Member

Mary Wells is Dean of Engineering at the University of Waterloo (July 1, 2020 - ), the ninth dean since the Faculty was founded in 1957. From 2017-2020, she was Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Guelph.

Prior to her time in Guelph, Wells was a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo for 10 years. She received awards for graduate supervision from both the Faculty and the University in 2017.

Dr. Liu's research examines ways technologies can help older adults and family caregivers. As an investigator with Age-Well NCE, she has three funded projects to develop:

(1) an app using predicted risk levels to recommend personalized strategies for people with dementia at risk of going missing, (2) a scale to measure the usability of technologies to locate missing persons with dementia, and (3) a national coordinated strategy for collecting data on persons with dementia who go missing.

She also collaborates with researchers at Ryerson University to develop and evaluate algorithms for drones that find cognitively impaired people who are lost.

Peter J. Crank joined the Department in 2023 as an Assistant Professor. As an urban geographer and climatologist who received his PhD in Geography from Arizona State University (ASU), he studies urban climate and impacts of neighborhood scale urban design on microclimates and human health.

His work has centered in hot cities, including Singapore and Phoenix as well as mid-sized cities of the US Southern Plains.  Peter has a B.S. degree in broadcast meteorology (television) from Mississippi State University (MSU) before pursuing degrees in applied climate and geography at MSU (M.S.) and Ph.D. (ASU).

Peter’s research seeks to address questions of modelling urban spaces to understand the impact urban climate mitigation strategies have on the thermal environment as well as on all facets of human health (from physical heat stress to psychological disorders). His work has spanned across several U.S. cities in the Sunbelt, including Jackson (MS), Houston (TX), Phoenix (AZ), and Los Angeles (CA) in addition to work in Singapore.

Gulnaz joined Geography and Environmental Management (GEM) in 2023, having spent 2 years as an assistant professor at the Eskisehir Technical University, Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Her research focuses on Operations Research in aviation, especially on optimization problems related to air transportation planning and scheduling, where she develops models and solution methods for large-scale optimization problems. She also collaborates in different fields of Aviation Management, concerning different aspects of sustainability in aviation, where quantitative data analyses are required.

Dr. ElAlfy is a leading scholar in sustainability disclosure and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues, with a particular focus on non-financial reporting practices. His research explores the significance of sustainability risks and opportunities through a double materiality lens, connecting financial and non-financial metrics to aid decision-makers in promoting sustainable growth and responsible investment strategies. He serves as the Associate Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA), where he focuses on enhancing ESG performance within the aeronautics sector.

Today, Zoey is a First Officer on a Boeing 777. She is a Professor of Practice, serving as the inaugural Pilot-in-Residence at the University of Waterloo as a lecturer, supporting research, and collaborating with various departments, including the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, among many other responsibilities. She is an avid volunteer, having served on multiple non-profit boards, a keynote speaker, and a versatile musician who has performed twice with an orchestra. For her contributions to the aviation industry, she has been recognized by various organizations, including her selection as the 2023 Top 20 under 40 by Wings Magazine.

Dr. Chris Houser is the Dean of Science and Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Waterloo. His research examines the response and recovery of coastal barriers to extreme storms and changes in wave activity with a changing climate. He also conducts research on beach safety at the interface of the social sciences and psychology to reduce the number of rescues and drownings.

Professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering, receiving his PhD from the University of Toronto in 2000. He has expertise in numerical simulation of composite structures and fabrication processes. Participated and coordinated numerous academic and industrial RD&I projects involving aerospace companies, e.g. Embraer, SAAB and Akaer.

Dr. Sherilyn Houle is a pharmacist and pharmacy practice researcher, receiving her pharmacy degree from the University of Saskatchewan and PhD from the University of Alberta. With research and clinical expertise in travel medicine, she has an interest in air travel-related health issues, travel trends, and health and medication use among aviation professionals.

Prof. Beazely received his PhD in molecular pharmacology in 2004 after completing his pharmacy degree in 2000. His clinical research includes the evaluation of undergraduate pharmacy education with respect to substance use and ongoing educational tool development for practicing health professionals.