News & Events

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Gerd Hauck as Ryerson's dean of the Faculty of Communication & Design (FCAD). The appointment as dean is for a five-year term beginning August 1, 2010. Gerd will also become a tenured professor of theatre.

Gerd comes to us from the University of Waterloo where he is chair of the Department of Drama and Speech Communications. He brings to Ryerson a passion and energy for experiential learning and an international perspective gained from study, teaching, research and performance in multiple countries. A native of Heidelberg, Germany and fluent in three languages, Gerd obtained degrees in Europe and Canada and has published works in both German and English. He has directed, produced and hosted theatre and television performances in Italy, Germany, the U.S. and Canada, and has acted as producer and host of a weekly current-affairs television program. 

Over the course of his career, Gerd has been involved in a wide range of scholarly areas, including modern drama, technology in theatre, translation, film and television production, journalism and dramaturgy. Much of his work is interdisciplinary. His most recent research has focused on the convergence of digital media and theatre, which allowed him to explore the applications of new technologies in both the artistic and commercial aspects of design and performance. 

Gerd has numerous publishing credits and has been involved in dozens of academic and cultural conferences, as an organizer, presenter and panellist. Among his many research grants and awards are a substantial Canada Foundation for Innovation grant and, as co-investigator, a number of SSHRC research grants. Most recently, he is a collaborating researcher on a 2009 NCE (Networks of Centres of Excellence) GRAND (Graphics, Animation and New Media Canada) research grant which involves cooperation with Ryerson faculty from FCAD and the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management. He has also received the 2008 Ontario Research Innovation Network Learning Award. 

Gerd's vision of post-secondary education in the 21st century is closely aligned with Ryerson's mission and academic plan. He is an advocate of pedagogy that integrates practice and theory, and at Waterloo has developed strong external relationships with community stakeholders to support the curriculum. At Waterloo he also initiated student exchange programs with European countries to broaden the international experience of his students.

Prior to his appointment at Waterloo in 2000, Gerd held academic positions at the University of Toronto in the University College Drama Program and as a visiting lecturer for the German Academic Exchange Service. He has also taught in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics at York University and was visiting lecturer for two years at Cambridge University.

Gerd received his PhD in theatre studies from the University of Toronto, a Master of Letters from Cambridge University, an MA in comparative literature from the University of Sussex, and the equivalent of a master's degree (Staatsexamen) from Heidelberg University.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Daniel Doz, who is completing his term as dean of FCAD today. Amongst his many accomplishments Daniel has overseen the creation of several new graduate programs in FCAD, with two more beginning this fall. New academic programs are also under development in the Faculty in response to the provincial government's cultural prosperity agenda. Under Daniel's leadership scholarly, research and creative activity has grown significantly in FCAD, and outreach to the community and staff development have become strong new areas of focus. Daniel has also made an invaluable contribution to the university through his involvement with several building committees on campus. He was a member of the Experts Advisory Committee on the Master Plan; is co-chair of the Ryerson Gallery and Research Centre development team; and is a Building Committee member for the Student Learning Centre. Daniel will take a well-deserved year of administrative leave starting July 1, and then return as professor for the 2011-12 academic year.

Abby Goodrum, associate dean, scholarly, research and creative activity in FCAD and Velma Rogers Graham Research Chair in News Media and Technology, and Robert Ott, chair, School of Fashion, have graciously agreed to each serve stints as interim dean of FCAD during the month of July until Gerd takes up the post on August 1. My thanks to both of them.

Thanks also to the members of the search committee for dean, whose names are listed below, for their willingness to serve.  

Please join me in welcoming Gerd Hauck to Ryerson University. 

Alan Shepard
Provost and Vice President Academic

Members of the search committee for dean, Faculty of Communication & Design:

-Alex Bal
Professor, School of Image Arts
-Marta Braun
Professor, School of Image Arts
-Amy Casey (non-voting member)
Director, Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic
-Susan Cody
Professor, School of Professional Communication
-Tyler Cowan
Student, Image Arts
-Suanne Kelman
Professor, School of Journalism
-Annick Mitchell
Professor and Chair, School of Interior Design
-Michael Murphy
Professor, School of Radio and Television Arts
-Robert Ott
Professor and Chair, School of Fashion
-Catherine Schryer
Professor and Chair, School of Professional Communication