Presidents’ Messages
A message from the President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, Robert Summerby-Murray
Dear Alumni, Welcome to the Fall edition of Maroon + White, your online connection to Saint Mary’s University and our alumni family worldwide. The Fall term is always an exhilarating time. The return of students to campus, the excitement of learning and discovery, and the many events that promote dialogue and new ideas all bring energy and excitement to Saint Mary’s and connect us as a community. This edition of Maroon + White will give you a window into some of this activity. I hope you were as delighted as I was that, for the second year in a row, Saint Mary’s was ranked #3 in the nation by Maclean’s in the ‘Best Primarily Undergraduate Universities’ category. It’s a notable endorsement of the excellence of our faculty, staff and students, of our close-knit community and the unique student experience at Saint Mary’s. On the topic of community, it was a pleasure to celebrate with you at the 2023 Homecoming. More than 2,300 alumni, friends, and community members connected on campus and online to celebrate milestones, reconnect and cheer on the Huskies. This Fall also marked the launch of the revamped Bachelor of Commerce and of an exciting new Arts program, the Public Humanities and Heritage major. Perhaps the biggest news is that our newest facility, the Sobeys Inspiration Hub, officially opened in October. Almost immediately, students began pouring into the bright new space, finding the best places to study and engage in conversation. We are so grateful to the many supporters who made this vision a reality, creating a new space for possibility. The celebration was made poignant by the fact that one of the university’s most steadfast supporters and champions, Dr. David Sobey, C.M., DComm’91, Chancellor Emeritus of Saint Mary’s University, passed away in late September. This loss is deeply felt by our community. The new building stands as a testament to his generosity and care for Saint Mary’s and our students. We pay tribute to him as a True Santamarian. Wherever you are in the world, whether it is in Halifax or across the globe, thank you for being a part of the Saint Mary’s family. Robert Summerby-Murray, PhD President and Vice-Chancellor
Bafana Mashingaidze BSc'14 MBA'16 President, Saint Mary's Alumni Association
Welcome to the Fall 2023 edition of the Maroon + White, your source for stories for and about our Saint Mary's alumni.
This past September, I became your newest Alumni Association President. I had been involved with the Association as a volunteer shortly after my student days, helping on the Young Alumni Committee, joining the Alumni Council, and becoming an alumni representative on the Board of Governors. I am excited to be your president and look forward to working with the Alumni Office and the rest of our Alumni Council volunteers to bring news of Saint Mary's activities & events and learn more about how our alumni are making a difference worldwide. We are now more than 55,000 strong, and I know you are making an impact wherever you ended up after graduation.
I came to Saint Mary's University as an international student from Zimbabwe and chose to stay and work in Halifax. Arriving in Canada, I was welcomed by the warm embrace of the faculty, staff, and students as I settled into my university journey, and that was one of the biggest contributing factors to my staying here after graduation. Seeing the heritage here both as a student and now an alumnus, I am honoured to be a representative for the of 55,000 strong body of global alumni who have passed through these doors.
An important part of my contribution is to help international students by sharing my story with regard to navigating the immigration system. As this is not an easy journey, any help or advice I can provide, I am happy to do so.
We are always looking for alumni who are interested in serving on the Alumni Council or the Board of Governors, being a member of the Honour Guard at convocations, volunteering at Homecoming, and/or sharing your experience as a mentor or a speaker. Please reach out to let us know you are interested and to help us tell your story of how SMU impacted your life upon graduation.
I am grateful for our volunteers serving on our Council and Board of Governors. I am thankful, as well, to the many alumni who contribute financially to support the university. We recently had one of our most successful Giving Tuesdays to help with food insecurity that many of our students are sadly faced with at this time. Gifts were matched thanks to the generosity of the J & W Murphy Foundation.
I wish you all a wonderful holiday season however you choose to celebrate it. I do hope you will take some time over the holidays to sit with this latest issue and read the many stories of our alumni and what's happening around campus.
Once a Husky, always a Husky!
Bafana Mashingaidze BSc'14 MBA'16
President, Saint Mary's Alumni Association
