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President Summerby-Murray named Top 50 CEO by Atlantic Business Magazine
Saint Mary's University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray
The following is an excerpt from the May-June issue of Atlantic Business Magazine.
“Robert is an experienced academic administrator and post-secondary advocate. He is passionate about the value of research, teaching and the advancement of learning for everyone who wants to participate in higher education.”
LEARNING MOMENTS In Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray’s very well-educated opinion, there are no failures on the road to success, only a series of lessons waiting to be learned. Having had “many” of these learning moments in his career, he say the key is to “find the opportunity that can be hidden in these challenges.” One such challenge was the development of a strategic plan to articulate the university’s purpose and strengths. Started in 2015, the process took time, and a cultural shift within the institution, but the challenge was overcome. Summerby-Murray knew the process was working when people began articulating ideas in their own words, in ways that were consistent with the university’s broader themes.
ABT (ALWAYS BE TEACHING) As the president of Saint Mary’s University, Summerby-Murray’s daily task is to help create innovative minds and foster entrepreneurial mindsets across faculties. “We equip the next generation for the depth of knowledge and the breadth of understanding that will drive the future of the economy and society.”
SHARING IDEAS Saying that universities are essential venues for critical dialogue, Summerby-Murray is proud of how Saint Mary’s honours that role. “Movements such as Black Lives Matter and #MeToo help to heighten our understanding of social conscience and how we approach our teaching.” They also work to encourage immigration, noting that the connection between innovation and immigration is clear.
Federal-University #DataforGood hackathon a success
Students in the Master of Science in Computing & Data Analytics (MSc CDA) program at Saint Mary’s University developed the top three innovations at the recent Employment & Social Development Canada (ESDC) Hackathon.
Hosted at Saint Mary’s University in partnership with the Government of Canada, the ESDC Hackathon challenged participants to generate data-driven, creative ideas to help improve service delivery to low-income Canadians. The top three teams’ innovations addressed a variety of barriers to access, including wait times and lack of awareness of programs and services.
- 1st place - “Near Services”
Near Services is a platform that could improve access to ESDC services by helping individuals find information about benefits and programs relevant to them. “Near Services” is designed to be accessed online or at a variety of accessible locations, including schools, bus stops, and libraries.
Team members:
Rodolfo Garcia Barrantes
Olugbenro Selere
Mohannad Hameed
Daune Oliver
- 2nd place – “Golden Maple”
Golden Maple is an internet-based “decision tree” app designed to help individuals understand and access relevant programs and services.
Team members:
Jinal Salvi
Abhiraj Suryawanshi
Ranjit Mishra
Sankalp Bhagat
Florisha Taneja
- 3rd place – “Richer-Life System”
Richer-Life System is an internet-based app that could shorten wait times for ESDC services by prioritizing services based on an individual’s needs.
Team members:
Meghana Chillal
Navjot Kaur
Zhengyang Ma
Olufunto Akinyemi
The genesis of the Hackathon came from the mission of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to build a stronger and more inclusive Canada, to support Canadians in helping them live productive and rewarding lives, and to improve the quality of life for all Canadians. ESDC partnered with Saint Mary’s University’s MSc CDA to gather new ideas and seek expertise from the post-secondary sector.
“At Saint Mary's, we recognize the importance of working with our government partners on our shared goals, the betterment of our communities and our country,” said Saint Mary’s President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “We are very proud to partner with the Government of Canada to host this event. I look forward to seeing the innovation in service delivery that will come as a result of this competition.”
The ESDC Hackathon, which was held at Saint Mary’s University on May 4 to 6, was open to current undergraduate and graduate students and to those who graduated in the past 12 months.
Emploi et Développement social Canada - Saint Mary's University hackathon un succès
Les étudiants du programme de maîtrise en sciences informatiques et en analyse de données de l’Université Saint Mary’s ont proposé les trois meilleures innovations lors du récent marathon de programmation d’Emploi et Développement social Canada (EDSC).
