Presidents’ Messages
A message from the President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, Robert Summerby-Murray
Dear Alumni,
Welcome to the latest edition of Maroon + White, your online connection to Saint Mary’s University and to our alumni family around the world.
We just celebrated the class of 2023 at the Spring Convocation. Our newest alumni are joining the world at what feels like a societal inflection point. The COVID pandemic has waned but indelibly changed how we live and operate in the world. Technology has leapt forward with AI and other advances. Geo-political shifts and climate change continue to shape our lives—a fact brought close to home as Nova Scotia deals with unprecedented wildfires. In this context, the future may feel uncertain.
But I reminded our graduates that the lessons they learned at Saint Mary’s, and the experiences they gained, are a valuable foundation that will help them as they—to quote poet T.S. Eliot’s The Dry Salvages—“fare forward” into their future, bringing their skills, values and energy to a changing and challenging world. And we know that they will always have the support of the broader alumni community.
I hope you are heartened that at Saint Mary’s we continue to grow, rise to challenges, pursue knowledge and find solutions, all while living our values of care, community and creating the space for change and possibility.
With this issue of Maroon + White, we could say "the proof is in the pudding." You will find the stories of six remarkable graduates, each of them leaders in their own right and already making positive change. You will read about progress on the world-class Sobeys Inspiration Hub and the Exchange building, where the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre will be a nucleus of entrepreneurial thinking and activity at Saint Mary’s and beyond. And of course, you will also find in this issue stories reflecting the impact of researchers and the accomplishments of our alumni.
I close by thanking you, our alumni, for your continued engagement and support. You are part of our continued success as we strive toward a World without limits.
Robert Summerby-Murray PhD President and Vice-Chancellor
A message from the Director of Alumni Engagement,
Mary Ann Daye BComm’85
Welcome to the Spring 2023 edition of the Maroon + White, your source for stories for and about our Saint Mary's alumni. Our global alumni network is now 55,000 strong as we welcomed 700 new alumni this May. We could have written about many outstanding students for this spring edition and have chosen stories of six recent graduates, who we are sure will make us proud as they embark on their next chapters.
As I write this, many of us in Nova Scotia are still reeling from the wildfires. Many of our alumni, faculty and staff are impacted. We have provided information via email and social media about our Affinity partner, TD Insurance, and their response to support those affected. We are thinking of you and your loved ones at this time.
You have likely seen in your inbox our most recent alumni survey. We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to answer a few questions by June 30. A lot has happened since our last survey in 2018, and now we want to check back in to see how we can enhance your alumni experience and offer programs and events that help you stay connected to Saint Mary's.
We have many stories to share with you in this issue, both on campus and in the world, where our alumni are doing great things to impact their communities.
We are always looking for volunteers if you would like to join our Alumni Council, our Young Alumni Committee or the university Board of Governors. Be in touch if you would like to participate and help us with our various programs, whether volunteering at Homecoming weekend, mentoring a student or providing input on a new initiative or program.
Make a plan to join us back on campus for Homecoming 2023 from October 12–15. There is a lot to celebrate with our '73 basketball, hockey and football teams coming together for 50-year anniversaries of exceptional accomplishments in their respective sports that year. We look forward to seeing you on campus or at one of our alumni events in your city.
Once a Husky, always a Husky!
Mary Ann Daye BComm’85
Director of Alumni Engagement
