The Financial Times ranks Kellogg-Schulich executive MBA No. 1 in Canada
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The Financial Times of London ranked the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA (EMBA) at York University the number one EMBA program in Canada and 27th globally.
The Oct. 16Financial Times ranking marks the 11th straight year that the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program has been ranked number one in Canada.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program was ranked 27th globally and placed 11th among programs based in North America in this year’s Financial Times ranking.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program finished ahead of IMD, Stern and Columbia, and just behind the Kellogg School of Management, UCLA, Duke and London Business School.
Among Canadian-based programs, the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA placed well ahead of the other EMBA programs, including the one delivered by the Cornell-Queen’s EMBA, which ranked 50th; the Ivey EMBA, which ranked 60th; the Rotman School of Management, which ranked 67th; and the Queen’s EMBA, which ranked 76th.
Schulich Dean Deszo Horvath
“We’re proud to have once again been rated the number one EMBA program in Canada and one of the top 30 in the world,” said Schulich DeanDezsö J. Horváth. “Ever since the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program was established, it has been ranked number one in Canada by every single major global survey.”
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA ranked number one in Canada in the categories of Salary Increase, Career Progress, Aims Achieved and International Course Experience.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA also ranked among the top 25 in the world in the following categories:
• 15th in the world in the “Career Progress” category, which measures the changes in the level of seniority and the size of the company alumni now work in versus before their EMBA degree;
• 20th in the world in the “Research” category, which measures the number of articles published by the faculty in leading academic and business practitioner journals;
• 20th in the world in the “Aims Achieved” category (tied with Kellogg), which measures the extent to which alumni fulfilled their goals and reasons for doing an EMBA; and
• 21st in the world in the “International Course Experience” category, which measures the percentage of classroom teaching hours that are conducted outside the country in which the business school is located.
The Kellogg global network of EMBA partner schools collectively performed very well in this year’s ranking, with the Kellogg-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) EMBA Program placing first overall, the Kellogg-WHU Beisheim EMBA Program based in Germany ranking 23rd, the Kellogg EMBA Program finishing 26th, and the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA Program placing 27th.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA Program has been ranked number one in the world and number five in the world by The Economist in the two global EMBA rankings it has conducted, and was also the top-ranked program in Canada in each of those rankings.
New Faces: Schulich welcomes four faculty members
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The Schulich School of Business at York University welcomes four new faculty members this fall: Professors Charles Cho, Avis Devine, Brent Lyons and Gregory D. Saxton.
“The Schulich School of Business is proud to welcome these leading management scholars and professors to join our world-renowned faculty,” said Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth.
Charles Cho
Charles Cho
Charles Cho joins Schulich as a professor of accounting and Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business and Sustainability. He holds a bachelor of science in accounting, a master of science in accounting, and a PhD in business administration (accounting track) from the University of Central Florida. He has also worked for KPMG LLP and other public accounting firms in auditing and taxation.
His research interests include social and environmental accounting; corporate social responsibility; and accounting and the public interest. He has published papers in leading academic journals, including Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal; Accounting, Organizations and Society; Critical Perspectives on Accounting; European Accounting Review; and Journal of Business Ethics. He has also contributed chapters to several books. He has presented his work at national and international conferences, including the American Accounting Association’s Annual Meeting; the Canadian Academic Accounting Association; the European Accounting Association’s Annual Congress; and the International Congresses on Social and Environmental Accounting Research.
He currently serves as an accounting section co-editor for the Journal of Business Ethics and as an associate editor for Accounting and the Public Interest and Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. In addition, he serves on the editorial boards for 14 other academic journals. He is regularly invited as plenary keynote speaker at international conferences and is actively involved in the academic community as a Council member of the Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research and as Chair of the International Associates Committee.
He has taught financial and managerial accounting courses and has designed some CSR/sustainability and business ethics courses at the undergraduate and graduate (MBA, MSc, PhD) levels as well as for executive education programs for corporate managers.
