I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Anders Nygren has been appointed interim dean of the Schulich School of Engineering for a 12-month term starting July 1, 2024.
Dr. Nygren is a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and currently serves as the vice-dean of the Schulich School of Engineering. Dr. Nygren first joined the University of Calgary as a postdoctoral associate in 1999 and has been a faculty member in the Schulich School of Engineering since 2004. Over his 20 years in the school, he has a track record of leadership responsibilities, including serving as co-director for the Centre for Bioengineering Research & Education (now the Department of Biomedical Engineering) 2011-2014, associate dean (academic & planning) 2014-2018, and vice-dean since 2018. Dr. Nygren also served as acting dean of the Schulich School of Engineering July to December 2019.
Dr. Nygren has played a central role in many initiatives in the Schulich School of Engineering over the past decade, including the successful launch and accreditation of the Energy Engineering program, the establishment of the combined BSc Engineering and BComm program with the Haskayne School of Business, and implementation of significant growth in enrolment in the BSc Engineering and course-based Master of Engineering programs.
Dr. Nygren holds master’s degrees from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden and the University of Houston, Texas, USA and a PhD from Rice University, Houston, Texas, all in electrical engineering. Prior to joining the Schulich School of Engineering, Dr. Nygren completed several years of postdoctoral training in physiology and biophysics at the University of Calgary. His research interests are in the area of computational approaches to cardiac electrophysiology and mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias.
I would also like to thank Dr. Bill Rosehart for his excellent leadership of the Schulich School of Engineering since 2013. His second term as dean comes to an end on June 30, 2024. During his tenure, and to highlight only a few of many accomplishments, Dr. Rosehart has overseen the launch of several new undergraduate, graduate, and transfer programs, and Schulich has welcomed a record number of students, enhanced experiential learning, and supported faculty efforts to grow research activities and impact. Dr. Rosehart has also led major capital projects to expand and renovate the engineering complex, including launching makerspaces where students can roll up their sleeves and bring their ideas to life.
Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Anders Nygren to his role as interim dean and thanking Dr. Bill Rosehart for his service to the Schulich School of Engineering and the University of Calgary.
Penny Werthner
Interim Provost and Vice-President (Academic)
