Fourteen new faculty members working at the leading edge of engineering education and research are joining U of T Engineering, slated to begin on or before July 1, 2017. Five of these professors hold appointments in more than one department. Each brings a unique passion for experiential engineering education, and their research addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing society today, from sustainability in the mining sector to optimizing healthcare systems.
“These brilliant early-career professors come to U of T Engineering from around the world, bringing diverse backgrounds and perspectives that will enrich our students’ experience and deepen the engineering creative process,” said Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “They embody our Faculty’s commitment to teaching excellence and multidisciplinary research collaboration.”
Meet the 14 new U of T Engineering professors:
Professor Alison Olechowski (MIE, ILead) completed her undergraduate studies at Queen’s University and will soon complete her PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She studies the decision-making tools that teams of engineers use in industry as they design and develop innovative new products. As a teaching-stream faculty member, Professor Olechowski will share these useful tools with future engineers to enhance their engineering and leadership capabilities.
“I see a lot of energy and excitement at U of T Engineering around collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship, as evidenced by what will be a world-class centre in the CEIE. I’m thrilled to be joining this multidisciplinary community, where design and leadership skills can make a big difference.”
Professor Patricia Sheridan (ILead) is currently completing her PhD in the Collaborative Program in Engineering Education at U of T Engineering. With a background in robotics, she has devoted her PhD to developing novel tools to teach and evaluate team effectiveness and leadership competencies in undergraduate engineering courses.
“I chose U of T because it is a place where faculty and students are dedicated to working together to create new ideas and approaches that will improve students’ education. I can’t wait to get into the classroom and work with the students to help them see their leadership in their everyday lives.”
This story was originally posted on U of T Engineering News. Read the entire story here!
-Kevin Soobrian