William Nelson Appointed Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)

The Faculty of Arts and Science is pleased to announce that Dr. William Nelson has been appointed Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) to commence July 1, 2021. Dr. Nelson is currently an Associate Professor in Biology. He has been involved with a number of curriculum and course design initiatives, including leading our Faculty’s largest multidisciplinary project to develop an introductory blended statistics course, both as an instructor and Undergraduate Chair. He has participated in redeveloping laboratory-based courses, creating active learning spaces, and facilitating collaborative teaching - and has a forthcoming e-book with W. Beyer, Taking the Anxiety out of Statistics. Since 2010, he has taught more than 7600 undergraduates. He has a wide range of NSERC funded research projects from the evolution of life-history traits in freshwater zooplankton to the stability of population dynamics in pest insects. Dr. Nelson has been a Fulbright Scholar and held a Japanese Research Fellowship. Please join us in welcoming Bill to our leadership team.  

We would also like to take this opportunity to extend major thanks to Dr. Jill Atkinson for her care and leadership in teaching and learning in the Faculty and the wider university. Jill has worked tirelessly - and with an evidence-based approach - to enhance teaching and learning for students, staff, and faculty. During her tenure, we have increased our online learning significantly and she has played an absolutely critical role in setting the conditions for FAS to deliver 807 remote courses with 55,000 enrolments during the pandemic. Dr. Atkinson will be serving as Associate Dean (Academic) from July 1, 2021 to December 30, 2021, while Associate Dean Stephenson takes a six-month sabbatical. Thank you for stepping in Jill - and for your exceptional learning leadership!