Ruth Chen named new assistant dean of Faculty Development

The Continuing Professional Development Office, McMaster University, is delighted to announce the selection of its new assistant dean for the Program for Faculty Development (PFD) portfolio.

Beginning January 10, 2022, Ruth Chen, RN, PhD will lead PFD and help identify new opportunities to advance and strengthen the faculty development infrastructure, align program offerings with current FacDev needs, and prepare faculty to thrive in teaching, scholarship, and leadership contexts in the future.

“Using my skills, experience, or insight to help people thrive and achieve their professional goals,” is what Chen enjoys most about faculty development work. “It is exciting to see faculty flourish and to find ways to promote their flourishing.”

“I am most excited about promoting the success and professional development of our faculty – providing faculty with the resources, tools, opportunities they need to grow and thrive in their faculty roles and to expand their skills and capabilities in teaching, scholarship, or leadership/administration.”

Dr. Chen is an associate professor in the School of Nursing (SON) and was the assistant dean, academic resources and department education coordinator for the SON for the past five years. She completed her PhD in Health Research Methodology under the supervision of Dr. Geoffrey Norman and completed her MScN at Yale University.

Previously practicing as a Nurse Practitioner in the US and Canada, Dr. Chen currently teaches in the Ontario Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program as the Pathophysiology Lead and course instructor. She also teaches the Leadership and Management course in the Health Sciences Education MSc program. She is actively engaged in education scholarship with interests that include technology-enhanced learning, faculty development, and scholarship in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Chen’s vision for the PFD portfolio moving forward focuses on “continuing to embed faculty development into the lives of every faculty member – from the time they start at the university, promoting their continued growth and development throughout their careers, and to embed mentorship and capacity building with senior faculty.”

“I am super excited to join the CPD office – there is a thriving, dynamic and engaged team that will continue to do great things!”