Friday, May 12, 2017

Conrad Grebel names Marcus Shantz as president

Marcus Shantz will serve as Conrad Grebel University College’s eighth president, taking office October 1, 2017.

Like the local Mennonite church and business leaders who founded Grebel more than 50 years ago, Shantz embodies a vision for an innovative partnership between the College, the University of Waterloo, the Mennonite church, and the local community, says a statement from Conrad Grebel. “Marcus is a strong supporter of the College’s unique identity and mission,” said Fred Redekop, chair of the Board of Governors. “His business and administrative experience and his background in law have equipped him to lead strategically, fiscally, and creatively into the next decade. Marcus has a remarkable capacity for insightful inquiry and for developing collaborative partnerships. He will provide strong leadership as the next president of Conrad Grebel University College.”

Shantz is a well-respected leader in the Region of Waterloo in his current role as president of Mercedes Corp., a property management company based in St. Jacobs, Ontario. As a civic leader, Shantz has been board chair of Centre-in-the-Square and Silver Lake Mennonite Camp, and has served on the boards of Ten Thousand Villages and Conrad Grebel University College.  He has held leadership roles at Rockway Mennonite Church and Mennonite World Conference. 

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and History with a Peace and Conflict Studies minor at Waterloo, Shantz received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and then practiced law.

"As an alumnus of Grebel and the University of Waterloo, Shantz has a deep understanding and appreciation for Grebel’s contributions and potential," says a statement from Grebel.

Noting the “immeasurable importance” of his time as a Grebel student in both the academic and residence programs, Shantz expressed a strong commitment to ensure that the College flourishes. “The thing I value most about my student experience was the support and mentorship I received. Being a Grebel student meant that there was a whole team of faculty and staff interested in my well-being and development – not only in academics, but as a whole person. Authentic student support is a big part of Grebel’s culture, and I want that culture to thrive on my watch.”

“Grebel is not a large institution, but it has a far-reaching influence on the Mennonite community, the University of Waterloo, and its other partners. Grebel’s contribution to both church and society is out of proportion to its size. I am drawn to Grebel because it is significant,” reflected Shantz. “I am impressed by the quality of teaching and research among the current faculty at Grebel. I want to explore new ways to build on their work and to expand its impact. I’m thrilled to become part of a workplace where the daily business is to support students and faculty as they explore and reassess peace and conflict, history, Mennonite Studies, music, theology, and religion. Grebel has a legacy of rigorous and innovative scholars whose impact on their students, academic disciplines, the Mennonite community, and the wider society has been important.”

The eighth President will lead Grebel to fulfill the vision of the current strategic plan, “Extending the Grebel Table.” The priorities are to engage Grebel’s growing constituencies, enhance campus facilities, elevate and expand distinctive programs, enrich and empower faculty, staff, and partners, and advance the core relationships of the College with the University of Waterloo and its affiliated institutions and the Mennonite church. The President will ensure that residential and academic programs and the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement achieve their potential through inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration.  

Jim Pankratz has served as Grebel’s Interim President since October 2016. Susan Schultz Huxman preceded him, serving as President for 5 years.

Mathematics renaming service road for Bill Tutte

The Faculty of Mathematics is renaming its service road in honour of Distinguished Professor Emeritus William Tutte. The William Tutte Way naming celebration takes place today.

"In line with what would have been Professor William Tutte’s 100^thbirthday, and the 50^th anniversary of the Faculty of Mathematics, we are inviting the community to join us at a special event to name the road between the three Faculty of Mathematics buildings in honour of Professor William Tutte, a professor in the Combinatorics & Optimization Department in the Faculty of Mathematics from 1962 to 1995," says a statement on the Faculty of Mathematics site.

This event is in recognition of Professor Tutte’s mathematical achievements during World War II as well as the instrumental role he played in establishing the identity and reputation of the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Mathematics.

The event begins at 11:00 a.m. with a sold-out lecture by Professor Emeritus Dan Younger entitled "William Tutte and the Breaking of the Lorenz Code at Bletchley Park."

The unveiling ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place in the Davis Centre Quad at 12:00 p.m. Speakers include Dean of Mathematics Stephen Watt, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Ron Mullin, and Professor Ian Goldberg of the Security & Privacy Institute.

Following the ceremony and lunch is another sold-out event: a screening of Code-Breakers: Bletchley Park's Lost Heroes, and a Q&A panel discussion that includes Professor Emeritus Dan Younger, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Bill Cunningham, and Associate Dean, Co-operative Education Barry Ferguson as moderator.

The renaming is part of the Faculty of Mathematics' 50^th anniversary celebrations taking place this year.

Math orientation leaders have organized a scavenger hunt for Mathematics students to take place after lunch.

SIEF applications due Monday

Applications for the Staff International Experience Fund are due Monday, May 15.

The SIEF is a Waterloo International program that allows University of Waterloo staff members to travel and engage in collaborative work with international partners and institutions.

Read about Christine Kampen Robinson’s SIEF in Germany. As a career advisor for graduate students in Co-operative Education & Career Action, Christine was inspired by Germany’s exceptional reputation for career integrated education and wanted to learn how she could better assist PhD and postdoctoral fellows.

Follow the SIEF (#WaterlooSIEF) and other Waterloo International activities on Twitter. Christine welcomes questions about the SIEF and can be reached at ckampenrobinson@uwaterloo.ca.