Celebrating Dr. Simon Courtenay: A legacy of leadership, learning, and environmental stewardship
Estimated reading time: 2 minutesÌý
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Simon Courtenay's recent and well-earned retirement and thanking him for his many contributions to the Faculty and beyond. Ìý
Simon joined the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) in 2013 as a faculty member and the Canadian Water Network as Scientific Director.ÌýPrior to this, Simon spent over two decades dedicated to research and education in aquatic ecosystems, monitoring, and fish and invertebrates on the east coast of Canada. He held a research scientist position with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as well as academic appointments at universities in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
Bringing his research expertise and experience with the Federal government to SERS, Simon catalyzed new curriculum and experiential learning opportunities, including a popular field course in the MaritimesÌýinvolving former colleagues from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the broader ocean science community.
Simon also played an important role in welcoming SERS alumnus and long-time public servant, Trevor Swerdfager, as practitioner-in-residence to add to the school's real-world expertise on environmental governance and policy. Trevor describes Simon as the ultimate class act, a professional through and through, deeply committed to science and to the environment, and as keen and compassionate an educator as one will ever see.Ìý
Beyond teaching and research, Simon showed great commitment to faculty service, taking on terms as a faculty senator, the associate director, grad for SERS, and the director of SERS. He was also a dedicated supervisor to significant numbers of scholars from the undergraduate to post-doctoral levels. Within his field, he has worked with several Canadian research institutes, expert panels and foundations, and was named a Fellow of the Canadian Rivers Institute in recognition of his contributions to that organization.Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý
"Simon exemplifies the impact you can make when you blend academic excellence, in-field experience, and a service mindset," says Dean Bruce Frayne. "Our vision for Environment 2035 is inspired by community members like him."
Please join us in thanking Simon and wishing him the best in this next phase of his life.ÌýÌý
