The Sobey School of Business releases its third annual Research Bulletin

The Sobey School of Business has released its third annual Research Bulletin, which highlights the fascinating and diverse business research done by Sobey faculty, graduate students and research centres throughout the 2021 academic year.

“Our researchers impress with their ability to be focussed, community-oriented and representative of our five-year strategic plan, Elevating Impact, which embodies the vision and aspirations of the Sobey School of Business,” said Dr. Harjeet S. Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “The research undertaken at the Sobey School of Business from January to December 2021 demonstrates the Sobey School’s leadership in making an impact with purpose.”

Even through the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sobey researchers made strides.

“The global health crisis has accelerated changes in how we work and do business…our researchers have continued to actively train highly qualified personnel, create and disseminate knowledge, and engage with our partners in the community. The work they do matters to so many!” said Dr. Catherine Loughlin, Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Mobilization.

Download the full 2021 Sobey School of Business Research Bulletin publication now.

Students graduate from unique BNUZ-SMU partnership program

Graduation Cohort

Students graduate from unique BNUZ-SMU partnership program

Xu Jinfeng (left) will continue his postgraduate studies this fall at the University of Macau. Zheng Jingjing (right) will begin a master’s program at the Australian National University. 45 graduates plan to pursue postgraduate studies abroad this year.

Graduates from the Joint BComm Program complete 2 degrees: a Bachelor of Commerce (major in finance) from SMU and a Bachelor of Economics from BNUZ. Yang Junying (left), Zhou Keke (centre) and Wu Xinye (right) pose for a photo wearing the Sobey BComm hoods and gowns.

Jin Yue pictured here standing in front of the BNUZ Library, home to the Joint BComm Program.

From left: Zhou Keke, Wu Xinye, Yu Anqi and Shi Jingyi.

Shi Jingyi enjoys a final afternoon at BNUZ before heading to Scotland to begin a master’s program at the University of Glasgow this fall.

Liu Jiaqi says goodbye to the BNUZ Library where she completed many of her undergraduate courses.

Wu Xinye stands outside of our Joint BComm Program office in the BNUZ Library.  

Zheng Jingjing graduated summa cum laude with a BComm (major in Finance) from SMU and a Bachelor of Economics from BNUZ.

A group of friends celebrate their successful completion of the BNUZ-SMU Joint BComm Program at Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. From left: Liu Xinran, Liu Jiaqi, Shi Jingyi and Yu Xizi.

This week, the fifth cohort of students graduated from the BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce program based in Zhuhai, China. 81 graduates received both a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Economics from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, with 59 earning a major in finance.

Prof. Zhong Xin, Dean of the International Business Faculty at BNUZ, offered words of congratulations to this year’s graduates: “In the midst of uncertainty, you have overcome difficulties, explored inner peace and found the confidence to face whatever challenges may come.” She summed up this sense of hope and optimism by wishing students a bright future and encouraging them to use their actions to “seek and preserve the original passion and mission of your youth.”

The unique partnership of the Joint BComm program allows students at BNUZ to benefit from a cross-cultural undergraduate education, with half of their courses taught by BNUZ professors and the other half taught by visiting SMU faculty. Graduates of the program have earned a reputation as high performers in business and finance. This fall, more than half of the graduating cohort will begin postgraduate programs around the world, including in China, Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Others will enter the workforce immediately or begin preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam in China.

Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business, shared his congratulations with the class, noting “[This program] has provided you with the tools and skills to become successful business leaders with a truly global perspective. As you move to the next stage in your careers, we wish you the very best for your continued success, and we proudly welcome you to our extensive alumni community.”

The longstanding partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, dates back to 2002 and has included a range of 2+2 programs in Arts, Business and Science, as well as a number of other exchange programs and summer institutes for students, faculty and members of the community. More than 40 SMU faculty members from the Sobey School of Business and the Faculty of Arts have travelled to Zhuhai to teach in the Joint BComm Program since 2016, which has led to collaborative research opportunities with the International Business Faculty at BNUZ.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing global pandemic, it was not possible for members of the SMU community to reconnect in person with friends and colleagues at BNUZ in celebration of the outstanding success of this year’s graduates. We honour those achievements as we welcome the newest members of our 53,000+ alumni network.