Avis Devine
Avis Devine
Avis Devine is an associate professor of real estate with the new Brookfield Centre for Real Estate and Infrastructure at the Schulich School of Business. Previously, Devine was an assistant professor of real estate with University of Guelph’s College of Business and Economics. Prior to her academic career, she was the assistant vice-president in charge of commercial real estate underwriting and valuation for Dollar Bank, FSB in Pittsburgh, PA.
Devine has a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College, where she majored in financial economics, business administration and music (piano); an MBA from Duquesne University with a concentration in management; and a PhD in finance from the University of Cincinnati. Her research interests include sustainable and energy-efficient real estate; commercial real estate; multi-family housing; institutions; and emerging markets.
She has earned several research awards, including the 2016 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Award for Best Paper on Sustainability. Her doctoral dissertation was recognized with the 2014 Aareal Award of Excellence in Real Estate Research. Her sustainable real estate research has received much industry support, including consultative research funded by private investors and major corporations, and a grant from the European Public Real Estate Association. Her work has been featured in The Globe and Mail; Financial Post; Business Mirror; Commercial Property Executive; and Business in Vancouver. Her blend of industry experience and topical academic research makes her an in-demand executive educator, and she has been featured in The New York Times on the topic of real estate education.
Brent Lyons
Brent Lyons
Brent Lyons is an assistant professor of organization studies at the Schulich School of Business. Prior to joining York University, Lyons was an assistant professor of management and organization studies at Simon Fraser University.
He received his PhD in organizational psychology at Michigan State University in 2013. His research involves the study of stigma in organizations and how individuals with stigmatized social identities, such as disability, navigate their work and relationships to reduce consequences of stigma. Lyons has published his work in several top-tier journals, including Academy of Management Review; Journal of Applied Psychology; Journal of Management; and Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.
His research has been supported by multiple grants from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and he has received a number of research awards, most recently from the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race. He also serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Management, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Journal of Vocational Behavior.
Gregory D. Saxton
Gregory Saxton
Gregory D. Saxton is an assistant professor of accounting at the Schulich School of Business. Previously, he was an associate professor of communication at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York (SUNY), and an associate professor of public administration at SUNY, College at Brockport, and has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Singapore Institute of Management.
He has a PhD in political science from Claremont Graduate University (2000) as well as a PhD in accounting from York University (2016). He also has an MA in public policy from Claremont Graduate University, an MA in political science from McGill University, and a BA in political science from the University of Victoria. He has worked for the California state government and as a consultant to non-profit organizations.
Saxton’s research focuses on the role and effects of technology – especially big data and social media – on the flow of information to and from organizations, particularly nonprofit organizations. His research has been widely published in an array of highly ranked business and social science journals, including Accounting, Organizations and Society; Journal of Business Ethics; Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly; Journal of Communication; Public Administration Review; Australian Accounting Review; Information Systems Management; British Journal of Political Science; and Journal of Accounting and Public Policy.
He also serves on the editorial board of both Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly and Voluntaristics Review and has won Best Paper Awards from the National Communication Association; the International Communication Association; the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action; and the American Review of Public Administration.
Four deserving grads named Bryden Award recipients
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From left: Colleen Johnston, Abdullah Merei, Rudy Buttignol, J. Mark Lievonen
Now in its 17th year, the Bryden Alumni Awards celebrate outstanding York University alumni who have achieved the extraordinary and made remarkable contributions in their fields, communities and to the University. The four leaders who will be honoured Nov. 23 at a celebration at the Royal Ontario Museum are:
Colleen Johnston (BBA ’82), group head, Direct Channels, Technology, Marketing and Corporate & Public Affairs, TD Bank Group;
Rudy Buttignol, C.M. (BFA ’82), president & CEO, Knowledge Network;
Abdullah Merei (BA Sc ’09, MBA ’15), director, Compression Systems, Evertz Microsystems Ltd.;
J. Mark Lievonen, C.M. (BBA ’79, MBA ’87, LLD [Hon.] ’15), former president, Sanofi Pasteur Limited.
“This year’s Bryden Alumni Award recipients illustrate the endless possibilities for achievement that are available with a York University degree,” said Jeff O’Hagan, vice-president Advancement. “Our 2017 honourees embody York’s innovative way of thinking and join a distinguished list of over 70 Bryden recipients before them who continue to inspire us with not only their remarkable achievements and thoughtful leadership, but also their dedication and passion to making a lasting impact. Their exemplary contributions to society – both locally and globally – continue to inspire everyone here at York.”
