The Reimagining Engineering Education (REE) initiative is supported by a distributed team that brings together academic leadership, staff expertise, and student partnership to guide and advance educational change across Smith Engineering at Queen’s University.
The Guiding Team provides strategic direction and oversight for REE, ensures alignment with Faculty priorities, and connects the initiative with broader academic planning and decision-making.
Members: Kevin Deluzio, Chelsea Elliott, Brian Frank, Sarah Kauffman, Marianna Kontopoulou, Kevin Mumford, Kat Paudyn, Keith Pilkey
The Departmental Lead Committee serves as the link between the Guiding Team and academic departments, translating REE priorities into coordinated departmental action and advancing recommendations and resource needs to support progress across the Faculty.
Members: Jennifer Day, Charlotte Gibson, Guillaume Giroux, Mariam Guizani, Neil Hoult, Qingguo Li, Scott Parent, Roshni Rainbow, Kexue Zhang
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Myra J. Hird as the Stephen J.R. Smith Engineering Chair in Engineering for Humanity. An internationally recognized interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Hird brings deep expertise in integrating social, environmental, and technical perspectives into engineering education and research. Her leadership strengthens our commitment to embedding Engineering for Humanity across the curriculum and advancing a socially responsive vision within Reimagining Engineering Education. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and recipient of Queen’s Prize for Excellence in Research, Dr. Hird has long championed humanities-informed approaches in engineering contexts.
The Student Liaison Committee represents student perspectives within REE and supports engagement, consultation, and communication with students across programs and years.
Members: Noah Doeschner-Fretts, Brad Forsyth, Lulu Li, Kalena McCloskey
The Educational Advisory Committee provides senior, expert advice to guide REE priorities, strengthen educational strategy, and support effective adoption across the Faculty.
Working Groups bring together faculty and staff to explore priority themes in engineering education and to develop recommendations that inform the direction of the initiative.
Working groups include: AI, Engagement and Recognition, First Year, KPI, Pedagogy & Motivation.
We have a significant opportunity to Reimagine Engineering Education over the coming years. The initiative is well underway, with foundational priorities established and meaningful progress across programs and working groups. As we move from early exploration into implementation and refinement, your input and involvement remain essential. Dedicated resources continue to support this work, and we welcome ideas that build on the momentum already underway.
Stephen Smith, BSc’72, LLD’17, is one of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs in the financial services industry. He is renowned for innovation in information technology and financial structuring in the Canadian mortgage industry. He earned a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from Queen’s University (’72) and a Master of Science (Economics) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. In 2017, he received an honorary degree from Queen's University. Mr. Smith is the Chairman and CEO of Smith Financial Corporation, which has significant equity investments in a range of financial services businesses: First National Financial Corporation, Canada Guaranty Mortgage Insurance Corporation, Fairstone Bank of Canada, Peloton Capital Management, Equitable Bank, Glass Lewis & Co. and Home Capital Group.