The Department of Computer & Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, is deeply saddened by the death of Dr. Aysha Hashim on January 10, 2010. The University flag was flown at half-staff in her honour on Thursday January 14th. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Aysha completed a Master's degree in Nuclear Science at the University of
Colombo, Sri Lanka. After several years of service in the public and private
sector in Sri Lanka, she continued her education in North America, obtaining
a Master's degree in Applied Statistics from Bowling Green State University
in Ohio, and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Missouri in
1999. Her doctoral thesis work, on heat transfer and aerosol particle
condensation, received the Best Research Award by the American Nuclear
Society at the Western Student Conference in 1998.

Aysha joined the Department as Lecturer in 2000, and was promoted to Senior
Lecturer in 2006. She taught numerous courses in Statistics at all levels,
and served for several years as Program Supervisor for the Major Program in
Statistics. Aysha was particularly known for the care and concern that she
showed for students, both for their work in the courses she taught them,
and for their subsequent career development. She loved to teach Statistics
and she did this with warmth and humanity while demanding high standards
from her students. The vitality and skill that she brought to the teaching
of Statistics and her supportive, collegial and friendly nature have made a
significant contribution that will have a lasting effect and will always be
remembered. For all these qualities, she was valued as a colleague, teacher
and friend, and will be deeply missed by everyone at CMS.