 |
|---|
Professor Damaren Appointed Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies
Professor Chris Damaren, of the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), has been appointed Vice-Dean, Graduate Studies, in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. His three-year term began Mar. 1, 2008.
“Chris has made tremendous contributions to the success and achievements in Aerospace Studies,” said Professor Cristina Amon, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. “I am confident he will provide outstanding vision for the graduate studies portfolio to reach our graduate expansion goals and to further improve the graduate student experience.”
As Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies, Damaren will provide strategic leadership on all aspects of graduate studies to advance the Faculty’s mission of expanding graduate programs in Engineering. He will play a stewardship role in overseeing the Faculty’s graduate expansion efforts, most notably through the MEng program, including its new focus on Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Innovation and Technology in Engineering (ELITE).
In this role, Damaren will develop new initiatives that complement the long-term enrolment objectives of the Faculty and will identify and promote best practices of graduate matters within the Faculty. He will also oversee the Skoll BASc/MBA program in collaboration with the Faculty’s Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Grant Allen.
The Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies also enables synergy between the Faculty and the School of Graduate Studies, forges relationships with other Faculties at U of T and facilitates partnerships within U of T and Engineering. This portfolio also oversees the administrative processes for Post-doctoral Fellows and a key priority is to oversee ethics in graduate research.
Since 2006, Damaren has served as Associate Director of UTIAS, making outstanding contributions to strategic planning, graduate recruitment and admissions. He has served on numerous committees at the professional, University, Faculty and Institute level.
His research interests include nonlinear control system design for spacecraft applications, microsatellite design using multidisciplinary optimization and control of flexible structures.
Damaren received his PhD from UTIAS in 1990, MASc from UTIAS in 1987, and BASc from the University of Toronto in the Engineering Science Aerospace Option, where he ranked 6th out of 100 in his graduating class.
Damaren joined the University of Toronto in 1999 after teaching at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, Royal Roads Military College in British Columbia and the University of Victoria.
Damaren is a PEng and senior member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a fellow of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI).
The Vice-Dean Graduate Studies role was created in 2006. The position was first held by Professor Brenda McCabe, who recently assumed a new leadership role within the Faculty as the Chair of Civil Engineering.
The Dean would like to thank members of the advisory committee:
- Professor Tarek Abdelrahman, Associate Chair Graduate Studies, The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Professor Grant Allen, Former Associate Chair, Graduate Studies, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry and Vice-Dean, Undergraduate Studies
- Professor Susan McCahan, Chair, First Year; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Professor Javad Mostaghimi, Former Vice-Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Professor Doug Perovic, Chair, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Dan Sellan, Graduate Student, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
- Professor David Zingg, Chair, Institute for Aerospace Studies