Enactus Saint Mary’s secures spot in national finals

The Saint Mary’s Enactus Team

For the ninth time in 11 years, Enactus Saint Mary’s is off to the final round of competition at the Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto this September. At this in-person competition, Saint Mary’s University will compete against Toronto Metropolitan University, Wilfred Laurier University, University of Ottawa and Okanagan College for the title of national champion. 

These students have already gone through two rounds of competition, and those who succeed at the national final will compete at the Enactus World Cup, representing their country. Enactus, an international non-profit social enterprise, supports different student groups and small businesses aiming to tackle social, economic and environmental problems. With more than 2,000 schools from 33 countries taking part in Enactus each year, Saint Mary’s has an incredible opportunity to represent Canada this year. 

With three months until the highly anticipated competition, Enactus Saint Mary's is looking forward to the final round ahead. 

“[We’re] thrilled to be in the top five Enactus teams in Canada,” says Susan MacInnis, a co-president of the team. “Our amazing and supportive team are more motivated than ever to work together, expand our projects, and personal and professional development.” 

Highlighting their food insecurity program, Square Roots, and their digital education program, Options Online, Enactus Saint Mary’s members are ecstatic to have a chance to win a $10,000 grand prize, along with the national champion title to further impact their community. 

Enactus Saint Mary’s are moving forward proudly, with support from various local and global partners and sponsors. One of these partners, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), is especially supportive of Enactus Saint Mary’s. 

“I’m proud to support these amazing Saint Mary’s students and excited for them to share their innovative, problem-tackling ideas in the final round,” says SMUEC Director Michael Sanderson, one of the faculty advisors for the team. “This year Enactus Saint Mary’s has a great chance to become the national champions.” 

Reflecting on the past rounds and looking forward to the next, Co-President Maddie Bristol says, “We are putting our best foot forward on the National stage in September in Toronto. The coming months will show our commitment to positive community and environmental impact and our dedication to representing Saint Mary’s on stage.” 

Learn more about Enactus Saint Mary’s.

Identifying immigration trends is integral to the growth of Atlantic Canada

Dr. Ather Akbari

Understanding and identifying trends in immigration is something that Dr. Ather Akbari, Professor of Economics and Researcher at Saint Mary’s University (SMU), is passionate about. Particularly, his research identifies the importance of regionalization of immigration in Canada to help increase populations in rural regions and smaller provinces.

“Each province has its own demographic challenges which arise because of the declining population growth,” says Dr. Akbari.

He explains that uneven distribution of population growth by region, and the concentration of immigration in urban areas, have called for regionalization in Canada. Immigrants tend to settle in larger provinces and larger urban centres, where there is more economic opportunity, an established immigrant community, access to ethnic goods, and places of worship.

The Atlantic provinces have the lowest population growth, their natural population growth has become negative, meaning that the number of births has fallen below the number of deaths.

“A declining demographic trend can create longer-term economic challenges for the country,” says Dr. Akbari. “In order to reverse that trend, Canada opened up its immigration policy. People are not chosen on the basis of their country of origin, as was the case before 1970s, but on how they can contribute to the economic and social mosaic of Canada.”

Saint Mary’s University researcher Dr. Ather Akbari (middle) with students from the Sobey School of Business on the Halifax waterfront, near the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

Immigration is not just important for population growth but also for the economy. The economy is impacted by a declining population in at least two different ways: a shortage of skilled labour in the work force, and fewer consumers of goods and services. The aging population further adds to skill shortages, with people retiring as they get older.

“All population growth that has taken place between the recent census years has been due to immigration,” says Dr. Akbari.

Dr. Akbari chairs the Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity (ARGEIAD). The group is comprised of university faculty from across Atlantic Canada with the mandate of researching the economic importance of immigration, diversity, and aging. The research findings have been useful to help guide decisions in a regional, national, and international context.

Low retention of immigrants has been a problem in Atlantic Provinces and has concerned policy makers. This places great importance on Dr. Akbari’s and ARGEIAD’s recently finished research study, commissioned by the Province of Nova Scotia, titled: ‘Immigration In Nova Scotia: Who Comes, Who Stays, Who Leaves And Why?’ Through an online survey of close to 3,000 immigrants, the study helped understand the factors that determine why immigrants choose Nova Scotia as their destination in Canada, why some decide to stay, and why others leave.

