University Professors

The University of Waterloo owes much of its international reputation and stature to the quality of its eminent professors. University of Waterloo recognizes exceptional scholarly achievement and international pre-eminence through the designation 'University Professor'. Once appointed, a faculty member retains the designation until retirement.

Not counting retirees, it is anticipated there will be one University Professor for approximately every 60 full-time regular faculty members, with at most two appointments each year. Such appointments are reported to Senate and the Board of Governors in March and April respectively.

Nomination and Selection Process

  1. Annually, nominations will be sought from Faculty deans, directors of schools and department chairs, as well as from the university community generally. A nominee shall have demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievement and international pre-eminence in a particular field or fields of knowledge. The individual who nominates a colleague is responsible for gathering the documentation and submitting it to the vice-president academic & provost by December 22, 2023 to ProvostOffice-General@uwaterloo.ca. The University Tenure & Promotion Committee will act as the selection committee; its decisions are final.
  2. A nomination must be supported by at least six signatures from at least two UW departments/schools and must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae and a short, non-technical description of the nominee’s contributions.
  3. A nomination must also be accompanied by letters from the nominee’s Dean, and from at least two and no more than five scholars of international standing in the nominee’s field from outside the University. The scholars are to be chosen by the nominee’s Chair/Director in consultation with the Dean and the nominator. The letter of nomination should explain why these particular scholars were chosen.
  4. Letters soliciting comments from scholars shall be sent by the Chair/Director. Scholars shall be asked to comment on the impact and specific nature of the nominee’s most influential contributions, addressing their responses directly to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost.
  5. The dossiers of unsuccessful nominees remain in the pool for two additional years. The appropriate Dean should provide updated information each year.

University Professors at the University of Waterloo

Name Department
Year awarded
Beesley, Philip School of Architecture 2023
Canizares, Claudio Electrical & Computer Engineering 2020
Clapp, Jennifer School of Environment, Resources & Sustainability 2021
Cook, Richard Statistics & Actuarial Science 2020
Cook, William Combinatorics & Optimization 2015
Fong, Geoffrey Psychology, School of Public Health Sciences 2023
Hirdes, John School of Public Health Sciences 2022
Jan van Pelt, Robert School of Architecture 2005
Jones, Lyndon Optometry & Vision Science 2020
Li, Ming School of Computer Science 2009
Mann, Robert Physics & Astronomy 2022
Nazar, Linda Chemistry 2016
Ozsu, Tamer School of Computer Science 2018
Pawliszyn, Janusz Chemistry 2010
Shen, Sherman Electrical & Computer Engineering 2017
Stewart, Cameron Pure Mathematics 2004
Zhuang, Weihua Electrical & Computer Engineering 2021

Recognizing University Professors Who Have Retired

Name Department
Year awarded
Boyle, Phelim School of Accounting & Finance 2006
Cameron, Roy School of Public Health Sciences 2008
Coleman, William Political Science 2015
Davidson, Ken Pure Mathematics 2007
Hipel, Keith Systems Design Engineering 2007
LeDrew, Ellsworth Geography & Environmental Management 2009
McGill, Stuart Kinesiology 2010
McMahon, Terry Chemistry 2005
Munro, Ian School of Computer Science 2006
Ng, Flora Chemical Engineering 2008
Pare, Francois French Studies 2012
Sivak, Jacob School of Optometry 2007
Stinson, Doug School of Computer Science 2013
Thompson, Mary Statistics & Actuarial Science 2004
Wood, Joanne Psychology 2017