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Coming up at the School of Graduate Studies

Find out about key personnel changes
May 27, 2015
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By School of Graduate Studies


After another successful academic year, the School of Graduate Studies is announcing several important changes to key personnel.

For Paula Wood-Adams, dean of Graduate Studies, these moves are indicative of the impressive growth of the school over the last few years. “We have been lucky to have had talented and dedicated faculty work with us to broaden our academic and professional program offerings as well as streamline various processes. I’m very confident that our new personnel will build on this strong foundation and take the School of Graduate Studies to new heights.”

Here is an overview of what’s in store:

Vivek Venkatesh, associate dean of Academic Programs and Development, will be concluding his three-year term on May 31st. During his tenure, the school saw major developments in the GradProSkills program, curriculum reform and updates as well as the adoption of several new master’s and doctoral programs. Venkatesh also played an integral role in the creation of the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching, which was launched in 2013.

Brad Nelson, currently associate dean of Student Affairs and Postdoctoral Studies, will assume the role vacated by Venkatesh, for a three-year term beginning on June 1, 2015. Nelson’s accomplishments in his former role include a soon-to-be-released draft, Guidelines for Graduate Supervision (Master’s and Doctoral), streamlining the may/may not continue process, working on the development of an online academic-integrity test and a myriad of daily negotiations, hearings, panels and student requests.

In January 2016, Nelson will be replaced by Amir Aghdam, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Aghdam has demonstrated his commitment to graduate students over the years through his mentoring and research activities and has been an active and valued participant in several of the School of Graduate Studies’ projects and committees.

On an interim basis Nelson and Luca Caminati, associate dean of Recruitment and Awards, will share some of the vacant position’s responsibilities.

Nelson will continue with student affairs issues such as student requests, progress reports, may/may not continue and time-limit monitoring.

Caminati will assume responsibility for postdoctoral studies, including the Banting competition, dissertation awards and other prizes, as well as membership on the associate dean's Academic Cabinet.

Wood-Adams will oversee the admissions portfolio while Nina Howe, professor in the Department of Education, will manage graduate Code of Conduct and appeals cases during the interim period.

Learn more about the School of Graduate Studies.

 



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