Thursday, February 19, 2026

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• Dean of Engineering appointed to Order of Ontario

• Vice-President, Academic and Provost and Vice-President, Research and International Nominating Committees 

• Call for project proposals: Academics Without Borders

• Improving access to cancer care

• Thursday's notes

Dean of Engineering appointed to Order of Ontario

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

Dr. Mary Wells, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, received an appointment to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour, for leadership that advanced engineering education, research and outreach across Ontario.

Wells, who has led the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering since 2020, was named among 30 appointees for 2025 by the Honourable Edith Dumont, lieutenant-governor of Ontario and chancellor of the Order of Ontario. Claudette McGowan (LLD ’24), who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Waterloo, was also recognized for advancing cybersecurity, innovation and inclusion. The appointees will be invested at a ceremony in Toronto in 2026.

A career built on collaboration

The Order of Ontario recognizes people whose service and achievements strengthened Ontario and Canada. Dumont said the 2025 appointees “represent the very best of our province” and noted their work had “touched lives across Ontario and beyond.”

For Wells, the honour reflected a career grounded in partnership across academia, industry and community.

“The work I’m proudest of has always been shared work — building programs and communities that make engineering more accessible, more supportive and more reflective of the province we serve,” Wells said.

A materials engineer by training, Wells began her career in the steel industry in Canada and internationally before moving into academic roles. She held appointments at the University of British Columbia and the University of Waterloo and later served as dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Guelph. She returned to Waterloo in 2020 to lead Canada’s largest engineering school.

Alongside her leadership work, Wells built a research program in metallurgical processing that informed practices in aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing. She is an elected a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Expanding pathways into engineering

Ontario-wide, Wells opened doors to engineering by building outreach and supports that helped more young people see themselves in the field. From 2013 to 2018, she chaired the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering and helped grow Go ENG Girl and Go CODE Girl into programs that introduced more than 40,000 young women and their families to engineering and computing through hands-on activities and mentorship.

She also supported initiatives that strengthened belonging for equity-deserving groups, including mentorship and community-building efforts, student chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and an Elder-in-Residence program that provided Indigenous students with academic guidance and cultural support.

Beyond these efforts, Wells contributed to national discussions on engineering education and emerging technology through sector leadership roles and service on federal and research initiatives, including Engineering Deans Canada, the Government of Canada’s artificial intelligence strategy task force and the TRuST Network.

Appointments to the Order of Ontario are made on the recommendation of an independent advisory council from nominations submitted by members of the public. Since the Order was established in 1986, 933 people have been appointed.

Vice-President, Academic and Provost and Vice-President, Research and International Nominating Committees 

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

On June 30, 2027, the terms of Interim Vice-President, Academic and Provost, Dr. Tom Duever; and Vice-President, Research and International, Dr. Charmaine Dean will conclude.   

We recently started the process to form a Vice-President, Academic and Provost Nominating Committee and a Vice-President, Research and International Nominating Committee, which included elections in January 2026. 

Vice-President, Academic and Provost Nominating Committee 

We are pleased to share the Vice-President, Academic and Provost Nominating Committee membership consistent with Policy 48 – The Vice-President, Academic and Provost.

• Vivek Goel (Chair), President and Vice-Chancellor, Ex-officio
• Christopher Taylor, Senator, Faculty of Arts, Elected
• Chris Nielsen, Senator, Faculty of Engineering, Elected
• Johanna Wandel, Senator, Faculty of Environment, Elected
• Heather Mair, Senator, Faculty of Health, Elected
• Jochen Koenemann, Senator, Faculty of Math, Elected
• Laura Deakin, Senator, Faculty of Science, Elected
• Hans de Sterck (Math), Faculty-at-Large, Elected
• Katie Plaisance (Env), Faculty-at-Large, Elected
• Samir Sharma, Undergraduate Student, Appointed by the Waterloo Undergraduate Association
• Andrea Chakma, Graduate Student, Appointed by the Graduate Student Association
• Jennifer Coghlin, Staff Member, Elected
• Judene Pretti, Staff Member, Elected
• Teresa Fortney, Board of Governors, Appointed
• Carol Ann MacGregor, AFIW Faculty Member, Appointed by the Federated & Affiliated Colleges

Vice-President, Research and International Nominating Committee 

We are pleased to share the Vice-President, Research and International Nominating Committee membership, consistent with Policy 68 – The Vice-President, Research and International. 