Organisé à l’Université Saint Mary’s en partenariat avec le gouvernement du Canada, le marathon de programmation d’EDSC mettait les participants au défi de proposer des idées créatives axées sur les données pour améliorer la prestation des services aux Canadiens à faible revenu. Les innovations des trois équipes gagnantes s’attaquaient à divers obstacles à l’accès, dont les délais d’attente et la méconnaissance des programmes et services.
1re place – Near Services
Near Services est une plate-forme qui pourrait améliorer l’accès aux services d’EDSC en aidant les gens à trouver de l’information sur les prestations et les programmes qui sont pertinents pour eux. L’accès à Near Services peut se faire en ligne ou à partir de divers lieux accessibles comme les écoles, les arrêts d’autobus et les bibliothèques.
Membres de l’équipe :
Rodolfo Garcia Barrantes
Olugbenro Selere
Mohannad Hameed
Daune Oliver
2e place – Golden Maple
Golden Maple est une application sur Internet de type « arbre décisionnel » qui vise à aider les gens à comprendre les programmes et les services pertinents et à y accéder.
Membres de l’équipe :
Jinal Salvi
Abhiraj Suryawanshi
Ranjit Mishra
Sankalp Bhagat
Florisha Taneja
3e place – Richer-Life System
Richer-Life System est une application sur Internet qui pourrait raccourcir les délais d’attente pour les services d’EDSC en priorisant les services en fonction des besoins d’une personne.
Membres de l’équipe :
Meghana Chillal
Navjot Kaur
Zhengyang Ma
Olufunto Akinyemi
La genèse du marathon de programmation repose sur la mission d’EDSC de construire un Canada plus fort et plus inclusif, d’aider les Canadiens à mener une vie gratifiante et productive, et d’améliorer la qualité de vie de tous les Canadiens. EDSC s’est associé au programme de maîtrise en sciences informatiques et en analyse de données de l’Université Saint Mary’s pour recueillir de nouvelles idées et solliciter l’expertise du secteur de l’éducation postsecondaire.
« À Saint Mary’s, nous comprenons l’importance de travailler avec nos partenaires du gouvernement pour réaliser notre objectif commun, soit améliorer nos collectivités et notre pays, indique Robert Summerby-Murray, président de l’Université Saint Mary’s. Nous sommes très fiers de faire équipe avec le gouvernement du Canada pour l’organisation de cet événement. J’ai hâte de voir les innovations dans la prestation des services qui découleront de ce concours. »
Le marathon de programmation d’EDSC, qui s’est déroulé du 4 au 6 mai, était ouvert aux étudiants actuels de premier cycle et des cycles supérieurs et aux étudiants qui avaient obtenu leur diplôme dans les 12 mois précédents.
Honorary Degree: Rob Steele
Robert (Rob) G. Steele, Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
President & CEO, Newfoundland Capital Corporation Limited CEO, Steele Auto Group
Rob Steele
Recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's top chief executive officers, entrepreneur Rob Steele is a natural-born trailblazer.
With more than 18 years in the communications industry, Mr. Steele, a Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame inductee, also has an impressive record of success in the auto sales sector; he has built the region’s largest and most diversified automobile group.
Through meaningful and targeted philanthropy, Mr. Steele’s companies, Newcap Radio and the Steele Auto Group, support many charitable causes, and he is personally involved with the Alzheimer's Society, the Mental Health Foundation, Family SOS, Daffodil House, Feed Nova Scotia, and the Arthritis Society.
Committed to giving back to the community, Mr. Steele currently sits on the boards of Montreal-based Stingray Digital and Atlantic Signature Mortgage of Halifax. He also serves as a director of the Halifax Mooseheads and is on the advisory committee for Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia; he will be inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame in June of this year.
Mr. Steele is past co-chair of the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) event committee and continues to be involved with the ECMAs in an advisory capacity. He is also a former Halifax Metro Chamber of Commerce board member and former director of Advancement Nova Scotia, an advocacy organization designed to help build a stronger Nova Scotia economy.