This year, there are four categories of Bryden Alumni Awards, each category honours a distinct set of achievements and contributions.
Outstanding Achievement: An alumnus or alumna who has achieved distinction in their field and whose integrity and ability inspire alumni, faculty, staff and students.
Colleen Johnston
Colleen Johnston
Johnston (BBA ’82) is currently the group head of Direct Channels, Technology, Marketing and Corporate & Public Affairs at TD Bank Group.
Johnston joined the TD Bank Group in March 2004 as Executive Vice President, Finance Operations, after spending 15 years with Scotiabank in various senior positions. She began her career in 1982 with Price Waterhouse.
She received her chartered accountant designation in 1984 and in 2006 was elected a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA). The recipient of numerous top industry honours as a senior finance executive, she was recognized by Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women three years in a row and inducted into Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Hall of Fame in 2007. She was named “Best Chief Financial Officer” in October 2009 by Canadian Business magazine, and in 2011, for the third year in a row, was named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker. In 2012, Johnston was recognized as Canada’s CFO of the Year, an award that is presented annually by Financial Executives International Canada, PwC and Robert Half International. In 2013, she received the Catalyst Canada Honour in the Business Leader Category.
She is a board member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and sits on the advisory board of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Schulich School of Business at York University, a member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council, a member of the board of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and a board member of the Shaw Festival. At TD, she is actively promotes diversity in the workplace including the bank’s Women in Leadership Committee.
Tentanda Via: An alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated innovative, unconventional and daring leadership and success, reflecting the University’s motto – “The Way Must Be Tried”.
Rudy Buttignol, C.M.
Rudy Buttignol
Buttignol, C.M. (BFA ’82) is the president and CEO of British Columbia’s Knowledge Network Corporation, and president of the BBC Kids channel, a joint venture with BBC Worldwide. Since his appointment in 2007, Buttignol has led the transformation of the public broadcaster from a single television station to a mulit-channel digital media network.
Buttignol moderates annual documentary financing forums in Amsterdam and Leipzig; and is a tutor at the Berlin-based Documentary Campus Masterschool. He serves as a director on the boards of the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Britannia Mine Museum, and the Knowledge-West Communications Corporation; and is vice-chair of the Canadian Association of Public Educational Media. In 2011 he was appointed to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board. He is a member of the Order of Canada and has received of nine Canadian Academy Awards.
From 2000 to 2006, Buttignol served as TVO’s creative head of Network Programming. Concurrently, he was the executive producer of Saturday Night at the Movies, the international documentary series Human Edge, and the HBO special Before Their Time. Buttignol also founded the award-winning documentary series The View From Here, an international award-winning documentary series than ran for 14 seasons.
His commissions include documentaries such as The Corporation; Manufactured Landscapes; Allan King’s Dying at Grace; The Bodybuilder and I; McLuhan’s Wake; Bret the Hitman Hart; The Champagne Safari; Emmy winner Let it Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles; and Oscar-nominated Hardwood. Commissioned series include Diamond Road; Black Coffee; Empire of the Word; Michael Ignatieff’s Blood and Belonging; Korea, the Unfinished War; The War of 1812; and Emmy and Grammy-winner Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach.
Buttignol’s community volunteer time has been focused on board governance.
One to Watch: An alumnus or alumna who has made a significant impact in their field and/or community within 15 years of a bachelor’s degree or 10 years of a professional/ graduate degree.
Abdullah Merei
Abdullah Merei
Currently the director in the R&D department at Evertz Microsystems, Merei (BA Sc ’09, MBA ’15) leads the design, development, marketing and full deployment products and solutions for major broadcasting/media networks around the world.
