Geological engineering appoints its first woman director

Jen Parks, a University of Waterloo alumnus, has become the first woman to lead Waterloo’s geological engineering program since the program was launched almost 40 years ago.

Parks (BSc ’00 and PhD ‘10, geological and earth sciences) holds a limited engineering license as of 2016.

She worked as an undergraduate instructor and academic advisor for the earth and

environmental sciences department in Waterloo’s Faculty of Science for the past two years. She teaches courses in the areas of mineralogy, petrology and field mapping, all subjects that are part of the core geological engineering curriculum.

Jen Parks is the first woman director of Waterloo's geological engineering program.

In her new role, Parks plans to solidify geological engineering as a unique program within Engineering.

“My goal is to increase awareness of what geological engineering is, particularly with high school students,” she says.  “I also want to increase our ability to attract top-tier students to the program.”

She will also focus on increasing community connections within geological engineering between the Faculties of Engineering and Science, students and professors, and students and alumni.

Parks began her term as director of geological engineering, part of Waterloo's civil and environmental engineering department, on March 1.