Spring 2018

Contributors: Rachelle Boudreau, Erin Elaine Casey, Allison Gerrard, Renée Hartleib, Lezlie Lowe, and Jordan Whitehouse

Alumni Council: Ali Algermozi BComm’16; Brenda Allen BA’96; Kelsey Baker BComm’15; Kathleen Crocker BA’05; Tariro Dheka BA’16 (IDS); Kirk Emery BA’09; Elora Gehue BA’17 (IDS); Blair Jones BSc’17; Fiona King BComm’93; Dongsheng Li BComm’15; Jennifer McClelland BA’10; Jason Mullen BA’98; Tom O’Handley BComm’02 MBA’15; Collette Robert BSc’15; Karen Ross BComm’77; Dan Rudisuela BComm’07 MBA’08; Jennifer Schwartz BA’09; Wendy Sentner BComm’01; Kaitlyn Touesnard BComm’13

Alumni Representatives on the Board of Governors: Greg Dickie BComm’03; Mary-Lou Donnelly BA’78 BEd’79 MEd’88; Jennifer Liu BComm’12; Karen Ross BComm’77; Sarah Ferguson CMA BComm’09; Dan Rudisuela BComm’07 MBA’08

Maroon & White is published for alumni and friends of Saint Mary’s University.

From Rival to Ally

When Scott Gray became Saint Mary’s newest Director of Athletics and Recreation in November, it was almost 25 years to the day that he helped beat the Huskies in the Vanier Cup as a football player with the Queen’s University Golden Gaels. “It’s funny how the world works,” says the 1993 Queen’s Arts and Physical Education grad. “You never know where you’re going to end up.”

But…

A Measured And Disciplined Voice Stands Out

“Learning has always been important to me,” says Eric Miller. Both his parents went to Saint Mary’s, so when a high school visit to the political science department grew into a BA in Political Science with first class honours, it wasn’t exactly a surprise. “I identified with the world views of people like Dr. Ron Landes and Dr. Don Naulls,” he explains, remembering two favourite professors.…

Dual Business Degree Gives Students an Edge

Seventy-eight students living in Zhuhai, China, who have never been to Halifax, are poised to join the ranks of Saint Mary’s alumni. How is that possible, you ask? Well, thanks to a special partnership between Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai (BNUZ) and Saint Mary’s, these students will graduate with a rare and prestigious double business degree from both universities.

This unique…

An Open Door for Indigenous Students

Raymond Sewell has a brimming schedule in his role as the university’s first full-time Indigenous Student Advisor, but you can be sure that he’s always got the door wide open for anyone who needs him. From his office at the Saint Mary’s Burke Building, he gestures to the swell of students passing by. “They come in and tell me about their day and get the support they need,” says the 34-year-old…

Farewell Dean Bradshaw

After a successful and eventful six years, Dr. Patricia Bradshaw is stepping down as the Dean of the Sobey School of Business. She is proud of the School’s accomplishments during her tenure and feels confident that she is passing on the baton to the next Dean at the right time.

“The School is poised to continue doing work that contributes to prosperity both in Nova Scotia and around…

Trailblazers

Every year, the Maroon & White Magazine features a few members of the graduating class. This year, we’re shining a spotlight on four women who served on the Graduating Class Committee and were responsible for organizing the massive Maroon & White Ball and all the convocation week activities. As you’ll read, these newest members of our alumni family not only helped to pull off these important…

Campus Notes:

Computing & Data Analytics Grads Part Of Award-Winning Halifax Startup

HomeEXCEPT Inc., a Halifax startup that makes a security device for seniors, was the grand prize winner of the American Association of Retired Persons Innovation Champion Awards competition. The platform allows customers to monitor loved ones at home using thermal sensors that determine real-time patterns of movement without intrusive cameras or wearables. Recent graduates Akhilesh Kotiya MSc’18,…

Saint Mary’s Astronomer Part Of Canadian Collaboration

Canadian astronomers are developing the Gemini InfraRed Multi-Object Spectrograph (GIRMOS), which will be capable of producing images of the sky in unprecedented detail. Working with Dr. Marcin Sawicki, Canada Research Chair in Astronomy, Saint Mary’s researchers and students will get a chance to participate in the construction of GIRMOS and then use it to study distant galaxies.

Dr. Rowland Marshall Prize In The Science Of New Energy Awarded

Taylor Lynk, a fourth-year bachelor of science student, was the winner of the inaugural Dr. Rowland Marshall Prize in the Science of New Energy. Her winning paper explores a way to use green materials to synthesize nanomaterials in an environmentally benign way to allow for continued growth of the nanotechnology field.