His passion for technology was cemented when he moved to Canada in 2004 to attend York University where he earned his degree in Computer Engineering in 2009. He graduated first in his class with distinction and then went on to earn an MBA from the Schulich School of Business in 2015. While at York University, Merei volunteered on numerous student groups and served as the president of the Engineering Society for the 2007-08 academic year. He received the Allen Berg Award in 2007 and 2008 and a gold medal from the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. In 2015, Merei was the inaugural recipient of the Alumnus of the Year award from the Lassonde School of Engineering.
He created the Merei Family Scholarship, which makes an annual award to six students in engineering and computer science. Most recently, Merei provided seed funding to establish the Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (BEST) early stage venture program. He has also connected Evertz with the Lassonde Co-Op Program to give undergraduates the chance to gain experiential education experiences through work placements.
In his spare time, Merei is a mentor and role model to a number of Lassonde undergraduate students. He is also leading the startup of the Lassonde Alumni Network. Merei volunteers by mentoring startups in the technology industry.
Outstanding Contribution: An alumnus or alumna who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of York and its students through exceptional service, commitment and/or philanthropic contributions.
Mark Lievonen, C.M.
J. Mark Lievonen
Lievonen, C.M. (BBA ’79, MBA ’87, LLD [Hon.] ’15) is the former president of Sanofi Pasteur Limited, the Canadian vaccine division of Sanofi, which he joined in 1983. Under his leadership, Sanofi Pasteur became a billion-dollar enterprise in Canada, manufacturing more than 50 million doses of vaccines for both domestic and international markets.
Lievonen began his career in finance and rose through Sanofi Pasteur’s ranks, guiding the company through a number of significant milestones and initiatives. He spearheaded a cancer vaccine program in 1997 and supported the launch of a five-component pertussis vaccine.
Lievonen is a director of Oncolytics Biotech Inc., Quest PharmaTech Inc., the Gairdner Foundation, the Public Policy Forum and the York University Development Corporation. He is the past chair of Innovative Medicines Canada (formerly Rx&D), BIOTECanada, Ontario Genomics Institute and the Centre for the Advancement of Health Innovations. He was the vice-chair of Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and is a founding member and former vice-chair of YORKbiotec.
He is the former chair of the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation, an ex-officio member on the Markham Stouffville Hospital Board and has chaired the Healthcare Division of the United Way of Greater Toronto Cabinet. Lievonen is the founder of the Sanofi BioGenius Canada, a program that has given 5,500 students a chance to pursue projects in the field of biotechnology.
Lievonen holds a BBA and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. In 2015, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from York University. Lievonen is a chartered accountant was elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 2007.
Schulich professor wins research prize for paper on sustainable real estate investment
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Professor Avis Devine of the Schulich School of Business at York University has been awarded the 2017 Nick Tyrell Research Prize for her paper “Decomposing the Value Effects of Sustainable Real Estate Investment: International Evidence”. The paper’s co-author is Erkan Yonder of Ozygein University, Istanbul, who also received the award.
Avis Devine
The award was granted by INREV, IPF and SPR, and was announced Oct. 5.
The paper (available for download here) considers the effects of sustainable investment on the value and performance of listed real estate investment firms, comparing countries with and without mandatory environmental reporting on investment properties.
The findings suggest that environmental reporting requirements may facilitate improvements in the environmental performance of properties and enhance transparency.
“This paper develops earlier work, which was sponsored by the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA),” said Devine. “While evidence exists that REITs with a sustainable component to their portfolio outperform the competition, no research has shown how those sustainable properties are impacting firm value and performance.
“We decompose asset and firm-level activities to identify how the sustainable assets are impacting both asset and firm level cash flows, and do so in two countries with highly differentiated environmental reporting requirements.”
The paper was selected from a total for 23 submissions, and according to Paul McNamara, chair of the judging panel, the decision from the panel was unanimous in deciding the winner of the 2017 prize.
“This is a well-written paper tackling a difficult, topical issue. The authors have taken care to explain the implications of their results and I think the subject matter and findings should prove relevant to many of the sponsors’ members,” said McNamara.
