By Maroon & White |
I am honoured to be taking on the role of President of Saint Mary’s Alumni Association. It gives me great pleasure to represent roughly 42,000 alumni from more than 100 countries all over the world.
I have a long, proud history with Saint Mary’s that began in 1968—the year Saint Mary’s went co-ed. I also come from a Saint Mary’s family. My father worked at Saint Mary’s. He was an Engineering grad, as was my brother, Gerry; his son, Stephen, graduated with a BComm. My younger sister, Tish, also has a BComm and a BEd.
After graduating with a BA and a BEd, I commenced a 33-year teaching career in Halifax, beginning in Central Spryfield School and retiring from Park West School. Midway through, I took a sabbatical to return to Saint Mary’s for my MEd.
Over the years, I have applauded our growing reputation as a university that educates citizens of the world. When I was a student in the late 1960s, we were already known as a school that valued diversity, and I made many good friends from other countries. I’m happy to say that Saint Mary’s is still providing me with opportunities to make such friendships. Recently, I spent a day in Peggys Cove with an undergraduate student from Russia and her family.
By the time you read this letter, Homecoming will have come and gone, but at this point I am very much looking forward to the One World Alumni Dinner in support of Junior Achievement; and the 40th Anniversary of Women in Varsity Sport. I am also looking forward to working with our Alumni Council to provide opportunities for Saint Mary’s Alumni to engage, both with the University, and with each other.
I encourage you to get involved this year, whether by attending alumni events or keeping in touch through social media. We all have special memories of Saint Mary’s, and there’s no better way to keep those memories alive than by participating as an active member of the Saint Mary’s University Alumni Association.
Please enjoy this issue of Maroon & White, and keep up with current events by reading our monthly newsletter. If you are not yet on the distribution list, our Alumni Office can add your name. There are many advantages to maintaining our common bond.
Yours truly,
Mary-Evelyn Ternan
BA’69, BEd’70, MEd’88
President, Saint Mary’s University Alumni Association
