Warm welcomes and a fond farewell in the APSC Dean's Office

Sally Thorne will step down from her position as Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs in the UBC Faculty of Applied Science dean’s office on June 30, 2019 — the end of her term — to take a one-year administrative leave. 

Since her appointment in 2012, Thorne has played a key role in numerous faculty-related matters, including recruitment, appointments, promotions and tenure. She also developed and implemented policies and procedures regarding various aspects of the faculty work environment, such as orientation and mentoring, peer teaching reviews, leadership initiatives and equity, diversity and inclusion. 

“It has been a tremendous pleasure working with Sally, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for her exceptional leadership and commitment to the Faculty,” said APSC dean James Olson. “We will miss her greatly and wish her well in all her future endeavours.”

In addition to her work in the APSC dean’s office, Thorne is a professor in the UBC School of Nursing and a leading researcher and scholar who has made significant contributions in areas such as patient-oriented care and nursing theory and practice. Among her many honours and awards are the 2018 Jeanne Mance Award from the Canadian Nurses Association and an induction into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2017.

Thorne’s coming departure has led to two new appointments in the APSC dean’s office. On July 2, 2019, civil engineering professor Sheryl Staub-French will transition from her current role as Advisor to the Dean on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) into that of Associate Dean, EDI. In this new position, Staub-French’s additional responsibilities will include overseeing faculty policies and procedures pertaining to faculty worklife and ensuring the integrity and equity of hiring processes. 

Also supporting the APSC dean, department heads and school directors on faculty-related matters is civil engineering professor Reza Vaziri, who began his role as Special Advisor, Faculty Affairs on May 1, 2019. The former head of the UBC Department of Civil Engineering, he will be responsible for faculty recruitment, appointments, reappointments, promotions and tenure, as well as ensuring that Faculty and departmental processes continue to be aligned with university regulations, procedures and policies.

Staub-French will serve as Associate Dean, EDI until July 1, 2022, while Vaziri’s term as Special Advisor, Faculty Affairs will continue until June 30, 2020.