New lab at Schulich to focus on business analytics
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The Schulich School of Business at York University and Deloitte announced Monday, Oct. 2 plans to create the Deloitte Cognitive Analytics and Visualization Lab, an innovative laboratory, supported by a leading data scientist, to foster advances in the visualization and interpretation of big data.
The new Deloitte Cognitive Analytics and Visualization Lab and the Deloitte Data Scientist position at Schulich will be established in partnership by Schulich and Deloitte as part of their joint commitment to building tomorrow’s leading talent in the field of analytics. The Deloitte Data Scientist position will support the lab and was made possible through a significant private investment from Deloitte. The lab and data scientist will be housed within Schulich’s future Centre of Excellence in Business Analytics, one of several Centres of Excellence to be located in the school’s new $50-million Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building, scheduled to open in late spring 2018.
“Ever since Schulich became the first business school in Canada to offer a management degree in business analytics, our school has been a global leader in analytics research and education. Deloitte, meanwhile, has been at the global forefront of utilizing data analytics to help businesses gain a competitive advantage,” said Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth. “Establishing the state-of-the-art Deloitte Cognitive Analytics and Visualization Lab at Schulich will enable both of our organizations to continue providing world-class expertise in business analytics.”
An artist’s concept drawing of the new building where the 800 square foot Deloitte Cognitive Analytics and Visualization Lab will be situated.
“Deloitte is committed to helping Canada understand and leverage analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing against a rapidly changing and complex business and economic environment to deliver financial, social and economic value,” said Anthony Viel, managing partner, Financial Advisory at Deloitte in Canada. “By sharing our industry experience, our globally recognized analytics team, and our ecosystem of resources, like our Greenhouse and relationships with Schulich we know we can together develop the next generation of business analytic talent and business leaders faster to make Canada better.”
“By taking a leading role in business analytics education and research, we will equip Canadian leaders with the in-demand skills they need to grow their businesses,” said Frank Vettese, managing partner and chief executive, Deloitte Canada. “Business analytics is a rapidly expanding field and the Deloitte Cognitive Analytics and Visualization Lab will uncover the insights and innovation we need to not only distinguish our leaders on the world stage but also drive Canada’s future prosperity.”
The approximately 800-square-foot lab will be designed to support teaching and research goals, as well as explore advances in predictive analytics, natural language processing, machine learning, analytics design and visualization, and data-based story-telling. It will be equipped with cognitive, data analytics and visualization technology, available to students and faculty in Schulich’s Master of Business Analytics program, Master’s-level programs, Executive MBA and MBA programs, as well as undergraduate business programs.
There is a high demand now for business leaders with the expertise to analyze and communicate trends, patterns and insights, quickly understand and navigate industry shifts, as well as to influence and drive change. Visualization techniques are the easiest way to translate very complex data into a form that is ready to be used by business executives to solve problems and plan for the future.
“Schulich is excited to work with Deloitte’s pioneering data analytics team to prepare future business leaders to visually interpret and communicate insights generated by big data collections,” said Murat Kristal, director of Schulich’s Master of Business Analytics Program. “Business analytics and data visualization are a potential game changer for every industry.”
The future Schulich Centre of Excellence in Business Analytics, of which the Lab will be the major component piece, will provide a focal point for industry outreach, collaboration, research and practical teaching. Once established, the Centre will be the business school’s fourth centre of excellence. Other centres at Schulich, which will all be located in the new building as of spring 2018, include: the Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure; the Centre for Global Enterprise; and the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business.
Schulich was the first business school in Canada to launch a graduate-level business analytics program in 2012. Graduates of Schulich’s business analytics program are in high demand and have been recruited by a wide range of companies, including Deloitte, Aimia, TD, Bell, Labatt, CIBC, and Statistics Canada.
Forbes ranks Schulich School of Business No. 1 in Canada
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Forbes magazine has ranked the Schulich School of Business at York University No. 1 in Canada and eighth in the world among two-year MBA programs outside the U.S.
Schulich was also jointly ranked fourth in the world among all two-year MBA programs (both U.S. and non-U.S.) in terms of “Years To Payback” – the length of time it takes a business school’s graduates to recoup their investment in an MBA degree.
