Saeed Zolfaghari appointed vice-provost, faculty affairs

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Saeed Zolfaghari as Ryerson's vice-provost, faculty affairs (VPFA). The appointment is effective immediately.

Having been at Ryerson for over 15 years, Saeed brings to this position outstanding experience in academic administration and a deep understanding of the university's culture. As interim vice-provost, faculty affairs, since August 2014, Saeed has taken steps to enhance faculty development and engagement; ensured the inclusion of Ryerson's core values of equity, diversity and inclusion in all training and orientation sessions; and co-led contract negotiations with one of the university's bargaining units.

From 2010-2014, Saeed was the provost's senior advisor on academic space planning, liaising with academic units for all of their space needs, and leading negotiations on such projects as the biomedical engineering and science research facility in the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital.

A professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Saeed joined Ryerson in 1999 from JDS Uniphase Canada Ltd. where he was a senior industrial engineer. For eight years, he was program director of industrial engineering where he played a key role in the areas of administration, curriculum development, faculty and staff hiring and performance assessment, and quality assurance. He has served on numerous committees at the departmental, faculty and university levels.

Saeed is a recognized expert in his research field of operations management, simulation modelling and analysis, and loyalty reward programs. He has more than 120 publications to his credit and is an editorial board member with a number of journals including the International Journal of Society Systems Science and the Journal of Industrial Engineering International.

Saeed holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Ottawa where he was an adjunct professor from 2000 to 2012. He received his MSc from Iran University of Science and Technology and his BSc from Isfahan University of Technology.

Thank you to the members of the search committee, whose names are listed below, for their willingness to serve.

Please join me in congratulating Saeed on his new role.

Mohamed Lachemi 
Provost and Vice President Academic

Members of the search committee for vice-provost, faculty affairs:

Lamya Amleh, Professor
Department of Civil Engineering

Peter Danziger, Professor
Department of Mathematics

Charles Falzon, Chair
RTA School of Media

Kathleen Kellett-Betsos, Professor
Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Jason Lisi, Professor
School of Graphic Communications Management

Steven Murphy, Dean
Ted Rogers School of Management

Christina Sass-Kortsak, Assistant Vice-President
Human Resources

Pam Sugiman, Chair
Department of Sociology

Janice Waddell, Associate Dean
Faculty of Community Services