Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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• A holiday message from the President

• Empowering Black Youth to Flourish: Black Brilliance Conference inspires local students

• Secretariat announces results of Presidential Nominating Committee member election

• 12 Waterloo researchers among the most influential in the world

• Remembering those we’ve lost

A holiday message from the President

A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.

The end of the year is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going.  

Through the ups and downs of this past year, our community consistently demonstrated its resiliency. 2024 has reminded us of the importance of working together, sharing ideas and collaborating.  

As we look towards 2025, I am optimistic about the year ahead. With the on-going support from our greater community, and the resiliency and strength of our University of Waterloo community, I am confident of a bright future ahead.

I wish you a warm and safe break. I look forward to seeing you in the new year.

Empowering Black Youth to Flourish: Black Brilliance Conference inspires local students

A message from the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R).

The University of Waterloo recently hosted the Waterloo Region District School Board’s (WRDSB) Black Brilliance secondary conference, an empowering event aimed at nurturing the identities, aspirations, and community connections of Black youth. This is the seventh year of the conference.

Led by the WRDSB Equity and Inclusion Branch and organized in partnership with Campus Wellness, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R), the conference underscored the importance of creating spaces where Black youth feel seen, valued, and supported to flourish.

Centered on the theme of Black Flourishing, the event featured panel discussions, practical workshops, and opportunities for reflection, all designed to equip students with tools to actualise their potential.

“WRDSB Black Brilliance is responsive to student voice. Through the Black Students’ Associations we have learned that Black youth are seeking intergenerational connections, and mentorship,” said Teneile Warren, Equity and Inclusion Officer within the WRDSB Indigenous, Equity and Human Rights Department. “This conference achieved that through WRDSB, community and University of Waterloo panelists sharing their voice and story. Community fosters well-being and that fosters positive academic outcomes.”

“The success of Black Brilliance this year was deeply moving,” said Melissa Strachan, associate director of Counselling Services, Campus Wellness. “It was powerful to see Black youth come together, ask thoughtful questions, and learn from panellists and staff dedicated to their success. These events create a space for youth to be heard and supported, empowering them to flourish in their identities and aspirations.”

Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor, associate vice-president of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism, emphasized the significance of events like Black Brilliance. “Hosting conferences like this is vital in ensuring that Black youth see themselves represented, supported, and celebrated,” he said. “Our partnership with organizations like WRDSB fosters meaningful dialogue and connection, strengthening the foundation for a future where Black youth can flourish.”

The conference featured dynamic panel discussions tailored to address the unique challenges and strengths of Black youth. Key sessions included discussions on:

• Being Black Boys, Becoming Black Men: Exploring the pressures of navigating Black masculinity in predominantly white spaces.
• Shine, Black Girl, Soar: Celebrating the strength and resilience of Black girls while addressing challenges such as misogynoir.
• Finding and Flourishing: Encouraging students to reflect on their journey, connect with purpose, and embrace their potential.
• Generations of Blackness: Students had the opportunity to engage with Black community elders and leaders in Waterloo Region.

Each session, facilitated by WRDSB staff, concluded with an interactive Q&A, allowing students to engage directly with panellists and deepen the dialogue.

Through this collaboration between WRDSB, EDI-R, and Campus Wellness, the Black Brilliance conference underscored the power of community in creating spaces for empowerment and connection. The event not only celebrated the achievements and potential of Black youth but also highlighted the collective commitment to fostering environments where they can truly flourish.

The conference’s success reinforces the importance of continued collaboration to ensure that Black youth across the region feel empowered, supported, and ready to soar.

Secretariat announces results of Presidential Nominating Committee member election

A message from the Secretariat.

Elections for certain members to the Presidential Nominating Committee have concluded and the results posted on the Secretariat website.

Remaining members will be appointed by the Board of Governors at their meeting February 4, 2025 and the full membership will be announced shortly thereafter.

12 Waterloo researchers among the most influential in the world

This is an excerpt of an article originally published in Waterloo News.

Twelve University of Waterloo researchers have been named on the annual Highly Cited Researchers™ 2024 list from Clarivate. The list identifies individual researchers and scientists who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their fields of research.  

Researchers named on the Highly Cited Researchers™ list are those whose publications rank in the top 1 per cent of citations from an international and wide-ranging network of citing authors.  

These individuals represent a small fraction of the global researcher population and contribute disproportionately to extending the frontiers of knowledge. Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers™ are 1 in 1,000. 