• Vivek Goel (Chair), President and Vice-Chancellor, Ex-officio
• Justin Wan, Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, Ex-officio
• Neil Randall, Senator, Faculty of Arts, Elected
• Mary Wells, Senator, Faculty of Engineering, Elected
• Jeffrey Wilson, Senator, Faculty of Environment, Elected
• Michael Barnett-Cowan, Senator, Faculty of Health, Elected
• Cecilia Cotton, Senator, Faculty of Math, Elected
• Chris Houser, Senator, Faculty of Science, Elected
• Adrian Safati, Graduate Student, Appointed by the Graduate Student Association  
• Justine Yick, Graduate Student, Appointed by the Graduate Student Association  
• Jon Walgate, Staff Association – Member, Appointed by the University of Waterloo Staff Association 
• Stephanie Filsinger, Office of Research Staff Member, Elected by and from the regular staff in the Office of Research
• John Abraham, AFIW Faculty Member, Appointed by the Federated & Affiliated Colleges

My sincere thanks to all interested applicants and successful candidates for their willingness to be part of this important work. 

We have engaged the services of Laverne Smith & Associates Inc., a leading Canadian executive search firm, to assist the work of the committee in its search for our next Vice-President, Academic and Provost; and Vice-President, Research and International.   

The searches will be launched in the next few weeks.    

To ensure leadership continuity, the President-Designate will be involved in both processes and will assume chairing as of July 1, 2026.  

We will continue to keep the community updated on the progress of both committees through the VPAP and the VPRI Nominating Committees webpage on the Office of the President website. 

If you have any questions, contact Andrea Kelman, Executive Director, Office of the President. 

Call for project proposals: Academics Without Borders

A message from Faculty and Academic Life.

Academics Without Borders (AWB) invites faculty and staff at member institutions—including the University of Waterloo—to submit proposals for capacity‑building projects in partnership with post‑secondary institutions in low- and middle-income countries.

Projects must align with AWB’s mission and operating principles  and be based on needs identified by partner institutions, which also take the lead in design and implementation. AWB supplies expert volunteers to support these initiatives; projects may be conducted fully or partially online, with on‑site travel only where necessary.

While proposals originate from individuals at AWB Network institutions, resulting projects are formal partnerships between AWB and the host institution abroad. Volunteers may participate in the projects they propose under AWB’s auspices.

Submission deadline is March 9, 2026. See complete details. For questions, contact Corrie Young, Associate Executive Director – Projects & Network: cyoung@awb-usf.org

 Improving access to cancer care

This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

Patients receiving oral anticancer therapy are receiving better support thanks to a Waterloo Pharmacy alum and a team at the Waterloo Regional Health Centre (WRHN) Cancer Centre who have launched the Medication Assessment by Pharmacist (MAP) clinic.

Jackie Diebold (BScPhm '14, PharmD ’21), a clinical pharmacist, was backed by interim director of pharmacy Anthony Amadio (BScPhm ’11) oncology pharmacy co-ordinator Anna Granic and pharmacy manager Kathy Planinac to implement the new model to improve cancer care delivery while optimizing each clinicians’ skill set.

Today, more than half of all oncology drugs are being developed as oral treatments, and their approved uses continue to grow. These medications offer advantages over intravenous (IV) formulations, including flexible timing, convenient at-home administration and reduced invasiveness. However, they also bring challenges: missed doses can reduce effectiveness, some drugs can cause serious side effects, and certain therapies require close monitoring, adding pressure to an already overextended health care system.

“In the MAP clinic, patient care is shared between our oncology pharmacists and oncology physicians,” Diebold explains. “Prior to starting treatment, the patient will see the MAP pharmacist alongside the oncologist for a baseline assessment, medication review and counselling on their new oral anticancer agent. Follow up appointments are then booked with either the MAP pharmacist or the oncologist based on a predetermined schedule.”

