Ed Jernigan

Dr. Ed Jernigan is a distinguished educator with 40 years of experience, serving as a professor and former chair of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

His academic journey includes completing Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Electrical Engineering at MIT.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jernigan's interests have spanned perception, vision, image processing, pattern recognition, non-linear and adaptive systems, as well as knowledge integration and design.

He has excelled in developing and teaching courses in linear systems, signals, pattern recognition, and image processing at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

In 2008, Dr. Jernigan transitioned to teaching courses in design thinking and real-world problem-solving for the Department of Knowledge Integration, embodying a passion for innovative education.

His contributions to education have been acknowledged through prestigious awards such as the Distinguished Teacher Award and the Teaching Excellence Award at the University of Waterloo.

Beyond academia, Dr. Jernigan has been actively involved in high school enrichment programs, notably as the Program Director for the SHAD summer enrichment program.

With a vision for interdisciplinary education, he played a key role in establishing Waterloo Unlimited, a university-wide enrichment program for exceptional high school students.

Dr. Jernigan's retirement in 2016 did not mark the end of his engagement with education; he continues to contribute through outreach activities, occasional teaching, and the development of courses focusing on deep numeracy and quantitative thinking.

In his leisure time, Dr. Jernigan enjoys family, travel, and the serene surroundings of rural Ontario, particularly life along the Nith River.