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New ESL, e-Learning directors appointed

Portfolios build upon Ryerson’s ongoing success with student engagement
Category:From the Provost
July 19, 2016
Gerd Hauck, left, is new director of ESL Foundation Program and Wendy Freeman, right, is new director of e-Learning

Photo: Gerd Hauck, left, is new director of ESL Foundation Program and Wendy Freeman, right, is new director of e-Learning. 

I am very pleased to announce two new appointments: Professor Gerd Hauck, formerly in the Faculty of Communication & Design (FCAD), as the director of the Ryerson ESL Foundation Program (RESLFP) in the Faculty of Arts, and Professor Wendy Freeman, FCAD, as the new director of e-Learning. Gerd’s new academic home will be in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures in the Faculty of Arts.

The RESLFP and e-Learning portfolios support Ryerson’s vision to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university, building upon our ongoing success with student engagement, SRC excellence, innovation and community engagement.

Gerd Hauck
Gerd joined Ryerson in 2010 as dean of the Faculty of Communication & Design. As dean he was responsible for advancing the research profile of the faculty, developing an innovative, socially relevant curriculum, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting community outreach and knowledge transfer, and ensuring the smooth administrative operation of all nine schools in the faculty.

As director of RESLFP, Gerd will align the curricular development of the program with its projected expansion and lay the groundwork for the development of an ESL Institute at Ryerson. He will collaborate closely with fellow researchers in the field of second language acquisition and inter-cultural relations. This new role is a critical component of Ryerson’s internationalization and recruitment strategy, attracting talented students worldwide. Gerd will review and recommend approaches to diversify the international student pool and develop strategies to achieve these objectives.  In this role, Gerd will report to the provost and vice president academic and liaise closely with the dean of The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, the dean of the Faculty of Arts, and the registrar.

Wendy Freeman
Wendy has been involved with online and technology-enhanced teaching and learning for more than 25 years. Wendy came to Ryerson 18 years ago as an instructional designer working in the Digital Media Projects (DMP) Office. Since 2008, Wendy has been a faculty member in the School of Professional Communication, Faculty of Communication & Design and for the last four years, Wendy was graduate program director for the Master of Professional Communication program. Her research examines course design and technology adoption in academia with a focus on the design of innovative online environments that foster learning and support teaching.

With a student-centric approach, the director of e-Learning is responsible for co-ordinating and facilitating e-learning activities across the university. In this role, Wendy will collaborate with a number of stakeholders including CCS, The Chang School, Digital Education Strategies, the DMP Office, the Learning & Teaching Office (LTO) and the Ryerson University Library & Archives (RULA) to refine the draft strategic plan for e-learning and move forward with its implementation.

Wendy will provide support and leadership on current projects funded under the Government of Ontario’s Shared On-Line Course Fund, Ryerson’s new funding initiatives announced by eCampus Ontario, developed by the Office of the Provost. As director of e-Learning, Wendy will focus on developing Ryerson’s strength in innovative technology-enhanced teaching and learning with an e-learning speaker series to engage and motivate faculty towards the continued success of e-learning at Ryerson.

Please join me in congratulating Gerd and Wendy on their appointments.

Chris Evans
Interim Provost and Vice President Academic

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