Sandy M. Smith, FRES [CV]
BFA (Ocadu), BScAgr, MSc (Guelph), PhD (Toronto)
Dr. Sandy M Smith is a Professor in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto, serving as Dean (2010-2012), and in numerous administrative roles within the university. She is cross-appointed to the School of the Environment, Dept of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Dept. Physical & Environmental Sciences (UTSC) within UoT, as well as environmental departments at the Universities of Waterloo and Algoma. She specializes in forest health and urban forests, specifically using natural controls to address invasive species, with research focused on biological control of forest insects, earthworms, and plants such as dog-strangling vine and Phragmites. She has published over 140 papers and reports, served as guest editor and reviewer for numerous refereed journals, NSERC panels, and on scientific panels for managing invasive insects such as the Asian Long-Horned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer.
Sandy is best known for her contributions augmenting native natural enemies for biological control in forested systems, widely cited work still definitive in the field, however, her current research explores hypotheses around displacement of native species in order to better understand our ability to manage the invasion process in forest ecosystems. Her specific interests are in the population and community ecology of natural enemies following the introduction of exotics or disturbance.
Prof Smith was founding coordinator of the Faculty of Forestry's professionally accredited Master of Forest Conservation (MFC) program and played a critical role in its development over the past 20 years. She is a dedicated teacher and supervisor, receiving numerous awards for teaching excellence, outstanding entomological contributions in Canada, and leadership in Ontario federal science & sustainable development. Sandy has supervised over 250 HQP (including 65 graduate theses and 56 professional MFC capstone projects), and has designed and delivered lectures each year in 6-8 courses on forest conservation, urban forestry, biodiversity, forest entomology, forest health, and conservation biology. During her Deanship, Prof Smith helped develop the OPFA Bridge Training program. She is currently a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, Past President of the Entomological Societies of Canada and Ontario, a Strategic Advisor to LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) and serves on the Boards of Tree Canada, Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, Ontario Forestry Futures Trust, and the Ontario Invasive Plant Council.