Ron Sheese, a former York University professor and associate dean in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional (LA&PS) studies, passed away on August 15.
During his time at York University – from 1971 till his retirement in 2021 – Sheese’s academic interests included the development of cognitive skills and learning practices in university students, with an emphasis on learning through dialogue and writing.
He pursued those interests across the university in numerous ways and through several roles. After he joined the Department of Psychology in 1971, he went on to serve as the associate dean in the Faculty of Arts (now known as LA&PS), as well as an undergraduate program director and chair in both the Writing Department – which he joined in 2009 – and the Department of Psychology.
Sheese was the director of the Writing Workshop based out of Strong College, now known as the Writing Centre, where he taught during the 1980s through to 2021. At the Writing Workshop, he ran well-attended week-long summer critical skills workshops for faculty from all departments in the Faculty of Arts, bringing in acclaimed writing and critical skills academics from across North America to assist with the workshops.
He was also the academic director of the Centre for Support of Teaching during the 2000’s, a centre that no longer exists, but whose mission is now carried forward by the Teaching Commons. His centre supported teaching initiatives across the university and promoted student centered approaches to learning and assignment design. Here he helped support the training of new faculty and tutorial assistants at the University and advocated for new approaches to teaching and learning. Through his contributions and commitment to the Faculty, Sheese developed a reputation as an excellent innovator in teaching and learning to students and faculty members at the University.
Sheese also served as the chair of the Writing Department for two consecutive tenures when the professional writing program became housed in the Writing Department, and then additionally merged with the Atkinson Writing Programs. Sheese stewarded the Writing Department during this period of rapid change and growth and helped support the faculty merger.
“By bringing his passion for, and expertise in, student-centred pedagogy, as well as his deep knowledge of critical skills teaching, Ron fundamentally enhanced and broadened the department’s capabilities inspiring all of us to follow his example of putting each student’s individual needs at the forefront of our teaching,” says John Spencer, professor in the Writing Department and a former colleague of Sheese.
In recognition of his excellence in teaching and distinguished service at the university, Sheese was named University Professor in 2002, a rare distinction at York University honouring a select number of professors. His accolades also include the 3M Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching and the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations’ Provincial Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Outside the classroom he was committed to connecting with students – and embraced technology to engage with them. Sheese worked with several colleagues to complete SPARK, a set of online modules designed to facilitate students’ development of writing and other critical skills.
In his later years at York University, he continued to foster new relationships with visiting scholars from China and directed an introductory psychology course in Shanghai at East China Normal University as a visiting scholar himself. Sheese was interested in any bridges that could be used to engage with new students from around the world. He was learning Mandarin in his later years and supported programs at the university that helped international students.
Donations in the late professor’s memory can be made to Pathways to Education, a charity Sheese was passionate about.