Jocelyn Hall appointed Associate Dean (Undergraduate)

Jocelyn Hall, Associate Dean (Undergraduate) joins the Faculty of Science leadership team from the Department of Biological Sciences, where she has been a faculty member for 17 years. In this new role, Jocelyn will serve a three-and-one-half-year term and will be a key member of the deanery supporting Student Services and the undergraduate student experience, as we move to streamline and simplify our operations through updates of Faculty of Science programs. In addition to her contributions to the faculty, she will remain an active member of her home department in both teaching and learning. 

Jocelyn has served as associate chair (undergraduate studies) in the department, the chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee in the faculty and has been the curator of the Vascular Plant Herbarium. Jocelyn’s research area focuses on evolution and development of the plant order Brassicales. 

Congratulations Jocelyn!

What excites you most about taking on this new role, particularly as it’s focused on undergraduate education?

I like working directly with students. I have been actively involved in working in undergraduate education in a number of areas. First, I was a program advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences, then I was the associate chair (undergraduate), for a number of years. In these roles, it was great to help undergraduate students navigate their courses, programs and degrees. I am looking forward to continuing in this type of role.

Please describe your current research. How will this new role affect your teaching and research?

My lab group asks the fundamental question of why there are some many different types of flowers. We focus on floral features important for pollinator interactions. When investigating these features, we examine patterns of how features have evolved, their development and the genetic bases underlying these traits. I will still be teaching and conducting research while associate dean, although it will probably look a bit different. Teaching and research are intimately connected. Also, I enjoy teaching in the classroom and out of it.

What drew you to this area of research?

Plant diversity is fascinating. 

What do you do for fun, outside of work?

Read, garden, try to get to mountains as much as possible, and contemplate taking up knitting again one day.