As Chair of the Dean’s Special Advisory Board, I would like to take a moment to highlight the remarkable achievements of the Faculty of Science under the leadership of Dean Rui Wang over the past five years, as he wraps up his term on June 30, 2025. This has been a period marked by unprecedented growth, innovation, and resilience.Under Dean Wang’s leadership, the Faculty inaugurated its Dean’s Special Advisory Board and created its five-year Strategic Plan (2021-2025), along with its 10-year master plan and fundraising plan.
Between 2020-2025, despite challenges from the global pandemic, the Faculty of Science achieved historic highs in total student enrolment, reflecting the growing reputation and appeal of its programs. For 2024-2025 the Faculty of Science enrolled 5,137 undergraduate and graduate students by headcount, a 12% increase over 2019-20. It welcomed more than 25 outstanding new faculty members, including three distinguished Black scholars, strengthening the Faculty’s commitment to academic excellence and equity.
Under Dean Wang’s leadership, the Faculty established its first International office, spearheading global engagement and partnerships, securing 36 active MOUs with universities and institutions in more than a dozen countries, including 12 dynamic collaborations in mainland China alone. These connections fostered global exchange and created invaluable pathways for international student recruitment and research collaborations.
The Faculty’s research funding during Dean Wang’s term reached unprecedented heights, surpassing $20 million three years in a row between 2022-25. During this time, the Faculty recruited talented researchers, celebrated new and renewed Chair positions, pioneered strong research clusters, and established new industrial partnerships.
Dean Wang has been deeply committed to ensuring that curriculum and pedagogy remain at the forefront of academic excellence. During the last five years, the Faculty of Science developed a range of innovative academic programs including its BA / BSc in Data Science and its Master of Biotechnology Management at Markham Campus.
Dean Wang also led the creation of non-traditional academic programing in the Faculty of Science, creating significant new revenue streams and attractive offerings for prospective students. These include the Visiting International Fee-Paying Students Program and the Faculty’s first microcredentials in Vaccine Production and Quality Control, NMR Spectroscopy for Industry, and Visual Analytics & Modelling. These microcredentials offer in-demand, industry-skills-focussed programming.
And, recognizing the need to enhance employability for its students, the Faculty improved co-op offerings to help graduates gain real-world career experience, expanding co-op to nearly all Science programs, with a 32% improvement in placement rates.
Fundraising and philanthropy were a key focus of Dean Wang’s mandate, with more than $14 million raised over five years in support of our students and researchers. This includes a $1.6 million gift secured by Dean Wang for the new 3,843-square-foot Taihua Wang Science Student Success Centre, opened in Spring 2025.
During his tenure, Dean Wang also focussed on strategic communications, hiring staff to coordinate the Faculty’s communications, website, and social media presence in support of its strategic objectives. As a result, the Faculty’s communications capabilities and brand have been enhanced, with significant growth in social platforms, a revamped website, and improved communications to our key audiences.
Furthering its community outreach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Faculty’s Science Engagement Programs now reach more than 3,000 youth annually, with 43% from marginalized communities, through fully subsidized initiatives and partnerships supporting Black youth in STEM, girls, and gender-diverse students.
And, last but not least, Dean Wang fostered an inclusive, supportive community within the Faculty of Science—most notably through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic—demonstrating adaptability and care for students, faculty, and staff. He launched the Community 2022 initiative, helping community members reconnect in person, supporting the return to a more robust on-campus presence, and addressing key challenges together.
These achievements are a testament to Dean Wang’s inspiring leadership in partnership with dedicated faculty and staff, and the support of the entire Faculty of Science community. As we look to the future, the Faculty of Science at York University is poised for even greater innovation, global engagement, and impact.
With gratitude and pride,
Dr. Mark Lievonen
Chair, Dean’s Special Advisory Board
Faculty of Science