Honorary Degree: Dr. Bernie Francis
Dr. Bernie Francis, Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa
Author, Linguist, Advocate
Dr. Bernie Francis
A thoughtful and passionate voice for the Mi'kmaw people, Dr. Bernie Francis, along with his mentor and friend, Doug Smith, helped preserve the Mi’kmaw language through an easy-to-learn orthography, which is officially recognized by Mi’kmaw chiefs across the province and by the Canada-Nova Scotia-Mi’kmaw Tripartite Forum.
Raised in Cape Breton’s Maupeltu (Membertou) First Nation, Dr. Francis initiated Nova Scotia’s Court Worker Program (CWP). Facing opposition and some harassment, he worked for five years to establish the CWP to ensure the fair and proper treatment of Mi’kmaw people within the provincial and federal court systems.
Dr. Francis, a Grand Chief Donald Marshall Senior Memorial Elder Award recipient, later introduced a Mi’kmaw Language Studies Program at Cape Breton University. He also visited First Nations’ communities across the Atlantic provinces, helping teachers produce curriculum materials.
An author of academic articles on Mi’kmaw law, Mi’kmaw spirituality, the conceptual differences of thought between Mi’kmaw People and Europeans and books explaining Mi’kmaw tradition and language, Dr. Francis has contributed to the Saint Mary's University community through participation in numerous colloquia, seminars, and conferences.
As a published storyteller and successful linguist, Dr. Francis has expanded people’s understanding of the Mi'kmaw language and geographical vision of traditional Mi’kmaw territory, including Nova Scotia. His work has contributed so much to the appreciation of Mi'kma'ki – even among his own people.
Pride has arisen in leaps and bounds, raising great hope for future generations of the First Peoples of this land, Mi’kma’ki!
Honorary Degree: Paul Gauthier
Paul Gauthier, Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa
Founder & President, Cole Harbour Foundation
Paul Gauthier
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native Paul Gauthier is one of Canada’s most successful entrepreneurs. As founder and president of the Cole Harbour Foundation, a non-profit focused on improving educational opportunities for children and youth, Mr. Gauthier has a close connection to Saint Mary's through the many students his Foundation has helped over the years.
The Cole Harbour Foundation supports the children and youth of Cole Harbour, from birth through university graduation. It provides thousands of free books each month for parents to read to their infants and pre-schoolers. The Foundation supports students through math and literacy tutoring and by offering classroom materials to teachers. And this year, the Foundation will award its 100th university scholarship.
Previous to launching the Cole Harbour Foundation, Mr. Gauthier was the chief technology officer at Groupon, where he worked to scale the global platform for local e-commerce. Before his time there, he co-founded Inktomi, a Silicon Valley-based software business that developed search engine technology employed by some of the world’s biggest brands. He was also a co-founder of Ludic Labs; there, he designed and developed a new class of online promotional tools.
With a bold and ambitious vision to protect The 100 Wild Islands along Nova Scotia’s eastern shore, Mr. Gauthier is also a strategic environmentalist. He donated what is believed to be the largest philanthropic gift to environmental conservation in Nova Scotia’s history.
Honorary Degree: Dominic Barton
Dominic Barton, Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa
Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company London-based
Dominic Barton
Dominic Barton, global managing partner of consulting firm McKinsey & Company, is committed to the internationalization of Canadian universities and colleges; he leads his company’s focus on the role business leadership plays in creating long-term social and economic value.
Author of more than 80 articles on business and society, the issues and opportunities facing markets worldwide, and other related topics, Mr. Barton is the chair of the Canadian Minister of Finance’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth and of the Seoul International Business Advisory Council.
A trustee of the Rhodes Trust and the Brookings Institution, Mr. Barton has received multiple accolades for his corporate leadership and contributions to the communities in which he has lived and worked.
Ahead of becoming McKinsey’s managing partner, Mr. Barton served as its Shanghai-based Asia chairman. Before that, Mr. Barton headed McKinsey's Korea office. In recognition of this work, he was awarded South Korea’s Order of Civil Merit and received the Singaporean Public Service Star.
Mr. Barton, an honorary fellow at Brasenose College and an adjunct professor at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, is also a member of the Singapore Economic Development Board’s International Advisory Council. He also serves on the boards of the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, Memorial Sloan Kettering, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and FCLT Global.
