ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

To all Members of the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Community:

Prof. Matthias Neufang will complete his term as Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs on June 30, 2019 and after much reflection, he has decided not to seek renewal for a second term. This will allow him to focus more heavily on his research and his work with his own graduate students.

After a one-year administrative leave, he will return to the School of Mathematics and Statistics.

On behalf of the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ community, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Matthias for his outstanding and valuable contributions during his term as Dean since 2014 and for his innovative leadership in improving the graduate student experience.

Over the last four years, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs has launched 16 new graduate programs leading to 32 degrees, accelerated pathways to master’s programs for ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ undergraduate students, and a university-wide international dual master’s degree policy that allows students to complete their degrees at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ and an international partner institution.

Under his leadership, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs has seen significant growth in both graduate student enrolment and professional development opportunities. As shown in the excellent results of the 2016 Canadian Graduate and Professional Student Survey (CGPSS), graduate student satisfaction at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ has not only improved, but it is similar, and in many aspects higher, than other institutions in Ontario.

Matthias was instrumental in launching the inaugural Ontario Council on Graduate Studies Celebration of Academic Excellence, a public event hosted by ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ earlier this year that brought Governor General’s Gold Medal recipients together from across Ontario to present their research.

Matthias also served as chief negotiator for the 2015-‘18 collective agreement with the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University Postdoctoral Union (CUPU – PSAC 77000) and the 2016-‘19 collective agreement with the ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University Teaching Assistants (CUPE 4600-1).

He previously served as Associate Dean (Programs and Planning) in the former Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in 2007 and 2008, and as Director and Co-Director of the Ottawa-ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Institute of Mathematics and Statistics from 2004 to 2006.

We will constitute an advisory search committee shortly and have engaged Colleen Keenan from executive search firm Odgers Berndtson to assist us with this search. There will be an opportunity for community consultation later in the process.

We will continue to keep you informed throughout the search and will send an update once the advisory search committee has been constituted.

Sincerely yours,

Jerry Tomberlin
Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic)