Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science

News and Events

February 11, 2011

Dr. Darrick Heyd announced as new Associate Dean, Undergraduate Science Programs and Student Affairs

Dean Lachemi pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Darrick Heyd as Associate Dean, Undergraduate Science Programs and Student Affairs for the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science for the period of June 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016. Dr. Heyd brings considerable academic experience and a strong and committed academic leadership to this position. He is expected to play a key role in the future of science programming and in student affairs.

Dr. Heyd joined the Department of Chemistry, Biology and Chemical Engineering at Ryerson University in 1998. He received his PhD at the University of Toronto, under the direction of Prof. John Polanyi, and then studied under Dr. John Yates, Jr. as a post-doctoral research associate for two years at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Heyd has pursued a variety of research topics while at Ryerson, including catalytic reactions on titanium dioxide photocatalysts and photo-curing of adhesives by infrared spectroscopy and Raman microscopy. Dr. Heyd is an adjunct faculty member at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto. With his collaborators at the University of Toronto, he has examined the use of vibrational spectroscopies (Raman and near infrared) as a means of studying wood characteristics and chemical treatments.

Dr. Heyd’s administrative experience is extensive and includes participation at the department, faculty and university levels. Last year, he was appointed Interim Associate Dean of Undergraduate Science Programs and Student Affairs. He was previously Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biology. He is a past Chair of the Departmental Council and served on many of its committees, including the Curriculum Committee and the Budget and Resources Committee. He served on the Departmental Appointments Committee for eight years, both as a member and Chair, during which time he was involved in the hiring of eleven of his colleagues. He has served on many committees at the faculty level, including the internal NSERC RTI Committee, the Teaching Awards Committee, the Merit Committee (as Chair) and numerous Faculty Promotion Committees (often as Chair). At the university level, he was representative on the Provost’s Academic Structures Committee, and also on the Senate (then Academic Council) as a representative for the Faculty for two years, and as Vice Chair for one year. He was a long-standing member of the Senate Appeals Committee as a Panel Chair for five years and the Committee Chair in 2006-2007. Dr. Heyd was also a member of the Academic Planning Committee of Academic Council and the Academic Council By-Laws Committee.

Dr. Heyd has a strong commitment to education. In his time at Ryerson, he has taught or co-taught 14 undergraduate courses, ranging from physical and analytical chemistry to organic and materials chemistry, and spanning all program levels. He has also co-taught two graduate courses. Dr. Heyd’s peers and students have rated his classroom performance very effective.