The2017 Forbes “Best Business Schools” global survey ranked U.S. and non-U.S. schools separately, and among non-U.S. schools, it ranked one-year and two-year MBA programs separately as well. The ranking measured the Return on Investment (ROI) experienced by MBA graduates from the Class of 2012 five years after obtaining their degrees.
Forbes surveyed 17,500 MBA graduates from more than 100 business schools around the world and calculated the ROI using two different measures: Five-Year MBA Gain and Years to Payback. The first ROI measure, known as the Five-Year MBA Gain, was arrived at by determining average post-MBA compensation over a five-year period minus the costs associated with attending business school (tuition, fees and foregone salary). The Five-Year MBA Gain was then adjusted to account for cost-of-living expenses in different parts of the world.
The second ROI measure, known as Years to Payback, determined the average length of time it took for graduates to recoup their investment in an MBA degree.
“Forbes has once again rated the Return on Investment provided by a Schulich MBA degree as one of the best in the world,” said Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth. “Schulich was among the best two-year MBA programs outside the U.S. in the Five-Year MBA Gain category, and more importantly, our School ranked fourth among all two-year MBA programs in both the U.S. and outside the U.S. in the Years to Payback category.
According to the Forbes ranking results, Schulich had the highest Five-Year MBA Gain and the best Years to Payback among both one-year and two-year MBA programs in Canada. In terms of the Five-Year MBA Gain category, Schulich ranked eighth among two-year MBA programs outside the U.S., finishing behind London Business School, IESE and CEIBS.
Schulich graduates reported an average Five-Year MBA Gain of U.S. $48,700, which represented post-MBA compensation over a five-year period minus the costs associated with attending business school.
In the Years to Payback category, which measures how quickly graduates recoup their investment in an MBA degree,Schulich had a payback period of 3.5 years – fourth best in the world among all two-year MBA programs (both U.S. and non-U.S.). Only CEIBS, HEC Paris and London Business School ranked ahead of Schulich in the Years to Payback category.
Schulich graduates also experienced the highest percentage salary increase among all Canadian schools, with Schulich alumni from the Class of 2012 reporting a 160 per cent increase in average salary five years following graduation, according to Forbes.
“For MBA students, the Return on Investment they receive after graduating is a significant factor when determining the value of their degree,” said Horvath. “The latest Forbes survey captures an important statistical measure of the return on investment our MBA students can expect once they graduate.”
London Business School was ranked No. 1 by Forbes among two-year programs outside the U.S., while Wharton was the top-ranked U.S. MBA program and IMD was the top-ranked school among one-year programs outside the U.S.
Schulich names new building in honour of entrepreneurs Rob and Cheryl McEwen
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The Schulich School of Business at York University announces that its new graduate study and research building will be named in honour of Rob and Cheryl McEwen, long-time supporters of the school who are known for their leadership, entrepreneurialism and philanthropy.
An artist’s concept drawing of the new building
The naming of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building, which will open in late spring 2018, was celebrated Sunday during an unveiling ceremony at the new building’s construction site next to the Seymour Schulich Building on the Keele campus. Following the announcement, the McEwens joined York University President & Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, Schulich School of Business Dean Dezsö Horváth and other dignitaries and guests for a celebratory reception that featured an Innovation and Discovery Gallery showcasing the school’s Centres of Excellence and Research Office.
The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building will stand among the most environmentally sustainable academic buildings in North America and is a cornerstone element of the business school’s Leading Change fundraising and alumni engagement campaign, which aims to raise $50 million by 2021. To date, Leading Change has raised close to $35 million. Leading Change is an initiative of IMPACT: The Campaign for York University, which has a fundraising goal of $500 million with more than $350 million raised to date.
The McEwen’s $8-million donation is one of the largest gifts ever received by the Schulich School of Business. With this new donation, the McEwens have donated more than $10 million to the school.
