I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Jennifer Farmer as the inaugural Associate Chair, Undergraduate Student Experience (UGSE) for a three-year term from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.
Jennifer joined the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry in July 2016 as an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream after obtaining her PhD from York University in Organic Chemistry, specializing in palladium catalysis. Jennifer infuses her passion for chemistry into our chemical engineering program by providing students with a strong foundation in applied chemistry knowledge and practical skills through experiential learning. Her work in this area has led to several papers in chemical and engineering education journals and conference proceedings. Jennifer’s commitment in supporting students goes beyond the classroom, serving as a faculty liaison for several student clubs involved in providing student hands-on experience with chemical processes, sustainability, building community and fostering inclusion. She has served the Department and the Faculty in various capacities, including Chair of the Undergraduate Scholarships and Awards Committee since October 2018. She is a Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Canadian Engineering Education Association, and the American Society for Engineering Education.
In this new role, Jennifer will focus on ensuring an outstanding experience for our undergraduate students. Some of the key functions of Associate Chair UGSE are to manage the operation of undergraduate student support services; develop undergraduate enrolment planning and targets; manage undergraduate teaching assignments; schedule undergraduate courses; oversee students’ degree requirements and convocation; plan for undergraduate laboratory needs; and prepare undergraduate budget.
I would like to add that Associate Chair UGSE is one of two positions created to replace the role of Associate Chair Undergraduate Studies in order to focus on supporting our students in post pandemic times and working towards our department’s goal of curriculum modernization.
Please join me in congratulating Jennifer on her new appointment.
I also wish to take this opportunity to thank Professor Tim Bender for his six years of exemplary service to our Department as the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies. Tim’s leadership has been instrumental as he navigated our undergraduate program delivery during some exceptionally challenging times over the past two years.
Please join me in thanking Tim and wishing him all the best as he maintains his support for the Department through the development and implementation of continuous improvement processes in his new role as the Chair of the Support Services Committee (formerly Technical Services Committee).
Sincerely,
Ramin