Associate Vice-President (Academic)
Dr. Dennis Peters was appointed interim associate vice-president (academic) effective Aug. 1., 2023.
Dr. Peters is an experienced professor, researcher and academic leader, currently serving as associate dean, undergraduate studies in Engineering and Applied Science. He previously held the position of head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and also served as acting dean for a total of fourteen months in 2017 and 2020-21.
In the APVA role, Dr. Peters works closely with deans and other senior academic leaders across the university. Major areas of functional responsibility and leadership within the provost’s portfolio include: overseeing the Academic Unit Planning process in conjunction with CIAP and the Academic Unit Planning Committee of Senate; supporting the development of new programming aligned with the university's strategic plan, Transforming our Horizons, the Strategic Framework for Indigenization, and principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism; advising on resource allocation to best support teaching and learning, research, and engagement, particularly through service on the Provost’s Complement Advisory Committee; providing leadership in all areas pertaining to the employment relationship, working environment, career development, and professional well-being of academic leaders, academic staff members (ASMs), and instructors, including, where applicable, promotion and tenure; supporting the recruitment of academic administrators; acting as a resource for deans in making decisions about academic and other appointments and in navigating matters related to labour relations and collective agreements; and undertaking the review and development of policies specific to the Provost’s portfolio.
Dennis K. Peters, P.Eng., Ph.D., FEC, SMIEEE is a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and interim associate vice-president (academic) at Memorial University, where he has been a member of Faculty since 1998. He has held several administrative positions at Memorial University, including department head, associate dean (undergraduate) and acting dean.
Dr. Peters earned the B.Eng. (Electrical) degree at Memorial University in 1990 before going to work in the high-tech industry at Newbridge Networks (now Alcatel) in Ottawa, Ontario. After two years in industry, he returned to school, this time at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he completed the M.Eng. (Electrical & Computer) in 1995 and Ph.D. (Electrical & Computer Engineering) in 2000.
His research involves applications of machine learning techniques to a variety of problems ranging from marine operations to oilfield characterization. He also studies techniques for the design and verification of software and computer systems, with particular focus on high-performance computing, simulation, real-time applications and parallel or distributed processing.
Dr. Peters is an active volunteer in the professional engineering community in Canada. He is a former chair (2014-15) of the Board of Directors of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and served (2008-2020) on the Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board (CEQB), including a term as chair (2016-18). He was a member (2002-13) of the Registration Committee for PEGNL, including the last seven years as chair. He is a member (1999-present) of the executive committee for the Newfoundland and Labrador Section of the IEEE, including a term as chair and several years as student branch counselor. He has participated in accreditation visits for the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) and has served on the organizational committees for local, national and international conferences.
His teaching activity is primarily in the area of software, ranging from introductory programming courses to advanced topics such as software engineering and concurrent programming.
When he can get away from his work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. As weather and schedule permit, he enjoys sailing his C&C 30 Sea Plus Plus around the beautiful bays of Newfoundland.