Maureen Reed appointed director of Learning and Teaching Office
Maureen Reed
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Maureen Reed as director of Ryerson's Learning and Teaching Office (LTO). The appointment is for a three-year term beginning September 1, 2011.
The LTO supports and promotes an effective teaching environment at Ryerson, and for the past year, as interim director, Maureen has infused the office with her passion and energy. Under her leadership, the LTO launched a number of new and innovative programs including the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Fund to support classroom innovations, and the Open Doors Program which invites new faculty into the classrooms of Ryerson's award-winning professors. Maureen has placed strategic importance upon communication, developing new channels and opportunities for outreach to faculty, and reshaping the annual faculty conference into a well-attended and dynamic event.
Maureen is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, and she will continue to teach and conduct research during her tenure as director. Since joining Ryerson in 2001, Maureen has demonstrated a commitment to the priorities of the LTO, having served for many years on Senate's Teaching and Learning Committee, and as the LTO's faculty associate from Arts.
Not only is Maureen an active researcher in the field of vision science, but she has a specific scholarly interest in higher education and methods to improve student success. She has conducted research in areas of learning and teaching, and is the co-author of The Post-Secondary Learning Experience which introduces the rigours of higher education to undergraduate students. She recently completed a research project on behalf of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind to study access to and success in higher education for students with visual impairment and blindness. She has also published a series of articles examining the impact of student resourcefulness on academic success in students with and without disabilities. Maureen holds an MA and PhD in experimental psychology from York University.
As Maureen transitions into her role, I want to express sincere thanks to Judy Britnell who was involved with the LTO for 13 years, a decade of which she served as director. Judy's contribution to the learning and teaching culture at the university has been significant. She was instrumental in the LTO's growth and development, and she championed such popular programs as the Instructional Skills Workshop, an experiential and student-focused teaching development program. Judy leaves a strong mark on teaching and learning excellence at Ryerson.
Please join me in congratulating Maureen on her appointment.
Christopher Evans
Vice-Provost, Academic