As the Ryerson awards season moves forward, the recipients of the 2013 Errol Aspevig Outstanding Academic Leadership and the Ryerson Service Awards have been announced. These individuals will be recognized at a luncheon on March 6 and then, on April 4, will receive certificates at the second annual Ryerson Awards Night which celebrates excellence and acknowledges faculty and staff achievements.

“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate this year’s Errol Aspevig and Service Award recipients,” said John Isbister, interim provost and vice-president, academic. “These are exceptional faculty who are truly dedicated to advancing the university’s mission and contribute to Ryerson’s vibrant academic community.”

The Errol Aspevig Award is presented up to two individuals each year who have advanced the mission of the university through extraordinary and outstanding academic leadership, and who have contributed significantly to the enhancement of academic life at Ryerson and beyond. This year, two recipients have been selected for their exemplary contributions in leading their faculties through tremendous periods of transformation:

Carla Cassidy, Faculty of Arts

Carla Cassidy’s 30-year Ryerson career embodies the highest level of professionalism, innovation and administrative leadership. As the past dean of the Faculty of Arts, she provided the unifying vision required to transform the faculty into the fastest growing one in Canada. During her tenure, it expanded to more than 3,000 undergraduate students, 230 graduate students, nearly 190 faculty and the number of continuing education certificates it delivered doubled. Cassidy’s leadership was recognized by the larger Ryerson community with her appointment in 2010 as interim vice-president, research and innovation. Her achievements were remarkable for an interim role and resulted in a strengthened presence and breadth of Ryerson scholarly, research and creative activity. Cassidy continues to teach in the Department of Politics and Public Administration.

Darrick Heyd, Faculty of Science

Since joining Ryerson in 1998, Darrick Heyd, associate dean, undergraduate programs and student affairs, Faculty of Science, has distinguished himself as a champion of science, student success and outreach. He has reinvigorated science at Ryerson through the central role he played in the creation of the new faculty and in the development of undergraduate and graduate programs that have put Ryerson on the map in emerging fields of study. Student success and outreach has been at the forefront of Heyd’s leadership mandate and as students know, his door is always open. He champions student involvement with Visions of Science Learning Networks which encourages underprivileged children to consider science careers and in 2012, he transformed Ryerson’s participation in the national science event Science Rendezvous which drew a record number of student volunteers and attendees.

The Ryerson Faculty Service Awards recognize distinguished service to a department, school, faculty and/or the university, while the counsellor award recognizes excellence in professional service to a unit, the university and/or the community. The 2013 recipients are:

Faculty of Arts

Wayne Forsythe, Department of Geography

Faculty of Communication & Design

Blake Fitzpatrick, School of Image Arts

Faculty of Community Services

Nancy Walton, The Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing

Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Ahmed El-Rabbany, Department of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Science

Eric Harley, Department of Computer Science

Ted Rogers School of Management

Vanessa Magness, Ted Rogers School of Business Management, Accounting

Phil Walsh, Ted Rogers School of Business Management, Entrepreneurship and Strategy

Counsellor Award

Joanna Holt, Centre for Student Development and Counselling