ARGEIAD recently finished another research project, in collaboration with Group ATN Consulting Inc., for the government of New Brunswick which currently hosts the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration in Canada. Through that project, they analyzed the impacts of provincially and territorially-administered immigration programs.

The project’s main finding is that immigrants have a positive effect on the economic growth and government revenues of smaller provinces, more so than in larger provinces, and that the Provincial Nominee Program has been successful in attracting immigrants to smaller provinces of Canada.

Currently, ARGEIAD is doing a research project that assesses the satisfaction and well-being of international students in Atlantic Canada. This research will provide valuable information that will assist with encouraging future immigrants to stay in the Atlantic provinces.

For more information on ARGEIAD’s work and Dr. Akbari’s research at Saint Mary’s University, visit https://www.smu.ca/centres-and-institutes/atlantic-research-group.html and https://www.worldwithoutlimits.ca/index/establishing-nova-scotia-as-the-world-of-possibility-for-newcomers.

Saint Mary’s University researcher Dr. Ather Akbari (middle) with students from the Sobey School of Business on the Halifax waterfront, near the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.

Togetherness, Pride, and Knowing it’s Never Too Late: Sobey School Valedictorians

Chelsea Hammersley

Adam Wagner

Chelsea Hammersley and Adam Wagner, the spring Valedictorians for the Sobey School of Business, may have led very different lives but their messages to students on convocation day had similar themes: the togetherness of convocation, pride in graduation, and the recognition that it’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

“We’ve had to endure battles and hardships, we’ve had to beat down walls that went up with changing environments that we had no control over.”

— Chelsea Hammersley

Chelsea Hammersley was born in Cambridge, Ontario, and moved to Halifax when she was 10 years old. She began studying at Saint Mary’s University in 2017, and graduated this spring with a double major in Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations and Marketing. She reminisced in her speech about the struggles that not only she, but all of the students she was speaking to, faced getting to graduation.

“We’ve had to endure battles and hardships, we’ve had to beat down walls that went up with changing environments that we had no control over,” she said to the audience, reflecting their shared experience of completing their degrees during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Chelsea’s speech was not focussed on the hardships. Rather, her focus was on her pride in making it to the end with her graduating cohort.

“Being able to gain an education is not something everyone is lucky enough or able to complete,” Chelsea shared, reflecting the fact that she is the first person in her family to gain a university education. Her pride was not only in her own accomplishments, thought. Chelsea made it very clear that everybody should be feeling the same. “You are all all-stars, and have worked for this moment in the most unimaginable times.”

“You are all all-stars”

It is unsurprising that Chelsea’s message was one of support for her cohort. While in school Chelsea was Vice-President of Project Development in Enactus, the University’s chapter of an international non-profit organization that encourages students to use entrepreneurial action to effect social change. Additionally, she has numerous academic achievements, and was the Enactus Member of the Month twice. Evidently, supporting her peers is where Chelsea thrives.

“Congratulations once again to my fellow graduates, know that I hope you find happiness and success, and that I will forever be your cheerleader.”

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Adam Wagner’s story is quite different from Chelsea’s. Born in Hague, Saskatchewan, Adam first attended university right out of highschool, but found that it wasn’t the right time for him.

“I was just not ready,” Adam shared with the crowd. “Two years later, I was asked not to return to university due to my poor output. Not much was going for me other than the support of my family and friends.”

“I took my bumps and bruises like many of you and found a way to make it happen.”

— Adam Wagner

Despite the way that he felt, Adam did not define himself by a perceived failure, and instead worked and found support in a mentor, Terry Loraas, who Adam cited as one of his main sources of inspiration for returning to school. Adam enrolled in night classes to bump up his high school marks, and after two years he was recruited to the SMU Huskies football team as an offensive lineman, giving him the opportunity to return to university for a second shot.

This time around, Adam was ready. “I took my bumps and bruises like many of you and found a way to make it happen. Five years later, here I stand with you on one of the best days of our lives. We learned from our mistakes, and used that knowledge to push forward and upward to get here today.”

