Presidents’ Messages
A message from the President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, Robert Summerby-Murray
Dear alumni,
Greetings from Saint Mary’s University!
This Fall term has been a special one, as I have had the pleasure of connecting with many alumni in person across the country.
After the restrictions of the pandemic, it has been wonderful to be able to visit Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Saint John, Vancouver and many other places to meet with you, our valued alumni and other supporters. Hearing your thoughts, sharing our news and discussing the future vision for Saint Mary’s has been inspiring and invigorating. Our alumni network is as strong and connected as ever.
The Fall term has provided much wonderful news to share. For instance, Saint Mary’s has been again ranked #3 in the country by Maclean’s University Rankings, in the primarily undergraduate universities category. This enviable position is not one we take for granted, and I am deeply proud that Saint Mary’s continues to be nationally recognized as a leader in post-secondary education.
In this edition of Maroon + White, you’ll find inspiring stories about our community, including: Katie Pegg, a remarkable student athlete who blazed a trail from the Huskies field to the Paralympics in Paris; our incredible Saint Mary’s Enactus team which represented Canada at the Enactus World Cup competition in Astana, Kazakhstan; and our True Santamarian Dave Lane, a passionate astronomer and community member whose legacy will continue to touch lives through the Star Finder outreach program.
Many of you know that I will complete my term as president and vice-chancellor on June 30, 2025, bringing to a close ten years in this exciting role. The search for the next president is well underway, with the intention of announcing the university’s next leader in the Spring. In the meantime, I am excited to continue advancing the good work of Saint Mary’s and engaging with our many supporters, and with you, our most important ambassadors. Robert Summerby-Murray, PhD President and Vice-Chancellor
Bafana Mashingaidze BSc'14 MBA'16 President, Saint Mary's Alumni Association
Dear Alumni, Reflecting on the recent homecoming celebration, I am filled with pride and gratitude for our remarkable community. This year was particularly special as we honoured several significant milestones, from the 10th anniversary of my own graduation to the silver anniversary of the class of 1999 and the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1974, our Golden Grads. However, the highlight was undoubtedly the golden anniversary of women's sports at Saint Mary's University. We celebrated many significant achievements, including the 60th anniversary of the Atlantic Bowl Championship, the 50th anniversary of women in sports at our university, and the induction of three new members into the Sports Hall of Fame. It was also exciting to celebrate the Gorsebrook pub's 50th anniversary! Reflecting on our journey since the humble beginnings of women's sports in 1974 under Kathy Mullane's MBA'89 leadership, we have come a long way. Our program has flourished, expanding beyond the original two sports of field hockey and basketball to include rugby, soccer, hockey, cross country, and volleyball. During my time spent with fellow alumni who were part of this vibrant athletic community, one thing was abundantly clear: the bond formed among these athletes transcends time. Through countless sacrifices of blood, sweat, and tears, they forged an unbreakable sisterhood that will remain with them for life. The celebration culminated in the well-deserved induction of Justine Colley-Leger BComm' 14 as an athlete, long-time field hockey coach Sharon Rajaraman as a builder, and the 1976-77 Huskies Women's Basketball team in the team category into the SMU Sports Hall of Fame. As Sharon eloquently said during her induction speech, "I learned what SMU meant: SUCCESS MEANS US. When SMU wins, we all win." I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the alumni office team, led by Mary Ann Daye, for their exceptional efforts in organizing such a memorable homecoming event. As we celebrate these milestones, we look forward to welcoming even more members into the family of women varsity athletes at Saint Mary's. Together, we are paving the way for future generations to continue this proud tradition. Thank you for being such a vital part of our Saint Mary's family. I look forward to seeing how we continue to grow together. Warm regards,
Bafana Mashingaidze BSc'14 MBA'16
President, Saint Mary's Alumni Association