Graduate student team recognized for creativity at international competition
The Saint Mary's team
A group of four Saint Mary’s University students from the MBA, Master of Finance and Master of Applied Health Science Research programs have received a specially created prize for best creative AI idea at the International Graduate Competition this week in Montreal.
Students Stuart Clow, Soheil Ahmadi, Felix Han and Maxwell Poole travelled to HEC with coach, Dr. Chantal Hervieux, to take part in the International Graduate Competition. Competing teams included the National Chenochi University, Queen’s University, Universidad de Deusto, and RMIT University (Australia).
Although the Saint Mary’s team did not move on to the finals, they received very positive feedback from the AI industry professionals in attendance, who instigated the creation of a special prize for the top AI idea specifically for the Saint Mary’s University team. The proposed solution takes aim at Montreal’s complex pothole problem through a unique coupling of AI construction planning and novel private financing. The students may be asked to keep working on their proposed solution with the City of Montreal.
As well, Stuart was recognized as Best Team Player, for outstanding collaboration.
To register, the IGC requires a cross-disciplinary team (no more than two students from an MBA program). The Saint Mary’s team featured a skill portfolio in international business, strategy, finance and IT.
Collaboration is a key to this competition: for part of the week, students were grouped into their skill vertical to learn from each other. They then regrouped as a team to incorporate what they learned.
Saint Mary's team wins ‘Distinguished Delegation’ award for their work at Model United Nations
On March 29, the Saint Mary's delegation to the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York City, won a ‘Distinguished Delegation’ award for their work representing Bulgaria.
NMUN is the world’s largest Model UN, and can trace its founding back to the League of Nations. It is the only Model UN that takes place in the actual UN headquarters in New York, and sees 5,500 students from more than 130 UN member countries.
“It’s an extraordinary opportunity for students,” says Political Science chairperson Dr. Marc Doucet, “to get this kind of real-world experience, and interact with students from around the world.” Since Saint Mary’s first delegation in 2003, more than 200 students have attended, making the conference an opportunity to build international connections and gain a greater global perspective. This year was the most international Saint Mary’s delegation yet, with 21 students attending, from Canada, India, the Bahamas, Saint Kitts, Japan, and the UK attending. They represented fields of study including Political Science, International Development Studies, Economics, Sociology, and Business.
“It really strengthens our delegation because the UN is not solely political,” says Abby Dooks, a Political Science and International Development Studies student. “It deals with everything from education to human rights to business to economics, so you need that diverse expertise to understand the topics.”
This year, students visited the Bulgarian Permanent Mission to the UN, and met with diplomats at Bulgaria’s permanent mission to the UN, to discuss current global affairs and issues.
Dooks was attending this year for the second time. “The highlights were different from last year—this year it was really seeing other students achieve the same milestones I did last year, especially those were might have been nervous. One friend of mine was worried all year, concerned that she wasn’t going to be able to speak in front of the entire room, and so a highlight for me was when she did her speech and was just amazing. Those are the moments that make these experience so worthwhile.”
Three former athletes join the Saint Mary's Sport Hall of Fame
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Saint Mary’s celebrates new and existing Canada Research Chairs
Members of the Saint Mary’s University community formally welcomed the institution’s newest Canada Research Chairs (CRC), Drs. Ivana Damjanov and Mohammad Rahaman, and celebrated existing CRCs at a reception held today.
Created in 2000, the CRC Program invests $265 million per year across Canada to attract and retain the world’s best researchers in the fields of engineering, the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
“Whether investigating the consequences of low-wage practices on the worldwide economy or using the world’s most advanced telescopes to delve into details of galaxy formation and evolution, Saint Mary’s CRCs are making an impact on our world and on society’s foundational knowledge,” says Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice President of Academic and Research at Saint Mary’s University.
With the addition of Dr. Ivana Damjanov, CRC in Astronomy & Astrophysics, and Dr. Mohammad Rahaman, CRC in International Finance and Competitiveness, Saint Mary’s University is proud to host nine more Canada Research Chairs.
