Tuesday, September 13, 2022

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• Jacinda Reitsma named Vice-President, Administration and Finance
• Submit your feedback on the Waterloo at 100 Discussion Paper
• Learn about the Quantum for Health Design Challenge
• CEE launches new co-op information session series for employers
• Raising awareness for organ donation
• Dissertation Boot Camp deadline extended and other notes

Jacinda Reitsma named Vice-President, Administration and Finance

Jacinda Reitsma has been named Vice-President, Administration and Finance effective December 1, 2022. Reitsma is currently Vice-President Finance and Corporate Services and Secretary-Treasurer of the Board at Conestoga College.

A broadly representative Nominating Committee participated in the extensive search process and endorsed the appointment. 

A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University, Reitsma began her career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as a co-op student in 1997 and remained with the firm as an associate, senior associate, manager and senior manager until joining as an equity partner in 2011. In 2017, she left PwC for the position of Chief Financial Officer at Conestoga College and moved into her current role soon after.

“Jacinda brings with her an excellent  background in audit, finance, and corporate administration, as well as post-secondary leadership and collaboration,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel in a memo circulated to employees yesterday.

“In a region with such a rich array of post-secondary offerings, the University of Waterloo has made an incredible impact both locally and on the global stage,” says Jacinda Reitsma. “I am excited for the opportunity to join the students, faculty and staff at the university and look forward to supporting the achievement of the institutional priorities within the University’s Strategic Plan.”

The vice-presidential appointment coincides with a senior leadership reorganization that will see Human Resources (HR) and Information Systems & Technology (IST) begin reporting to the Vice-President, Administration and Finance. Currently these units report to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost. Other units reporting to the Vice-President, Administration and Finance include Central Stores and Procurement and Contract Services, Finance, Plant Operations, and the David Johnston Research + Technology Park.

"I look forward to welcoming Jacinda to our campus community and thank her for agreeing to serve in this important role," President Goel writes.

Reitsma will succeed Dennis Huber, who has been in the vice-presidential role since 2001 and will be retiring at the end of December. More information about a retirement celebration will be shared with the campus community at a later date.

Submit your feedback on the Waterloo at 100 Discussion Paper

Since the first part of 2022, more than 1,000 people have participated in preliminary consultations as part of the Waterloo at 100 visioning exercise.

Waterloo at 100 is an exercise to develop a longer-term vision that will address: What do we as an institution aspire to become by our 100th anniversary in 2057?  Students, faculty, staff, alumni, community and external partners shared their ideas about the future of Waterloo.  

Thanks to everyone who participated in consultations and submitted feedback and ideas. Your input has helped us form the foundation of a discussion paper that will be used to stimulate more engagement through consultations this fall. 

Over 65 years, the University of Waterloo has built a strong reputation for innovation and excellence in a relatively short time. However, initial consultations suggest the University must accelerate its evolution to become an institution fit for the future. 

In our consultations, many expressed their appreciation for the capacity of the Futures Framework to be an organizing device that brings greater coordination to our academic, research and other activities at the University. At the same time, we heard from many who commented on the need for the institution to continue to evolve through innovation and improvements to how we work in order for the framework to make the impacts we desire. 

The paper synthesizes suggestions and ideas that came forward, organized into three forecasts for our journey to 2057: Graduates, Knowledge, and Campus. 

As we embark on a second round of consultations this fall, all members of the University community are invited to read the discussion paper and join in the conversation by  

• submitting comments on the website; 

• attending the upcoming President’s Forum on October 3 (registration details coming soon); and

• participating in other opportunities to engage in the process. 

Learn about the Quantum for Health Design Challenge

You’re invited to the Quantum for Health (Q4Health) Design Challenge launch event on Monday, September 19 at 1:30 p.m., presented by Transformative Quantum Technologies.

Q4Health is challenging the University of Waterloo community to present ideas and designs for how quantum technologies can advance health solutions. Join us at the launch event to learn more about the challenge, hear about case studies in quantum for health, participate in team building and engage with quantum and health experts.

Launch event details

• When: September 19 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
• Where: Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, QNC Rm 0101
• Register online

About Q4Health

Q4Health invites teams to develop well-motivated, quantum-based ideas that can lead to innovation in health. The focus is on the impacts that new technologies can have. No prototype is required. This challenge is open to the entire University of Waterloo community, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff. Join us at the launch event to learn more about the Q4Health Design Challenge, or visit Q4Health.

