading, Algo trading, and middle and back office.

“The panel will introduce themselves and the floor will be opened to the audience for a highly interactive Q&A session,” writes Yang. “The event promises to be an interesting and thoughtful discussion. Food will be provided. We hope to see you there!" The panel will take place on Thursday, June 11, at 7:00 p.m. in MC 2038.

Employers on campus next week hosting employer information sessions include Wealthsimple and Pebble. Visit the information session calendar for more information.