As a member of Saint Mary’s University Student’s Association (SMUSA) throughout his time at Saint Mary’s and a player on the SMU Huskies football team, Adam was incredibly active in the university community. Adam’s encouraging spirit shone through in the closing remarks of his speech. “Don’t view the mistakes of the past as a drawback, but simply view them as a lesson towards the success that lies ahead of you. …This really isn’t the end, it’s simply the beginning of your next adventure.”

What’s next?

Chelsea and Adam both have big plans for the future, as well as advice for future students.

“My biggest piece of advice for new students is to not close yourself off to opportunities,” Shares Chelsea, who currently works with the Federal Government with Public Services and Procurement Canada in Labour Relations. “The co-op program at SMU is amazing and I would highly recommend all students, not just ones pursuing a BComm. Without it, I most likely would not have secured a job before graduation. Gaining valuable work experience while in school is a huge asset and will diversify yourself from other post-graduates. I also would say to join a society or an extra-curricular group. This allows you to make new friends and network with other students and professionals.”

Adam, meanwhile, is planning to move back west to his home of Saskatchewan to pursue some exciting new business opportunities. His advice for students? “Don’t blink! It all flies by way too fast. Also, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. These are some of the best times of your life and you will come out surrounded by amazing people, if you just take a chance and put yourself out there.”

We wish Chelsea and Adam the best of luck with their future endeavours, and congratulate them once more on their graduations!

Multiple degrees enhance the family business for mother and daughter

Elora (standing) and Olwyn Gehue

Simultaneous studies in Arts and Commerce added up to the perfect combination for Elora Gehue of Halifax—and for her mother, Olwyn Terris-Gehue. The pair were seated side by side during their graduation ceremony this week at Saint Mary’s University.

“I’m not really sure how she felt about it when we first started to attend classes together but it definitely got better,” Terris-Gehue recalls with a chuckle.

“It’s been a great experience, honestly,” says Gehue, herself a mother of two young sons. “I think it made us closer too, being able to learn and grow with each other.”

The mother and daughter, ages 58 and 27, share an appreciation for the interdisciplinary learning options at Saint Mary’s. They took quite a few classes together, and are graduating with an unusual combination of credentials:

• Both receive Bachelor of Arts degrees with majors in Religious Studies, plus a minor in Indigenous Studies for Gehue.

• Both receive Bachelor of Commerce degrees; Terris-Gehue’s is a general business degree, while Gehue majored in Human Resource Management and minored in Psychology.

• Both receive Certificates in Atlantic Canada Studies.

• Gehue also receives a Certificate in Human Resource Management.

Academic curiosity and the entrepreneurial spirit run deep in the Gehue family. The variety of programs complement each other as well as the family businesses, which include Lotus Business Solutions, Gehue’s business consulting firm; Ataj, a construction company with her father; and the family’s first retail outlet, Crystal Moon Wellness Boutique, which opened last fall just off Spring Garden Road. A pet supply store and an inclusive clothing shop are in the planning stages, and Gehue also starts a new job soon as Indigenous Student Advisor at Dalhousie University.

“We graduated together once before, in 2017,” notes Terris-Gehue, who was the last person to receive a Bachelor of Education degree from Saint Mary’s that year. Her daughter’s first BA included a major in International Development Studies and minors in English and Sociology. The IDS program sparked Gehue’s interest in equity, diversity and inclusion, which led to her focus on human resources. 

“Realizing the issues that I have as somebody who isn’t visibly diverse, it can be very complicated to navigate,” says Gehue, whose father is from Sipekne’katik. “So for me, venturing into HR is a way to help promote changes within corporate structures, because it can be very tough. Diversity is not just skin deep, it’s a lot of things.”   

During her first degree, Gehue was a member of the Alumni Council and served as president of the Indigenous Student Society. She coordinated the first Mawio’mi on campus, and volunteered on a committee that helped to implement some of the recommendations from the President’s task force on Indigenous students.

Her parents always encouraged her to be open and curious about exploring her culture as well as different paths of spirituality, and studying religion at Saint Mary’s opened up many areas of questioning and critical thinking. Traditional healing is a big focus in the family store, with smudge kits, gemstones, books, dreamcatchers, beadwork and art by local Indigenous and Celtic artists, and much more. The shop also has pop-ups in other locations, and was a popular fixture at the Evergreen Market on the waterfront in the winter.

