Friday, August 11, 2017

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• HeForShe Faculty Advocates named
• At 50, Optometry hands out distinguished alumni awards 
• Columbia Street entrance redevelopment; other notes

HeForShe Faculty Advocates named

The 2017-2018 HeForShe Faculty Advocates have been named.

The new advocates are:

• Sean Peterson (Engineering);
• Mathieu Doucet (Arts);
• Barbara Csima (Mathematics); and
• Alicia Batten (Conrad Grebel University College).

The returning advocates are:

• Susan Elliott (Environment); 
• Corey Johnson (AHS);
• Ben Thompson (Science); 
• Kristina Llewellyn (Renison);
• David Seljak (St. Jerome’s); and
• Rick Myers (St. Paul’s).

The main role of the faculty advocate is to engage with students, faculty, staff and alumni regarding faculty-specific gender equity issues, work to address problematic areas, and foster a gender-equitable faculty and campus.

The focus will be on faculty-specific issues and advocates will engage with their stakeholders to hear what issues emerge and need to be addressed. Advocates will facilitate initiatives, organize events, provide direction for student groups, and/or provide financial assistance for various initiatives linked to the goals of the HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 framework.

Each advocate will serve a one-year term, with an option to continue in the role for another term based on a review. Advocates receive $5,000 a year to be used in support of activities, events, panels, clubs and other activities.

Photographs and introductory statements for each advocate are available on the HeForShe website.

At 50, Optometry hands out distinguished alumni awards

On Friday, June 29 during the 2017 Canadian Association of Optometrists Congress, the UW School of Optometry & Vision Science was pleased to announce the recipients of the 50^th Anniversary Distinguished Alumni of Honour Awards in front of over 500 practitioners from across the country.

In honour of our 50^th, we expanded our Awards program to acknowledge graduates from each decade that we have been at the University of Waterloo as well as recognize an alumnus from prior to 1967 when the program was located at the College of Optometry of Ontario in Toronto.  All are UW graduates who have been nominated by their peers. 

Recipients have made outstanding contributions to their communities and to the profession, whether it be locally, provincially, nationally, and/or internationally; they have taken on leadership roles and supported community causes and have advocated for optometry, research and optometric education for the advancement of vision care and the betterment of Canadians and citizens world-wide.

All recipients will be presented with their award during the School of Optometry & Vision Science 50^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 23^rd.

Congratulations to:

• George Woo, OD’64
• Graham Strong, OD 1970, MSc 1983
• Susan Cooper, Class of 1977
• Bill Bobier, OD 1978, MSc 1982, PhD (Cambridge)
• Scott Mundle, Class of 1983
• Derek MacDonald, Class of 1992
• Andrew Hartwick, OD 1999, MSc, 2000, PhD (Dalhousie)
• Cheryl Bayer, Class of 2008

Full bios are available on the School of Optometry and Vision Science website. 

Columbia Street entrance redevelopment; other notes

Beginning on Monday, August 14, there will be redevelopment work happening at the University's Columbia Street entrance, according to an announcement from Plant Operations. The work involves removing some existing trees and paving stone areas near the entrance by the stop sign entering the Ring Road. The two paving stone crosswalks on the Ring Road will remain. New planting will be involved on both sides of the entrance as well as the middle section.

A lane will be open to traffic at all times and personnel will be on site to direct traffic.

Do you know a Canadian woman involved in STEM? On this campus, even if you don't personally, you probably know someone who does. In any case, why not nominate them for inclusion in the 150 Days of Canadian Women in STEM Initiative? The initiative is being organized by an organization called hEr VOLUTION, a non-profit organization working to improve access to innovative education and employment services to girls and young women in STEM.

Nominees will be featured on the organization's Instagram account and elsewhere on social media during the campaign.