Paula Wood-Adams appointed dean of Graduate Studies
Concordia’s Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Paula Wood-Adams as dean of Graduate Studies.
Wood-Adams, who has served as interim dean of Graduate Studies since July 2012, was also the associate dean from 2010 to 2012. She joined Concordia in 2001 as an assistant professor in mechanical engineering, and was the graduate program director of mechanical and industrial engineering from 2006 to 2012. Her term ends June 30, 2018.
Photo by Concordia University
"I'm thrilled to welcome Paula as our new dean of Graduate Studies,” says Graham Carr, vice-president of Research and Graduate Studies. “Graduate education and postdoctoral training are crucial to advancing Concordia's research profile and reputation as a next generation university. She brings extensive research and administrative experience to the position, as well as a passion and enthusiasm for graduate education that's grounded in a clear understanding of the highly competitive global context in which we need to thrive.”
Wood-Adams holds a PhD and MEng in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, and a BSc in the same field from the University of Alberta. In 2006, she was appointed as a Concordia University Research Chair; that same year she was a visiting professor at Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand.
“This is an amazing opportunity and I look forward to working with Concordia’s talented and dedicated faculty to provide the best possible education for our 7,200 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows,” says Wood-Adams. “Concordia’s research is gaining more recognition nationally and internationally, and the success of our graduate programs will continue to build on this momentum.”
In her 12-year career at the university, Wood-Adams has been an active member of numerous committees and boards for funding agencies, including the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRSQ) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
As an administrator she has provided effective strategic and operational direction to various functions of Graduate Studies, in particular focusing on curriculum and program development support, recruiting graduate students and improving the efficiency of the graduate awards process. She was also a member of the working group that developed Concordia’s current Academic Plan, which strongly emphasizes the advancement of research and graduate studies.
Wood-Adams has contributed to numerous articles in well-recognized peer-reviewed scientific journals in the areas of polymer science and rheology, and has received more than $2.5 million in individual and shared grants from federal, Quebec and private funding agencies as well as several fellowships to advance her research. She has also supervised or co-supervised more than 25 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and continues to lead an active group of research students.
“Paula’s experience and commitment will serve Concordia well in our efforts to foster an environment that promotes research, scholarship and creative work for our graduate students,” says Alan Shepard, the university’s president. “I would like to thank the members of the search committee for their hard work and diligence throughout the process.”
The members of the advisory search committee were: Ali Dolatabati, Graham Carr, Steve Harvey, Norman Ingram, Mélanie La Couture, Valerie Lamontagne, Martin Lefebvre, Frederica Martin, Holly Nazar, Rae Staseson, Marlene Sokolon and Darlene Walsh.
Read the Paula Wood-Adams interview: “The school is in really great shape.”
Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies
The School of Graduate Studies is responsible for academic and administrative functions related to graduate programs, students and postdoctoral fellows. The school oversees more than 100 graduate programs leading to master and doctoral degrees, graduate diplomas, and certificates for professionals who want to upgrade their knowledge and skills.