The MAP clinic provides more than just a monitoring service. Through the aid of delegated acts and protocolsdeveloped with the oncologists, pharmacists can manage treatment independently during follow-up visits. This involves ordering appropriate laboratory tests and diagnostics along with pausing or adjusting therapy when needed. If concerns arise, care is escalated to a physician for additional evaluation and management.

“This clinic gives us an incredible opportunity to practice at our full scope,” Diebold says. “We are providing safe, comprehensive care for patients while freeing up physicians to focus on more complex cases and new referrals, which directly improves access to care. By applying our knowledge and unique skill set, we’re making a meaningful impact for patients in the region.”

Over the past nine months, the clinic has freed up space for more than 167 physician visits and saved time for nursing staff and clinic aides.

“The pharmacist also plays a significant role in identifying and resolving medication-related issues, averaging two drug therapy interventions made per patient visit, with 290 interventions completed to date,” Diebold says.

Drawing from successful pharmacist-led models from British Columbia and Newfoundland, Diebold and the WRHN team created a framework designed to address key challenges and improve workflow at their own center. The pharmacy team is now exploring ways to integrate this approach for other systems and specialties within the hospital.

"This new role represents how we are moving health care forward at WRHN, and the addition of a clinical pharmacist in this capacity highlights our commitment to transforming patient care through collaboration and innovation,” Amadio says. “Through integration of a dedicated clinical pharmacist, we are enhancing the patient experience, improving safety and enabling every member of the care team to work to their full scope. This collaborative approach reflects our focus on innovation and ensures patients receive the most comprehensive, personalized care possible.”

The MAP clinic began with a pilot group of patients receiving treatment for breast cancer, and has expanded to monitor patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who require intensive follow-up including eight pharmacist visits in four weeks. Due to the success of the clinic, the team has been asked to take on management of other oral anticancer treatments including targeted therapies for prostate and ovarian cancer.

The clinic is growing, and Diebold hopes the workload will soon allow for more than one pharmacist in the role at a time. Alumni Quinn Thompson (BSc ’14, PharmD ’20) and Michael Collins (BScPhm ’11, PharmD ’16) alongside Mona Abdallah, clinical pharmacist and Waterloo Pharmacy clinical preceptor, are all trained to deliver care in the MAP program.

Physicians strongly endorse the model and refer patients best suited for pharmacist-led monitoring. Patients give consent to participate, which builds trust and promotes autonomy in their care.

“This initiative represents a pivotal step in both patient care and our practice,” says Dr. Shelley Kuang, medical oncologist at WRHN. “The collaborative approach between the pharmacists and physicians at WRHN Cancer Centre has allowed patients to feel better supported when starting new oral anticancer medications, preparing them for potential side effects and optimal management strategies.”

To evaluate pharmacist activities within the MAP clinic, current pharmacy resident Nasab El-Dassouki (PharmD ’25) will be using the newly launched ambulatory oncology clinical pharmacy key performance indicators (AOcpKPIs) developed by a national team including Dr. Tom McFarlane, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy. The clinic will also serve as a training site for future pharmacy residents, with plans to include student co-op and patient care rotations.

Thursday's Notes

The latest PDAG Seminar, Seek and Destroy: Vulnerability Management at UW with Jordan Barnartt, will take place on Friday, February 20, from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. via Teams. This presentation will discuss the role of vulnerability management in determining risk at UW, the tools we use (purchased and bespoke) to find and report on vulnerabilities even when we have limited visibility or knowledge about the systems, and how you can improve the security posture of your environment.

The Centre for Teaching Excellence is hosting Teaching Critical Engagement with AI  - In Person (CTE7560) on Thursday, February 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in MC 2036. Using University of Saskatchewan’s AI Literacy Framework as a foundation, this workshop presents five key dimensions of AI literacy (understanding AI and data; critical thinking and judgment; ethical and responsible use; human-centricity, relationality, and creativity; and domain expertise). As a practical component, participants will share and reflect on examples specific to their teaching context. 

The annual Advisor Conference offers a chance to engage in professional development designed to strengthen the skills needed to deliver exceptional student support. Interested in submitting a proposal for this year's conference?  Learn more about the type of content they're looking for and pitch your idea. Deadline to submit is Monday, February 23.