Ryerson University issued the following announcement on June 26.
Imogen Coe has completed her term as dean, Faculty of Science, and following a one-year administrative leave, she will return as professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology. On behalf of the Ryerson community, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Imogen for her leadership and invaluable contributions to the university as dean of the Faculty of Science.
As the founding dean of the Faculty of Science, the first new faculty created at Ryerson in more than 40 years, Imogen oversaw the establishment of a strong, independent community of students, staff and faculty with its own identity. Imogen led the community through its first strategic visioning exercise to develop a “Connected Science” brand which recognized and built on established and long-standing strengths. Under her leadership the faculty has experienced significant growth in research and graduate studies, including the hiring of 26 new faculty members.
In my role as provost, I have worked closely with Imogen and have seen first-hand her unequivocal dedication to science and fostering innovation within the Faculty of Science and broader Ryerson community. Imogen’s arrival coincided with the establishment of the new Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science Technology, external link, and, as an affiliate scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, she has been well-placed to support this important interdisciplinary initiative. She has also been involved in and supported the development of research centres such as Ryerson Urban Waterand the Privacy and Big Data Institute. Her support for research and advocacy in science was instrumental in securing an agreement with the MaRS Discovery District which provides research space in its west tower, creating 20,000 square feet of high-tech, collaborative laboratory space to support research teams working in many disciplines. During her term as dean, the number and quality of research partnerships between our faculty members and external partners has significantly increased. These initiatives resulted in a 100 per cent increase in research funding for faculty members, at a time when success rates in Tri-Council funding elsewhere were decreasing.
As dean, Imogen supported the introduction of two new unndergraduate programs, Biomedical Sciences and Financial Mathematics which have both become highly sought after. In addition, the launch of the doctoral program in Mathematical Modelling and Methods meant that the Faculty of Science became the first faculty at Ryerson to have a complete suite of graduate programs for all departments. The graduate program in Biomedical Physics created an Option in Medical Physics that received full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Educational Programs (CAMPEP) – the only one in the GTA. These initiatives will have a significant positive impact on the Faculty of Science and Ryerson, well into the future. I’d also like to commend Imogen for her continuous support of our students – during her term as dean, Imogen worked with Ryerson’s Yeates School of Graduate Studies, the Ryerson Career Centre, and the Faculty of Science to design an innnovative faculty-based graduate career education series tailored for graduate programs.
Most importantly, Imogen has brought an awareness of the value of all community members in science having core competencies to equity, diversity and inclusion. In May 2017, the faculty released a report entitled “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: Forging Paths to Enhanced Innovation” which developed action-oriented and effective strategies that leverage EDI in STEM to advance innovation in Canada. Undeniably, her activities as founding dean have had a transformative impact on the Faculty of Science and Ryerson University.
I am pleased to let you know that Chris Evans, professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology, will be stepping into the role of interim dean, Faculty of Science, until October 14, 2018, when the position will be filled by the incoming dean David Cramb. Chris will continue to serve as executive lead in advancing academic planning for the Brampton Initiative.
Please join me in wishing both Imogen and Chris well in their upcoming roles.
Original source: https://www.ryerson.ca/news-events/news/2018/06/founding-dean-of-faculty-of-science-imogen-coe-completes-term/