University Professors

The University of Waterloo owes much of its reputation and stature to the quality of its eminent professors. UW recognizes exceptional scholarly achievement and international pre-eminence through the designation “University Professor”. Once appointed, a faculty member retains the designation for life.

Not counting retirees, it is anticipated there will be 14 University Professorships at steady state, with at most two appointments each year. Such appointments are reported to Senate and the Board of Governors in March and April respectively, and are recognized at Convocation.

Selection Process

Annually, nominations will be sought from Deans, Directors and Chairs, as well as from the University community generally. A nominee shall have demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievement and international pre-eminence in a particular field or fields of knowledge. The individual who nominates a colleague is responsible for gathering the documentation and submitting it to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost before the December break. The University Tenure and Promotion Committee will act as the selection committee; its decisions are final.
A nomination must be supported by at least six signatures from at least two UW departments/schools and must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae and a short, non-technical description of the nominee’s contributions.
A nomination must also be accompanied by letters from the nominee’s Dean, and from at least two and no more than five scholars of international standing in the nominee’s field from outside the University. The scholars are to be chosen by the nominee’s Chair/Director in consultation with the Dean and the nominator. The letter of nomination should explain why these particular scholars were chosen.
Letters soliciting comments from scholars shall be sent by the Chair/Director. Scholars shall be asked to comment on the impact and specific nature of the nominee’s most influential contributions, addressing their responses directly to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost.
The dossiers of unsuccessful nominees remain in the pool for two additional years. The appropriate Dean should provide updated information each year.

University Professors at the University of Waterloo

Name	Department	Year Awarded
Cameron, Roy	Health Studies & Gerontology	2008
Davidson, Ken	Pure Mathematics	2007
Hipel, Keith	Systems Design Engineering	2007
LeDrew, Ellsworth	Geography & Environmental Management	2009
Li, Ming	School of Computer Science	2009
McGill, Stuart	Kinesiology	2010
McMahon, Terry	Chemistry	2005
Munro, Ian	School of Computer Science	2006
Ng, Flora	Chemical Engineering	2008
Pawliszyn, Janusz	Chemistry	2010
Rempel, Gary	Chemical Engineering	2004
Stewart, Cameron	Pure Mathematics	2005
Van Pelt, Robert	School of Architecture	2005
Zanna, Mark	Psychology	2004

Retired University Professors

Name	Department	Year Awarded
Boyle, Phelim	School of Accountancy	2006
Le Roy, Robert	Chemistry	2011
Sivak, Jake	School of Optometry	2007
Thompson, Mary	Statistics & Actuarial Science	2004