The mother and daughter encourage new students to be adventurous in choosing their courses, and to reach out to their advisors, career counsellors and other campus supports. If a program isn’t clicking, you don’t have to get stuck on a single path, they agree.

“The wide range of courses at Saint Mary’s is wonderful. You’ve got wiggle room to try things, room to explore different options,” says Terris-Gehue.

They also appreciate the comfort of a smaller university. Terris-Gehue had jitters at first about coming back to school as a mature student but she quickly felt accepted and appreciated. Other students and even a few professors began calling her “Mom”, and she made friends with the mothers of international students, from Thailand to the Caribbean.

The Gehue family connection continues at Saint Mary’s in September, when Terris-Gehue’s 18-year-old son Dakota (and Gehue’s brother) arrives to begin his studies at the Sobey School of Business.

“He says to me, ‘So are you coming back, Mom, and taking some more courses so you can graduate with me too?’ I don’t think so, but who knows?”

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Plan a degree unique to your interests with the undergraduate program advisors available in Saint Mary’s Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and the Sobey School of Business.

Saint Mary’s EIT and Sobey School of Business collaborate on new student-led internship

Kavitha Raveendaran, EIT technology intern

Through a brand-new collaboration between the university’s Enterprise Information Technology (EIT) management, the Sobey School of Business and the Faculty of Commerce, Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) student Kavitha Raveendaran has begun work as the first EIT technology intern here at Saint Mary’s. EIT supports the mission of Saint Mary’s University by connecting faculty, staff and students to the information technology resources they need, and Raveendaran sees her position as an extension of this mission.

“This internship is a bridge between EIT and the Sobey School,” says Raveendaran. “There is a lot of value in having more open communication between these groups.” The EIT Technology Internship program, as envisioned, creates an optimal learning environment for interns to apply their real-world and educational experience, benefiting themselves, their client departments, and the university.

Todd Williams, Chief Information Officer of Saint Mary’s University, recognized the deep and diverse skill sets possessed by students and saw an opportunity that would benefit graduate students, departments and faculties, and the university at large. The vision of the EIT paid internship, offered to graduate students within the MTEI program, was to provide the intern with the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real projects, involving people, process and technology, by assisting in the delivery of enterprise-level strategic initiatives to department stakeholders.

Raveendaran was looking for just such a position. An IT engineering graduate originally from India, she travelled to Saint Mary’s to pursue her MTEI degree. Her goal when she arrived in Halifax was to find a job in her field to do alongside her studies; with over 12 years of software development experience and having worked with large national and multi-national companies, she approached the IT department for job opportunities.

“I had never worked in a higher education domain before, and so I reached out to Todd Williams of EIT,” Raveendaran explains. “We had a meeting wherein I asked about part-time work and the potential for an internship. Todd really gave me the space to figure out what I wanted to do with this position. He collaborated with me and allowed me to customize the position based on where I could see myself succeeding.”

During this eight-month internship, which began mid-March of this year, Raveendaran will be working on institutional projects based on modernizing and streamlining communication technology used at the Sobey School of Business, as well as helping to identify technological needs for the new Sobeys Inspiration Hub. Kavitha appreciates the unique opportunity that an internship in her field within the university landscape poses for her.

“I am able to both work and study at the university,” she says. “It’s wonderful.”

An internship isn’t the only thing that Raveendaran has gotten out of her time at Saint Mary’s University—she’s also been inspired to further her education. After she finishes her MTEI degree, Raveendaran plans to pursue a Doctorate in Design Thinking, a domain she learned about from a professor she met while doing the MTEI program. She credits the faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s as the community that has given her the confidence to dream big.

“At first, I was terrified to come back to school,” she says. “I haven’t been a student for 12 years, how do you get back to that? Once I arrived I realized how warm and supportive everybody at Saint Mary’s is. It really feels like faculty sees equal potential in all of their students—it helped me see the potential in myself.”

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Winter 2022 Valedictorians honoured at Spring Convocation

At Spring Convocation 2022, Saint Mary’s recognized the valedictorians who graduated in January 2022 but whose convocation ceremonies were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are excerpts from their valedictory speeches at those special Winter 2022 ceremonies on May 17, 2022:

Smile Phyllis Gaewu

Smile Phyllis Gaewu (MTEI)
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

“As we go forward on our individual journeys, I want to leave you with some impactful words that happened to be the email signature of an esteemed former faculty member of the Sobey School of Business and a mentor to me, Karn Nichols. I quote, ‘Be curious, Be open, Be kind.’ This simple tenet will go a long way to enrich your lives if you embrace it and live by it.”

