The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) marked its 50th anniversary with an open house in the FGS Dean’s Office on Wednesday, March 26. The open house was followed by a reception in the Kaneff Tower. Faculty, students and staff dropped by to help FGS Dean Barbara Crow and staff celebrate the anniversary.
Among those in attendance at the reception were York University President Emeritus H. Ian Macdonald, FGS Dean Emeritus David Leyton-Brown (1992-1999) and FGS Dean Emeritus John Lennox (1999-2005), Vice-President Academic and Provost Rhonda Lenton, Deans Nöel Sturgeon (Faculty of Environmental Studies), Lorne Sossin (Osgoode Hall Law School), Dezso Horváth (Schulich School of Business), Shawn Brixey (Faculty of Fine Arts) and Interim Dean Donald Hastie (Faculty of Science). University Librarian Cynthia Archer, Vice-Provost Academic Alice Pitt and Vice-President Research and Innovation Robert Haché also attended the event.
In her opening remarks, Crow emphasized that while FGS was marking the milestone by looking back at where graduate studies at York has been, the celebration was also about looking to the future.
“The Faculty of Graduate Studies continues to be a tremendously exciting place to study and work,” said Crow.
Lenton addressed the crucial role that FGS has played from the beginning in the development and establishment of a vibrant and innovative research culture at York University. The first graduate students broke new ground for York as they contributed their talent and expertise to the research being conducted on campus, said Lenton. She added that today, graduate students make up the largest body of active researchers at York. The University’s graduate population exceeds 6,000.
“Our graduate students win tens of millions of dollars in scholarships and grants each year, awards that recognize their academic excellence, their research accomplishments and potential, and their commitment to sharing their knowledge and skills within the university and out in the world,” said Lenton.
Crow also reminded guests of the outstanding achievements of FGS graduates, including Steve MacLean, former head of the Canadian Space Agency, the late Jack Layton, the former leader of Canada’s Official Opposition, Dan Riskin, the host of Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet, Sheldon Levy, the president of Ryerson University, and Jennifer Keesmaat, the chief planner for the City of Toronto.
Both the open house and the reception were opportunities for the York community to share in the celebration of the successes of FGS during the past 50 years. As part of the recognition of this milestone, a 42-foot timeline has been installed in the hallway leading to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and a commemorative publication has been produced.
Source: Faculty of Graduate Studies website.