Above: From left, Kathleen Taylor (MBA/JD ’84, LLD (Hon.) ’14), Judy Schulich, Rob McEwen (MBA ’78, LLD (Hon.) ’05), Cheryl McEwen, Dean Dezsö J. Horváth, York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, and Schulich Graduate Business Council President Alexandra Simpson
“The Schulich community is honoured and privileged to receive this valuable support from Rob and Cheryl McEwen, two of Canada’s most inspiring philanthropic and business leaders, who understand the critical importance of continued investment in leading management research and graduate education,” said Horváth. “The Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building, as part of the overall Schulich School of Business complex, will provide an ideal environment for faculty, visiting scholars, corporate and government leaders, as well as students and other stakeholders to collaborate and engage in new research discoveries, as our school continues to remain at the forefront of management education and research.”
“We are thrilled and so proud to have this opportunity to support the School’s new Graduate Study & Research Building,” said the McEwens. “As long-time members of the Schulich alumni community, we appreciate the transformational developments that have taken place at Schulich and that have helped it earn recognition as one of the world’s leading business schools.”
“Rob and Cheryl McEwen’s gift represents a milestone announcement in a number of ways,” said Lenton. “It is one of the largest gifts received by the Schulich School to date, and it will enable us to continue providing new, state-of-the-art spaces for our students, faculty and staff, creating the best possible environments in which to advance the world-class teaching, learning and research excellence underway here at York. We are deeply grateful to Rob and Cheryl, long-time friends and supporters of York University, for ensuring that Schulich remains one of the world’s leading innovators and global forces.”
From left: Rob McEwen (MBA ’78), Judy Schulich, York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton and Dean Dezsö J. Horváth
Rob McEwen, a former Schulich Graduate Business Council president who graduated with an MBA in 1978, is one of seven co-chairs of Schulich’s Leading Change campaign and sits on the Dean’s Advisory Council. The founder and former chairman and CEO of Goldcorp, McEwen is chairman and chief owner of McEwen Mining. Inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2017, McEwen was awarded the Order of Canada in 2007 and was named Canada’s Most Innovative CEO by Canadian Business magazine in 2006, among other honours. In 2005, McEwen received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from York University.
Cheryl McEwen is a community leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award for her contributions to advance research in regenerative medicine and stem cells. Her leadership roles include serving as vice-chair of UHN Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, which raises money for research, education and enhanced patient care. She is also an entrepreneur, having worked for 25 years within the fashion industry, and is the founder of Make My Day Foods Inc. and the creator and manufacturer of The Veggie Puck®, an organic, frozen and nutrient-dense vegetable mixture to add to drinks.
As philanthropic leaders, the McEwens have invested more than $50 million over the years in support of excellence and innovation within the health care and education sectors.
Designed by the award-winning international architectural firm Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, the 67,000 square-foot building will address the need for increased student study and social space, as well as accommodate growth in new academic programs and modern research facilities to accommodate the School’s growing research activity and research culture. Schulich’s Research Office and Centres of Excellence, including the Centre for Responsible Business, the Centre for Global Enterprise, the Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure, and a future Centre of Excellence in Business Analytics, will all be housed in the new building.
The building will include many technical features at the forefront of environmental sustainability in North America. It will optimize the use of solar energy and use shading devices to maximize daylight. A 27-metre high solar chimney will drive passive natural ventilation and pre-heat the air intake. The building will be among the very few in Canada to incorporate Thermally Active Building Systems – radiant heating and cooling. The building will also feature a green roof and rainwater recapture system, as well as a number of other leading-edge technical features.
Five York U professors elected to Royal Society of Canada
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The achievements of five York University professors have been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada, which elected these five into its ranks as Fellows on Sept. 7.
“York is delighted to see that five Professors – Russell Belk, Richard C. Hoffmann, Lesley A. Jacobs, Marcel Martel and David McNab – have been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada, as Fellows,” said Robert Haché, vice-president research & innovation. “This reflects the high regard in which York University’s academics and researchers, and York research, are held.”
The Royal Society of Canada Division of Humanities
Richard C. Hoffmann
Historian Richard C. Hoffmann, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), is the rare scholar who established a new subfield in his discipline. Through his internationally-renowned, prize-winning and pioneering scholarship, his mentoring of emerging scholars, and his networking and organizational activities, he has built the environmental history of premodern Europe. His collaboration with Austrian aquatic ecologists had an impact on public policy regarding the protection and management of indigenous fish species in a number of European countries.