Dania H. Abdulrahim

Dania H. Abdulrahim (Winter 2022 Class)
Sobey School of Business

“To all the parents who have supported their graduates, both emotionally and financially, I am proud of you. To all the teachers and mentors who have inspired and guided their graduates, I am proud of you. From the bottom of my heart, to all the graduates who have struggled yet prospered, I am proud of you. Not only are we acknowledging those accomplishments here today, but acknowledging and welcoming a new beginning with open arms.”

Sobey School Associate Dean Dr. Margaret McKee recipient of PRME North America Award of Excellence for Leadership in Service

Dr. Margaret McKee receiving the Excellence for Leadership in Service award from Liz Collier, Chair of the PRME North America Chapter and Mette Morsing, Head of PRME.

The Sobey School is pleased to announce that Associate Dean of Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs, Dr. Margaret McKee, has won a Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) North America Award of Excellence for Leadership in Service. The PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative that engages with business and management schools to ensure future leaders are provided with the skills necessary to balance economic and sustainability goals. With over 800 signatories worldwide, PRME has become the largest organized relationship between the United Nations and management-related higher education institutions.

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Dr. Margaret McKee

The PRME Awards for Excellence are intended to recognize superior accomplishments, to provide models of excellence for fellow faculty, and to encourage all faculty to continue to perform, improve, and advance their teaching, scholarly/creative activity, and service following the United Nation’s PRME Principles. Dr. McKee is recognized for her exceptional commitment to integrating the Principles of Responsible Management Education throughout the life of the Sobey School of Business and her leadership contributions within other organizations, especially the PRME North America Chapter and Champions.

“It is difficult to summarize the magnitude of the impact that Dr. McKee has had on the Sobey School of Business and its stakeholders in its pursuit to meaningfully embed ethics, social responsibility and sustainability in the values, purpose, and activities of the school,” says Dean Harjeet Bhabra. “Her passion and commitment, and her ability to collaborate with administrators, faculty, and staff to integrate PRME Principles in the curriculum and other initiatives in the school have been critical to our success in this area.”

Dr. McKee has brought about many specific changes in the School, including :

• Specific reference to sustainability in the School’s mission statement and the establishment of ethical and social responsibility as a transversal weave through Elevating Impact, the School’s Strategic Plan (2020-2025)

• The Faculty Council’s unanimous support for becoming a PRME signatory in 2014 and pursuing Champion status in 2020

• Maintaining our standing on the Corporate Knights Global Green MBA Ranking for nearly 10 years

• Encouraging the research advancement committee to institute the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for reporting on research bi-annually

• The introduction of an annual Responsible Leadership Day in 2019

“Dr. McKee is an advocate, champion, and leader of PRME principles and Sustainable Development Goals in the Sobey School, university, and wider community,” says Jane Mulatz, Director of Strategy and Accreditations at the Sobey School of Business. “She has brought the Sobey School of Business to its current position where the significant integration of the SDGs across our strategy and programming has elevated our national standing, our international profile, and most importantly our societal impact. Her dedication has been the single most important factor in the Sobey School’s transformation.”

Please join us in congratulating Dr. McKee on this well-earned honour!

Dr. Catherine Loughlin Recognized for Research Excellence

Dr. Catherine Loughlin

Dr. Catherine Loughlin, Associate Dean and Professor in the Sobey School of Business, will be recognized for her contributions to research with the President’s Award for Excellence in Research at Spring Convocation. In her role as Associate Dean, Research & Knowledge Mobilization, she is responsible for supporting and advancing the role of research in the Sobey School. As a Professor in the Department of Management, she works with students conducting research and supervises PhD candidates in Management.

Since joining the Sobey School of Business in 2005 as Canada Research Chair (Tier 2), Dr. Loughlin has been a leader for both students and colleagues through research dissemination, accessibility and mentorship. Colleagues in the Sobey School cite her ability to make research accessible in the classroom as key to helping students see how research can inform their practice.

