Jonathon Sumner appointed new Associate Dean, SMSE

Jonathon Sumner has been appointed to the position of Associate Dean in the Science, Medical Studies and Engineering sector, following approval by the Executive of the Board of Governors. His mandate began Jan. 17, 2022. He will report to Dean Leanne Bennett and work alongside Associate Dean Max Jones. 

Jonathon began teaching at Dawson in 2005 in the Physics department. He has served as department chair intermittently between 2007 and 2014, as Science program coordinator since 2017, served on Senate since 2013 and as its Chair between 2017 and 2021. He was an Active Learning Fellow in Winter 2013, and a Writing-in-the-Disciplines Fellow in Winter 2014. He has also served as a member of the ISEP committee in 2012-2013 and again since 2021. He has taught at the École de technologie supérieure (ETS) and supervised Master’s students in the completion of their studies. 

His research area is focused on wind energy, turbines and engineering. He has been involved in research as part of the FRQNT Research Program for College Professors 2014 – 2017 and the National Research Council – Business Innovation Access Program 2015 – 2016. 

At Dawson, Jonathon, along with fellow Dawson Physics department faculty members, Joel Trudeau and Sameer Bhatnagar, helped to bring the theory and practice of artificial intelligence to the fore with the establishment of the bold AI Initiative, for which he has served on the executive since its launch in 2019.  

“I have been interested in making greater use of academic data in the management of programs for some time and am looking forward to putting theory to practice.” Jonathon said. “I will miss teaching, but am excited by the many challenges of this new role.” 

Jonathon has a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Science (with Distinction), 2003, with a specialization in structural engineering from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Mechanical Engineering, 2006, from École de technologie supérieure (ETS) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, 2012, also from ETS.  

We wish Jonathon every success in his new role and know that he will receive our full support and collaboration as he takes on his new responsibilities.