The following is a list of Saint Mary's University's Canada Research Chairs:
• Dr. Todd Ventura, CRC in Petroleum Systems, Geochemistry, and Reservoir Characterization
• Dr. Christa Brosseau, CRC in Sustainable Chemistry and Materials
• Dr. Marcin Sawicki, CRC in Astronomy
• Dr. Gavin Fridell, CRC in International Development Studies
• Dr. Karly Kehoe, CRC in Atlantic Canada Communities
• Dr. Kevin Kelloway, CRC in Occupational Health Psychology
• Dr. Najah Attig, CRC in Finance
• Dr. Ivana Damjanov, CRC in Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Dr. Mohammad Rahaman, CRC in International Finance and Competitiveness
Dr. Ivana Damjanov, Canada Research Chair in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dr. Ivana Damjanov, Canada Research Chair in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President, Academic and Research
Dr. Damjanov’s research involves using images and spectroscopic signatures of massive galaxies to follow the evolution of their stellar and dark matter content over 7 billion years of cosmic time. As Canada Research Chair in Astronomy and Astrophysics, she seeks to expand the spectroscopic and imaging surveys of galaxies to cover large areas of the sky and provide the highest-quality data. By carefully analyzing these information-rich datasets Dr. Damjanov and her team hope to reveal how the biggest building blocks of the universe form and evolve.
Dr. Damjanov is a Professor in the Department of Astronomy & Physics.
Dr. Mohammad Rahaman, Canada Research Chair in International Finance and Competitiveness
Dr. Mohammad Rahaman, Canada Research Chair in International Finance and Competitiveness and Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice-President, Academic and Research
Dr. Rahaman’s research is in the area of international finance, international competitiveness, corporate finance, and cross-country financial development. As Canada Research Chair in International Finance and Competitiveness, Dr. Rahaman is investigating how manufacturing and job losses induced by competition from low-wage countries are influencing the way capital is accessed in high-wage countries. His work will contribute to our understanding of how small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada can overcome their financing constraints and contribute to employment growth in our increasingly globalized and competitive world economy.
Dr. Rahaman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Finance, Information Systems, and Management Science.
Saint Mary's MSc student wins People’s Choice Award at Regional 3MT
Congratulating the Three Minute (3MT) Thesis Canadian Eastern Regional Competition winners including MSc in Applied Science student Molly LeBlanc (third from the right).
MSc in Applied Science student Molly LeBlanc won the People’s Choice Award and placed third at the recent Three Minute (3MT) Thesis Canadian Eastern Regional Competition. She has earned a spot at the national competition, which will be held virtually.
Canada’s 3MT competition challenges masters and doctoral students to effectively explain their research to an audience of non-scientists in three minutes. Over 40 graduate schools across the country host 3MT challenges, and the winning students compete at three regional levels (Western, Eastern, and Ontario) for a chance to represent their university at the national final.
MSc in Applied Science student Molly LeBlanc with her Three Minute (3MT) Thesis Canadian Eastern Regional Competition people’s choice award and third place certificate.
“The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) is proud to host the 3MT competition annually,” says Dr. Diane Crocker, Associate Dean of FSGR. “It provides an excellent opportunity for students to practice how to break down complex ideas into simpler terms and expand the audience for their research.”
LeBlanc won the 3MT challenge at Saint Mary’s University; MSc in Applied Science student Garland Xie was runner-up.
LeBlanc’s 3MT, “Not All That Glitters: Assessing Environmental Effects of Abandoned Gold Mines,” explains her research evaluating the environmental effects of mercury-rich mining waste in Nova Scotia using wetland insects. Garland Xie’s 3MT explains how he is evaluating plant root strategies to help green roof designers choose the proper plants.
"Being able to effectively communicate your research, especially to those outside your field, is such an important skill to develop,” says LeBlanc. “It is a challenge to be both accurate and engaging, especially with only 3 minutes, but that is what the competition teaches you to do. "
The National 3MT Competition is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Graduate Schools (CAGS) and will take place online. Videos of each competitor will be available for viewing on CAGS’ website on May 16. People’s Choice voting will be open for two weeks.