Mary Wells - 2017/2018

Mary Wells - Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering

Dr. Mary Wells joined the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering in 2007 after spending 11 years as a faculty member at the University of British Columbia. During her 10 years at Waterloo, she developed an exemplary record of graduate student supervision, research, and administration. She served as the Associate Dean of Outreach for 9 years and the Chair of the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering for 4 years. On November 1, 2017, she began her new position as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Guelph. 

During her career, Dr. Wells has supervised 25 master’s and 17 doctoral students and 9 postdoctoral fellows and has published two books, two book chapters, and more than 175 papers in journals and conferences. She has also had an enormous impact in developing on and off campus outreach programs aimed at encouraging female students to choose careers in mathematics, science, and engineering. 

Dr. Wells has had a profoundly positive impact on her graduate students. Her past and current graduate students describe her as “an exceptional mentor” who “works tirelessly” and for whom “the wellbeing of her students has always been of great concern”.

Dr. Wells has demonstrated a long record of excellence in graduate supervision, research, education, outreach, and leadership within the University and in the profession. The Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision is a fitting recognition of this impact.