York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton and Vice-President Academic and Provost Lisa Philipps issue this announcement to the University community:
We are pleased to inform members of the Faculty of Science and the York community that the search for dean of the Faculty of Science has reached a successful conclusion.
In 2018, we established a Search Committee comprised of members of the Faculty of Science (faculty, staff and students), one member appointed by the president and chaired by Professor Lyndon Martin, dean of the Faculty of Education.
Following an extensive national and international search that attracted outstanding candidates, the Search Committee recommended the appointment of Dr. Rui Wang to the position. On June 4, the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors concurred with the committee’s recommendation. We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Wang has accepted our invitation to take up a five-year term appointment, commencing Jan. 1, 2020.
This is an important time in the development of the Faculty of Science as it builds on its substantial teaching and research successes, evolves to encompass new areas such as neuroscience, and continues to advance its reputation and profile nationally and internationally.
Dr. Wang joined York University in August of 2018 as deputy provost Markham and professor of biology in the Faculty of Science. Since that time, he has been working with colleagues from across the University, local industry, and the municipal government on the planning for a Markham campus, including programming, enrolments, resources and physical space. Since May 1, he has also been serving as interim vice-president research and innovation.
Prior to his appointment at York University, he held appointments as vice-president research at Laurentian University (2015-18) and vice-president of research, economic development and innovation at Lakehead University (2004-14). At both Laurentian and Lakehead, he initiated strategic research plans, introduced policies and initiatives to expand research activity, and promoted collaborations with the community, industry, and local, provincial and federal governments. He also oversaw the operation of the Centre for Academic Excellence, Laurentian’s teaching and learning centre, during 2015-16. A champion of diversity and equity throughout his career, he has promoted Indigenous teaching and research, and in 2017 was instrumental in supporting the establishment of the Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute at Laurentian.
Dr. Wang holds a PhD in physiology from the University of Alberta, an MSc from F.M. Medical University in Xi’an, China, and an MD from Weifang Medical College in Shandong, China. He is an internationally respected scholar and leader in the study of the biomedical importance of hydrogen sulfide. He has held research grants from all three granting councils, and trained more than 120 graduate students, postdoctoral Fellows and other research personnel. An editor of three books, the author of more than 21 book chapters and 279 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, Dr. Wang has delivered more than 160 lectures and keynotes worldwide and achieved an H-index of 73 for the citations of his publications.
We look forward to working with Dr. Wang in this new capacity in the coming years, and we invite all members of the Faculty to join us in congratulating him and wishing him well as he undertakes this important leadership role.
We would like to express our appreciation to Professor EJ Janse van Rensburg for the strong leadership he has provided to the Faculty of Science as its interim dean.
Finally, we would like to thank the members of the Search Committee for their contributions to this important process.