“Catherine Loughlin has shown tremendous leadership in the Sobey School's PhD program,” says Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “Not only by teaching and supervising doctoral students, but also diligently working to expand the program to two new streams. She has contributed in significant measure to elevating the profile and reputation of the Sobey School and Saint Mary's University through her scholarly work and many other initiatives.”

Loughlin’s work in the areas of leadership, gender diversity and occupational health and safety has been highly published and cited in the some of the world’s leading academic journals, and she plays an active role in the professional community through service to boards, institutes and government policy-authoring. Her work has received awards from external bodies such as the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the Academy of Management, and been profiled for Parliament, with high levels of research funding throughout her career from numerous agencies.

Loughlin will receive the President’s Award for Excellence in Research at the Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research Spring Convocation ceremony on May 19, 2022. The award, adjudicated by the Research Committee of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, honours outstanding research conducted by a full time faculty member at Saint Mary's University. Nominations are supported by the nominee’s Dean, colleagues at Saint Mary’s and beyond.

Spring Convocation ceremonies will be streamed live on smu.ca/graduation.

International Student Satisfaction and Well-Being: New Research by the ARGEIAD

The Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity (ARGEIAD) has received funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to conduct new research on the well-being and overall satisfaction of international students who come to Atlantic Canada for schooling.

“Understanding the well-being of these students is imperative to retaining them in the region after their studies,” says ARGEIAD Chair Dr. Ather H. Akbari. A decline in natural population growth in Atlantic Canada means that immigrants to the region are an important demographic to prevent labour shortages. International students who stay after graduation are invaluable for avoiding these skill shortages, and for increasing the population of Atlantic Canada.

Although the attraction and retention of international students has become a focal point for immigration strategies adopted by provincial governments in Canada, there has been little research done to track whether they stay in the area after graduation. ARGEIAD’s new project plans to delve into the various factors that affect the well-being of international students, which should provide an insight as to whether students will want to stay in Atlantic Canada. Additionally, this research may also provide valuable insights for university and college administrators on how to improve their supports and services for international students.

Although in its beginning stages, this new project has the potential to highlight areas where international students do not feel satisfied or supported. By identifying these gaps, this research could help international student initiatives to improve their programs, and increase retention of these students.

The goal of ARGEIAD is to promote research and mobilize knowledge focusing on the economic significance of immigration, diversity and aging. Learn more about the centre and their research or sign up for their newsletter.

Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies Win for Sobey School Student

Laura Eamon
Photo: Steve Smith - VisionFire Studios

Laura Eamon, a fifth-year student at the Sobey School of Business who is completing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics, was awarded the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies.

"We continue to be inspired by the talent, leadership and entrepreneurialism shining through students at Atlantic Canadian business schools," says Paul D. Sobey, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Laura is one of only nine recipients of the $35,000 award given to undergraduate students of Business Studies in universities across the Atlantic Provinces.

“We are thrilled that Laura has earned this award,” says Dean Harjeet Bhabra of the Sobey School of Business, who selected Laura for consideration by the awards committee. “Our school is committed to providing the highest quality of business education and preparing our graduates to lead entrepreneurial and sustainable businesses and communities. Laura’s win shows that our students’ achievements in their academic studies are matched by their engagement with and contributions to the broader communities.”

All full-time business students attending Atlantic universities are eligible for consideration. Deans of Business at each university nominate candidates based on entrepreneurship, supporting the communities in which they live and work, and their employment experience.

Laura, a part-time project coordinator with the Sackville Business Association and a member of the Saint Mary’s University Environmental Society, credits her sobriety – she has been in recovery for eight years – as the reason for her success. In addition to wanting to bridge the gap between the environmental and business sectors in Nova Scotia, Laura views her win as confirmation that people in recovery can have a positive impact.

“It’s an immense honour to receive the Frank H. Sobey Excellence in Business Studies and to celebrate the Sobey legacy,” says Laura. “All of my hard work has been validated, and my sobriety is the reason I’m here. The support from the university and Sobey family is immeasurable, and I look forward to continuing those relationships for a long time.”

The award recipients are selected by the Frank H. Sobey Awards Board of Trustees comprised of Atlantic Canadian business and academic leaders. Established in 1989, the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies have awarded more than $2.5 Million to business students in the four Atlantic Provinces.