CEE launches new co-op information session series for employers

 

A message from Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE).

Co-operative and experiential education (CEE) is launching its new co-op fundamentals online information sessions for prospective employers. Starting this month (September) the business development team at CEE will be hosting three monthly information sessions to offer added value to employers.

The new series will include these monthly offerings: 

• Co-op hiring fundamentals: to learn the basics about co-op at Waterloo;
• Funding fundamentals: to learn more about available funding and tax credits; and 
• Job description fundamentals: to attract emerging talent (with a free workbook included) 

These sessions will keep employers up to date with hiring processes at Waterloo, evolving funding opportunities and Work-Learn Institute (WxL) recruitment insights. The sessions are open to employers across campus to participate in by registering on this webpage. 

Raising awareness for organ donation

A message from the Faculty of Health.

During an x-ray for tendonitis, Eric Celentano (BSc '79, Kinesiology) was diagnosed with an incurable rare fibrosis that was progressively hardening his lungs like cement. The only way to save his life was to undergo the major operation of a double-lung transplant. In 2018, Celentano was given this chance, thanks to an organ donor and their family, creating long-lasting friendships along the way.

Celentano will be on campus to share his fascinating journey and raise awareness for organ donation. If you’re interested in being an organ donor now, join Celentano's campaign and register for organ donation today. Or if you’d like to hear more first, drop by the Health Expansion (EXP) foyer on Tuesday, September 20 between noon and 4 p.m.

Dissertation Boot Camp deadline extended and other notes

The deadline to apply to the Writing and Communication Centre’s Dissertation Boot Camp has been extended to Friday, September 16, 2022. This program combines dedicated writing time, goal setting and writing strategy sessions, and one-on-one meetings with our writing specialists. "For the Fall 2022 term, we’re offering two separate programs, one entirely online (October 18-21) and one entirely in-person (November 1-4)," says a note from the Writing and Communication Centre (WCC). "Students will have the opportunity to choose whether they would like to attend in-person or online when they apply."

For more information or to submit an application, visit the Dissertation Boot Camp website.

The University of Waterloo Art Gallery (UWAG) is presenting The Further Apart Things Seem, which features the work of artists Anna Binta Diallo, Atanas Bozdarov, Barbara Hobot, Adriana Kuiper and Ryan Suter, Brendan Lee Satish Tang, and Couzyn van Heuvelen.

"In a social and political moment where opinions are often divisive, the possibility of finding common ground can seem beyond reach," says a message from UWAG. "Debates over human rights, climate change, land claims, and even the politicizing of the pandemic often seem at cross-purposes and irresolvable. How do we respond in times of uncertainty—when do we push forward, when do we give up, and when do we try things differently? In The Further Apart Things Seem, artists follow distinct paths toward subtle forms of resistance, while exploring areas of connection between that which feels disconnected or in opposition. By testing the unexpected, they embrace material experimentation and provisionality as productive spaces for building resilience, resolution, and understanding."

The Further Apart Things Seem is co-presented by Contemporary Calgary, University of Waterloo Art Gallery, and Art Gallery of Mississauga. It is co-curated by Shannon Anderson and Jay Wilson.

The exhibition runs from September 15 to December 10, 2022, with the opening reception taking place on Thursday, September 15 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the Curator's Walk-Through happening on Thursday, September 29, from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.

For more information about the exhibition and for the artists' biographical information check out the UWAG website.

The Office of Indigenous Relations is hosting You Don't Know What You Don't Know Part 1 on Friday, September 23 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The workshop is faciliated by Ela Smith.

"This is a two-part workshop that journeys through First Nations, Inuit, and Metis relations with settlers," says a note from the Office of Indigenous Relations. "As the title indicates, you don't know, what you don't know so everyone is welcome. You will be introduced to the concept of Miskasowin (wholistic self-evaluation) that will define content, context, and relationship promoting further action, accountability, and responsibilities as a treaty person in this land now known as Canada." 

This is an online, 3-hour workshop, in a small-group setting.

To learn more about the course, the facilitator Ela Smith, and to register, please visit the course website.

For more events and to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2022 at UWaterloo, please visit https://uwaterloo.ca/indigenous/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-2022.