News & Events

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Mactavish as dean of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University. The appointment is for a five-year term beginning September 1, 2011. Jennifer will also become a tenured professor in the School of Disability Studies.

Jennifer joins us from the University of Manitoba where she is associate dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Internationally recognized for her pioneering research on disability, leisure and sport, Jennifer brings to Ryerson a passion for interdisciplinarity, and a deep appreciation of different scholarly and research traditions that are essential for supporting and promoting Ryerson's growing spectrum of graduate programs.

Throughout her 20-year career in academia, Jennifer has demonstrated an impressive track record with progressive academic appointments and an outstanding research agenda. Early in her career, she garnered extensive experience in graduate education and administration, and supported activities to foster a vibrant graduate program culture. She places tremendous value on collaboration, having created various networks and sustainable partnerships that fostered greater research and teaching synergies.

Jennifer is a prolific writer and distinguished researcher who has local to international impact. She has nearly 100 scholarly papers, book chapters and technical reports to her credit, and has delivered more than 60 presentations and workshops. Among her many research grants and awards are a number of SSHRC grants, and most recently, she was awarded a Manitoba Health Research Council grant as a co-investigator to explore the sport psychology of athletes with intellectual disabilities. As a member of the International Paralympic Committee's sport science group, Jennifer was the lone social scientist involved in promoting international disability sport and classification research. She has served on several national SSHRC adjudication committees. Among her many awards, notable recognitions include Community Living Manitoba President's Award for Justice and Human Rights, the YMCA/YWCA Woman of Distinction Award and the University of Manitoba's top award for outstanding outreach.

Jennifer received a PhD in Education with a concentration in therapeutic recreation and educational psychology, and a certificate in Interdisciplinary Studies in Developmental Disability from the University of Minnesota; a MSc from the University of Manitoba; and a bachelor's degree from the University of British Columbia.

I extend my sincere thanks to Interim Dean Debora Foster. Debora has provided excellent leadership of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies during this time of transition. She has overseen the launch of several new graduate programs, established new external partnerships, including with Osgoode Hall Law School, and coordinated the development of a new professional skills program for graduate students. Debora will continue as interim dean until Jennifer assumes her new role in September.

Members of the search committee are listed below and I thank each of them for their willingness to serve.  

Please join me in welcoming Jennifer Mactavish to Ryerson University.

Alan Shepard
Provost and Vice President Academic

Members of the search committee for dean, Yeates School of Graduate Studies:

Martin Antony
Professor and Director, graduate program, Department of Psychology

Heather Beanlands
Professor and Director, master's program, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing

Ayse Bener
Professor and Director, Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management

Brian Ceh
Professor and Chair, Department of Geography

Bruce Elder
Professor, School of Image Arts

Blake Fitzpatrick
Professor and Director, graduate program, School of Image Arts

Ana Pejović-Milić
Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Physics

Fil Salustri
Professor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Mehrnaz Shokrollahi
PhD student, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Non-voting member:

Amy Casey
Director, The Office of the Provost