“Congratulations to the University of Waterloo faculty members who have been named Highly Cited Researchers™ by Clarivate. This distinction recognizes the highest level of trusted experts in a particular field,” says Charmaine Dean, vice-president, Research and International at the University of Waterloo. “This year’s awardees span a variety of research areas, including batteries for electric vehicles, a digital survey of the galaxy and 6G wireless communication networks. We are immensely proud of the impactful, world-leading research conducted at Waterloo.” 

Check out the full list of Waterloo's Highly Cited Researchers

Remembering those we’ve lost

Throughout the year, Human Resources has reported a number of retiree and active employee deaths, some of which were not mentioned in the Daily Bulletin. Today, we pay tribute to members of the Waterloo community who have died recently.

• Danica Barbu, who began working at the University in November 1979 and retired on August 1, 2006, passed away on December 19, 2018;
• Kun Soo Chang, whose career at Waterloo began in November 1966, passed away on September 28, 2022. Chang was a former faculty member in Chemical Engineering.
• Marjorie V. Roberts, who started at Waterloo in January 1976 and retired in August 1989 as head secretary in Earth Sciences, passed away on January 4, 2024;
• Laura Elener, who joined the University in August 1974 and retired on June 1, 1992, passed away on January 10, 2024;
• Eric Boyd, who started at Waterloo in March 1982 and retired on March 1, 2013 as manager of Facilities Services in the Library, passed away on January 19, 2024;
• William F. Rowe, who started at Waterloo in August 1975 and retired on May 1, 1998, passed away on January 20, 2024;
• William Charles Woods, who began working at Waterloo in February 1979 and retired on January 1, 2016, passed away on January 26, 2024;
• Roger Babineau, who started at Waterloo in November 1968 and retired in October 1988, passed away on January 27, 2024;
• Maureen K. Fitzgerald, who joined the University in September 1981 and retired from the School of Optometry on July 1, 1996, passed away on February 19, 2024;
• Efthymia Pingos, who started at Waterloo in September 1977 and retired in July 2002, passed away on February 24, 2024;
• Douglas Barlow, who began working at Waterloo in January 2002 and retired in October 2012, passed away on April 13, 2024;
• Sukesh K. Ghosh, who started at Waterloo in July 1969 and retired in July 1996, passed away on April 26, 2024;
• Charles David Emery, who started at Waterloo in October 1973 and retired on July 1, 1996, passed away on April 24, 2024;
• Susan Morton, who started working at Waterloo in February 1975 and worked in the Optometry Learning Resource Centre, passed away on June 14, 2024;
• Marjorie Sutherland, who began working at the University in May 1976, passed away on June 20, 2024;
• Distinguished Professor Emeritus Michael C. Howard, whose career at the University began in September 1979 and who retired from the Economics department in 1997, passed away on July 19, 2024;
• Corrine “Sunny” Sundberg, who started at Waterloo in February 1986 and who worked as a Counsellor in Counselling Services, passed away on August 1, 2024;
• Douglas French, who joined the University in September 1969 and was a robotics and automation researcher in Mechanical Engineering before his retirement, passed away on August 7, 2024;
• Paul Kates, who started at Waterloo in October 2003 and retired as Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Liaison – Math in the Centre for Teaching Excellence, passed away on August 7, 2024;
• Dorothy Battae, whose career at Waterloo began in July 1962, passed away on August 9, 2024. Battae, who started as a payroll clerk while still in her teens, worked her way up through Finance and was named the University’s Treasurer in 1990, the first woman to hold a senior non-academic management position at Waterloo;
• Reinhard W. Zeidler, who started at Waterloo in October 1987 and who retired in June 2013 as a Custodian in Plant Operations, passed away on September 23, 2024;
• Katarina Malecic, who joined the University in September 1985 and worked in Plant Operations, passed away on September 6, 2024;
• Elizabeth “Betty” Graham, who started at Waterloo in November 1981 and retired as secretary in the Engineering Machine Shop in April 2004, passed away on September 25, 2024;
• Christine Frey, who began working at the University in September 1967, passed away on September 26, 2024; and
• Mary Anne Jantzi, who began working at the University in September 1966, passed away on October 18, 2024. Jantzi, who retired in July 2004, had a long career at the University in the Village 1 residence, the Housing department, and the Conference Centre at Ron Eydt Village.