St. Jerome's appoints new president

with material from a St. Jerome's University media release

Dr. Katherine M. Bergman (right) has been announced as St. Jerome's University's 7th President and Vice-Chancellor, with a start date of August 1, 2012.

Born in St. Boniface, Manitoba, Dr. Bergman grew up in Waterloo Region, attending St. Anne and St. Agnes elementary schools, St. David's Junior High School, and St. Mary's High School before pursuing an undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Waterloo. She completed her Masters and PhD in geology at McMaster University and began her academic career as a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellow at McMaster.

In 1992, Dr. Bergman joined the Faculty of Science at the University of Regina, serving as Associate Dean of Science from 1998 to 200, and Dean of Science from 2000 to 2009. She also held the role of Special Advisor to the President of the University of Regina for the development of a nursing program in partnership with the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). In 2010, she joined Nipissing University as Vice-President, Academic and Research.

Her most recent research interest focused on the subsurface Devonian Elk Point Basin of southern Saskatchewan, examining the Winnipegosis and Prairie Evaporite formations, which record the transition of the Devonian Elk Point Basin from fully marine to desiccation.

She has served on a number of national boards including the Canadian Light Source, the National Round Table on Economy and Environment, the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences (Finance Committee), and the Canadian Council of Deans of Science (president and past president). She is actively engaged in her community as a Rotarian and through her involvement with Big Sisters.

Dr. Bergman’s contributions have been recognized through the awarding of several NSERC grants and prestigious awards including the 1997 Regina YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Science and Technology.

"Katherine brings over 20 years of experience in university administration, teaching and research," writes Maureen O’Donoghue Rich, chair of St. Jerome's board of governors. "We look forward to welcoming her to St. Jerome's University."

Back to top

Faculty association board announced

The 2012-2013 Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo's Board of Directors was announced at the association's Spring General Meeting on Tuesday, April 3. As of July 1, 2012, the board members are:

President - David Porreca, Classical Studies
Past President - George Freeman, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Directors:

• Roydon Fraser, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
  
• Steve Furino, Dean of Mathematics Office
  
• Shelley Hulan, English Language and Literature
  
• Greta Kroeker, History
  
• Eva Lau, Economics
  
• Aimée Morrison, English Language and Literature
  
• Metin Renksizbulut, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering
  
• Trefford Simpson, Optometry and Vision Science
  

The Board will bid a fond farewell in June to its departing board members: Kathryn Plaisance, Michael Boehringer, Doris Jakobsh, who is completing her fifth consecutive year as a director, and David DeVidi, who has served on the Board since 2004 in the capacities of Director, Treasurer, President, and Past President.

Back to top

President in Riyadh for education conference

The University of Waterloo is well-represented at the 3rd International Exhibition and Conference for Higher Education (IECHE) 2012, taking place this week at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The IECHE is a large recruitment exhibition and education conference, with more than 475 exhibitors from over 40 countries in attendance. Last year, over 250,000 visitors attended the recruitment fair and conference. This year's conference theme is "World Class Teaching Universities."

President Feridun Hamdullahpur will be delivering an address on Wednesday, April 18 at 3:15 p.m. entitled "Structuring Universities for Effective Teaching and Learning," in which he will be speaking about Canadian universities in general and the University of Waterloo in particular. The president will explain how Waterloo’s reputation for delivering results has made the university a top choice among national and international high school graduates, among businesses, academia, and community groups seeking collaborative research partnerships, and among world-class employers competing for the most qualified talent.

Hamdullahpur is speaking alongside Philip Altbach, the director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, and Gudrun Paulsdottir, president of the European Association of International Education.

In addition to his remarks at the conference, the president will be meeting with administrators from Saudi universities and Waterloo alumni in the region.

Also representing the University of Waterloo are Jeanette Nugent, Associate Director, Recruitment and Admissions, Graduate Studies Office Aden Valerie Herteis, Senior International Communications Associate, Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment. They will be promoting the university's undergraduate, graduate, and ESL programs at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Higher Education, and will be engaging with Waterloo alumni, giving presentations to potential students, and participating in networking events with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Embassy of Canada.

Back to top