Friday, December 8, 2023

New Vice-President, University Relations appointed

The University today named Eleanor McMahon, CEO of Trans Canada Trail and former MPP for Burlington, as Vice-President, University Relations.  

“Eleanor is a passionate advocate, skilled communicator and consensus-builder who brings key experience as a Cabinet Minister to the University Relations portfolio,” said Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor. “I’m pleased to welcome Eleanor to our senior leadership team and look forward to working with her to support our goals to expand our outreach, deepen our public impact and proactively develop and sustain partnerships all to the benefit of the University community.” 

McMahon joins Waterloo from Trans Canada Trail, the national not for profit that stewards Canada’s national trail. As CEO since 2019, Eleanor led the development of a new long-term vision for the organization, secured $55M in federal funding, revitalized the trail’s brand and digital strategy and led the development of Canada’s first national Trails Tourism strategy.  

Eleanor spent the early years of her career on Parliament Hill, including as press secretary to the Rt. Honourable Jean Chrétien. She also served as Director of Public Affairs at the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Vice-President at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Vice-President at United Way Ottawa.  

She was elected the MPP for Burlington from 2014 to 2018, and served in Cabinet as Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, as well as President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for Digital Government.  

Eleanor has a Bachelor of Arts (French Language and Literature Honours) degree from the University of Windsor, and participated in the University of Waterloo’s Third Year Abroad program in Nantes, France. She is bilingual.

A passionate advocate for the safety of cyclists, Eleanor founded the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in 2007, following the death of her husband, OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart who was killed while on a training ride on his bicycle. Under her leadership, this grassroots organization united cycling groups across Ontario to make communities more bicycle-friendly, and pressed the Ontario government to toughen the law regarding individuals who drive while suspended. That legislative change, Greg’s Law, passed in 2009.  

“I am thrilled to be joining the University of Waterloo, and I look forward to working with an incredible team of talented individuals in support of a highly regarded brand that is recognized globally for its innovative approach to education and research,” McMahon said.  

McMahon’s term as Vice-President, University Relations begins on March 4, 2024. She succeeds Sandra G. Banks who left the position in July 2023. 

Maureen Stafford retires after 32 years on campus

A message from the Department of Economics.

After 32 years at UWaterloo, Maureen Stafford is retiring at the end of December 2023. Her last on campus day was December 6!

Maureen is a proud UWaterloo alumna, having graduated with a degree in Honours Psychology in 1991. She started working as a temp in WATCOM soon after graduation, then was offered a contract role in CSG (Computer Systems Group) in 1994. Maureen was hired permanently to CSG the following year and later went on to enjoy roles in Computer Science then Electrical and Computer Engineering.

In 2007, Maureen landed her ‘dream job’ in Psychology where she felt she could apply what she had studied. Maureen stayed in the role of Administrative Coordinator in Clinical Psychology, working at the Centre for Mental health Research and Treatment and supporting graduate students for 14 years. Wanting a change and a new challenge, Maureen became the Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Economics in 2021.

It’s been an impressive career for someone who said early on that she was “…just going to stay at UWaterloo for a little bit until I figured out what I really wanted to do with my life…..”. Maureen volunteered for many committees over the years as well as the UW Staff Association, lending her talents and support wherever she could. Maureen’s dedication and service to the students, staff and faculty are an inspiration and her shining smile will be sorely missed.

Congratulations, Maureen, and we wish you well on your next adventure!

Nominations open for awards recognizing teaching excellence

A message from the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE).

Nominations are now open for two annual teaching awards. We are encouraging students to nominate their instructors for the Distinguished Teaching Awards and the Amit and Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student.

Distinguished Teaching Awards 2024

Do you know of an instructor on campus that made a favorable and lasting influence on your learning? Nominate your favourite instructor for the 2023-2024 Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA) today!

Visit the Centre for Teaching Excellence’s webpage today and see if your nominee meets the criteria to be awarded the DTA! Submit your nomination form to cte-dta@uwaterloo.ca and nominate your favourite instructor for this year’s DTA. Nomination forms are due the first Friday of February 2024.

Amit and Meena Chakma Award 2024

The Amit & Meena Chakma Award (AETS) is presented to students who have demonstrated excellence in teaching. Do you know of a teaching assistant, lab demonstrator, or instructor who has shown a commitment to excellence in teaching on campus? You can nominate them for the 2023-2024 AETS award! Nominations are now open and due the first Friday of February.

Visit the Centre for Teaching Excellence’s webpage today and see if your nominee meets the criteria to be awarded the AETS! Submit your nomination form to cte-aets@uwaterloo.ca and nominate your favourite student instructor for this year’s AETS award. Nomination forms are due the first Friday of February 2024.

Contact Sarah Seabrook for more information about either of these two awards.

Menorah will be lit on campus Monday and other notes

The third-annual UWaterloo menorah lighting event will take place on Monday, December 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the SLC patio. The event celebrates Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, which began on the evening of December 7 and runs until the evening of Friday, December 15.

Rabbi Moshe Goldman from the Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life will be conducting the lighting ceremony.

The event is supported by the Office of the President, WUSA, Special Constable Service and Plant Operations, and colleagues from across campus. The menorah will be set up for the duration of Hanukkah.

Are you a Black graduate student registered full-time in a doctoral program at UWaterloo? The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism is accepting applications for the “Black Graduate Students EDI-RO Award” until January 15, 2024. To access the application and for details on eligibility please visit the Black Graduate Students EDI-RO Award website. You can also forward your questions to sankofa@uwaterloo.ca. 

The Metabolism, Exercise Training and Sex Differences (METS) lab in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo is seeking sedentary, overweight males and females aged 18 to 45 years for a research study investigating whether the addition of two nutritional supplements to an exercise regime can improve the effects of exercise training on ‘high-quality weight loss’.

For more information, read the full Daily Bulletin article from August 8, 2022 regarding the launch of this ongoing research study. If you are interested in participating in this study or have any questions, please contact Thabie Lechesa, Department of Kinesiology at 519-498-2151 or tlechesa@uwaterloo.ca.

Finally, the final examination period begins today for students writing exams, and will run until Thursday, December 21. Good luck, exam writers.