Dr. Karly Kehoe Honoured By Royal Society Of Canada

The Royal Society of Canada named Dr. Karly Kehoe, Saint Mary’s History professor and Canada Research Chair in Atlantic Canada Communities, to its College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists.

Saint Mary’s Makes The Podium At International Competition

Saint Mary’s students ranked third among more than 60 competing teams at the prestigious 2017 McGill International Portfolio Challenge. This Challenge is the first international competition targeting innovative portfolio design and asset management.

Students Recognized With Inaugural Fred And Nali George Scholarships

Sharing in the University’s commitment to global awareness and social responsibility, Dr. Fred and Nali George set up two scholarships: The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship and The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies. Fourth-year students Jake Arsenault (BComm’17) and Mariah Williams (BA’17) were the inaugural recipients.

Saint Mary’s Chemist Wins Award Of Distinction

Dr. Jason Clyburne, professor in the departments of Chemistry and Environmental Science, is recognized as a leader in the study of green chemistry, particularly in the field of ionic liquids and nucleophilic carbenes. He was named the winner of the 2017 Professional of Distinction Award at the Discovery Centre’s 15th Annual Discovery Awards for Science and Technology. Dr. Clyburne is the first…

Dr. Linda Campbell Receives NS Human Rights Award

Saint Mary’s environmental scientist Dr. Linda Campbell, and fellow members of the Bill 59 Community Alliance, received a 2017 Nova Scotia Human Rights Award in recognition of their contributions to the Accessibility Act. Presented annually by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Awards acknowledge the work of Nova Scotians who advance human rights at the community level.

Saint Mary's President Named Chair-Designate Of CBIE

President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray has been named chair-designate of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) board of directors. CBIE, a global leader in international education dedicated to equity, quality, inclusiveness, and partnership, advances Canadian international education by creating and mobilizing expertise, opportunity, and leadership.

Halifax Business Awards for SMU Alumni

Saint Mary’s is celebrating the success of alumni who were honoured at the 2018 Halifax Business Awards. It was a proud night for Christopher Webb BA’97 and Dave O’Connor BComm’92. Webb’s PAVIA Gallery Espresso Bar & Café won the Gold Award for Business of the Year, and O’Connor, president of Glow - The Event Store, received the Gold Award for Business Leader of the Year.

Saint Mary’s Researcher Appointed To NSERC And NSERC Funding

Biology professor Dr. Kevin Vessey has been appointed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s governing council. While working with the federal agency, Vessey will focus on the role university research has in fostering innovation in communities across the country. In addition, eight Saint Mary’s researchers received $1.3 million in funding from NSERC.

Canadian Students Attend Saint Mary’s Business Development Conference

Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, helped welcome more than 180 future business owners to the Starting Point Entrepreneurship Conference. University and high school students from across Canada met at Saint Mary’s and had the opportunity to bring their business ideas to current entrepreneurs for advice.

Scott Brison Holds Campus Town Hall

Member of Parliament Scott Brison, president of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, visited campus the day after the 2018 federal budget was released. He hosted a town hall with students, faculty, and staff, and answered questions about the federal government’s role in promoting gender equality, immigration, research, and economic success.

Faculty of Arts Welcomes Chinese Students

The Saint Mary’s Faculty of Arts is the first in Canada to welcome a cohort of students from China. For the next two years, Halifax will be the home-away-from-home for 37 learners from Beijing Normal University - Zhuhai, who are completing the final two years of their undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s.

Saint Mary’s Wins Provincial Open Data Challenge

For the second year in a row, Saint Mary’s University Master of Science in Computing & Data Analytics students won the top prize at Nova Scotia’s Provincial Open Data Challenge. Using provincial immigration and population data, the team developed an app that immigrants can use to connect with local contacts.

Letter from the President of Saint Mary’s University

Anational leader in business education, Saint Mary’s fosters creative and entrepreneurial mindsets within our learners. I’m delighted to tell you that the Province of Nova Scotia recently announced an investment of $11 million in a new campus facility called the Entrepreneurship, Discovery and Innovation (EDI) Hub. It will bring together students and professors from all of the University’s…

Letter from the President of the Alumni Association

To the hundreds of students who graduated in May, welcome to the Saint Mary’s alumni family; it’s a global community of over 51,000 alumni.

As I write this, snow is still blanketing the grass in Halifax. Nevertheless, we trust the white stuff will be melted by summer. If you haven’t already, please register for the 42nd Annual SMU Alumni Golf Tournament. It’s taking place August…

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