Presidents’ Messages
A message from the President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, Robert Summerby-Murray
Dear Alumni, As the university prepares for Spring convocation, I feel a tremendous camaraderie with our graduates; on the cusp of change—hopeful, perhaps a bit trepidatious, but excited for the next chapter. The next chapter for Saint Mary’s is already underway. We are welcoming two new leaders: Dr. Michael Khan as President and Vice-Chancellor and Dr. Shannon Dea as Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research. Under their guidance, Saint Mary’s University will continue to lead as the world shifts and student needs evolve. Now more than ever, the world needs what Saint Mary’s University has to offer. We remain rooted in our foundations of scholarly excellence, accessibility and engagement. We value a sense of community, making a meaningful impact and providing students with the opportunities to succeed, whatever their path. Our diverse faculty, researchers, staff and students are inspired to work toward a future that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient—striving for a world without limits, despite the challenges. Saint Mary's alumni are incredibly engaged, thoughtful and global. You respond when needed and support the university with pride. It has been an honour to be connected to this community for the past 10 years. Our alumni create opportunities and are dedicated to seeing Saint Mary's progress. Your commitment is a true gift; it has been a privilege to work with such dedicated individuals. In this edition of Maroon + White, you’ll find inspiring stories of some of our exceptional graduates from each faculty. We are also celebrating some golden milestones: the 50th anniversaries of the Commerce Society, SMUSA and—close to my heart—the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. As I finish my time as President and Vice-Chancellor, I offer heartfelt thanks from myself and my wife Susan for your enduring commitment to Saint Mary’s University. It has been an honour to serve this institution. We are, and always will be, proud Santamarians. Robert Summerby-Murray, PhD President and Vice-Chancellor
Bafana Mashingaidze BSc'14 MBA'16 President, Saint Mary's Alumni Association
Dear Alumni, As we welcome spring at Saint Mary’s, I find myself reflecting on the incredible momentum we’ve built as a university community. The past several months have been full of meaningful milestones, celebrations and stories that speak to the strength and spirit of our alumni network. Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to be welcoming hundreds of new graduates into our alumni family during Spring Convocation, taking place May 27-30, 2025. Please join us in celebrating their achievements and the beginning of their lifelong connection to our global alumni network. Also, a special thank you to those of you participating as Honour Guard members during the celebrations—your presence symbolizes the support of the alumni community and warmly welcomes our newest graduates into the next chapter of their Saint Mary’s journey. This spring also marks a time of transition for our university. As President Rob Summerby-Murray prepares to conclude his transformative decade of leadership, we celebrate his many contributions to Saint Mary’s and look ahead to welcoming our next president. With new leadership comes fresh energy, and I’m excited for what’s in store for our alumni community. As we look ahead to the fall, we’re excitedly preparing for Homecoming weekend. It promises to be another meaningful annual event as we recognize the 50-year class of 1975 and celebrate another induction class into the Saint Mary’s Sport Hall of Fame, to be announced soon. We hope you’ll make plans to return to campus and be part of a weekend filled with pride, connection and Huskies spirit. Whether you’re reconnecting at events, mentoring students, cheering on the Huskies or representing Saint Mary’s in your own corner of the world, thank you for being part of this global alumni family. Your involvement strengthens our legacy and helps inspire what’s next. Warm regards,
Bafana Mashingaidze BSc'14 MBA'16
President, Saint Mary's Alumni Association