David McNab
David McNab, Department of Equity Studies, LA&PS, is a renowned Métis historian and a leading authority in Canada’s movement to Reconciliation. His significant and innovative research on Indigenous Treaties, land, and resource issues in Canada is facilitating substantial return of land and resources or fair value compensation to indigenous people by governments. A prodigiously prolific scholar, his acclaimed scholarly publications and technical reports promote First Nations’ and Métis’ stories in Canada’s narratives.
The Royal Society of Canada Division des Lettres et Sciences Humaines
Marcel Martel
Marcel Martel, LA&PS, is a renowned historian whose research on collective memory, identity formation and French Canada has redefined the traditional boundaries of these fields. He is the recipient of numerous awards, and holds the prestigious Avie Bennett Historica Canada chair in Canadian history at York University. Martel publishes original scholarship in both French and English and his research is widely recognized for both its quality and impact on public policy.
The Royal Society of Canada Division of Social Sciences
Russell Belk
Russell Belk, Schulich School of Business, is a world leader for his work on the extended self, the meanings of possessions, collecting, gift-giving, sharing, consumer desire, and materialism. In addition to more than 600 articles, books, and videos, he has received a number of international awards and honorary professorships on several continents. He helped found the field of Consumer Culture Theory, the Consumer Behavior Odyssey, and the Association for Consumer Research Film Festival.
Lesley A. Jacobs, LA&PS, is Professor of political science and law and society at York University
Lesley Jacobs
and Director of the Institute for Social Research. He is an internationally recognized expert on human rights, equality of opportunity, and empirical studies of access to justice. His work has significantly impacted human rights policy and anti-racism law in Canada. His current research focuses on race-related data collection and meaningful access to civil justice.
For more information, visit the Royal Society of Canada announcement.
Passings: Schulich School of Business Professor Emeritus Wes Cragg
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On Saturday, Aug. 26, the Schulich School of Business lost one of its esteemed faculty members, Professor Emeritus of Policy and Business Ethics and a senior scholar, Arthur Wesley (Wes) Cragg.
Wesley Cragg
Professor Cragg served as a cross-appointed member of the Schulich School of Business faculty and York University’s Department of Philosophy since 1992, and he was appointed as the inaugural George R. Gardiner Professor in Business Ethics in 1992, a position he held until 2006.
Schulich School of Business Dean Deso Horvath invited Prof. Cragg to join York University in 1992 to develop a business ethics component for the MBA program at the Schulich School of Business, then known as the Faculty of Administrative Studies.
“Dr. Cragg’s work was pioneering at a time when business schools had historically embraced shareholder primacy and a purely economic view of the firm,” wrote Schulich School of Business Dean Dezsö J. Horváth in his note to the community. “The introduction of ethical considerations was initially met with substantial resistance, but he persevered, establishing himself as one of the world’s leading authorities in the field of business ethics.”
From 1992 to 2009, Prof. Cragg led the George R. Gardiner Program in Business Ethics as program director. He was also the project director and principal investigator for the Canadian Business Ethics Research Network (CBERN), headquartered at the Schulich School of Business. Funded by the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council and other donors, CBERN’s goal is to encourage, support and raise the profile of business ethics research in Canada by facilitating networking and dialogue of individuals working across the private sector, government, NGOs and academia. Prof. Cragg was also a senior fellow of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS) at York. He became the founding chair and president of the Canadian Chapter of Transparency International in 1996.
Prof. Cragg was a graduate of the Universities of Alberta and Oxford and an Alberta Rhodes Scholar. Prior to joining the Schulich School of Business, he was a professor of Philosophy at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.
He published more than 75 articles in Canadian and international journals, and has written or edited 14 books, including Business and Human Rights; Corporate Social Responsibility; Contemporary Moral Issues; The Practice of Punishment: Towards a Theory of Restorative Justice; and Ethics Codes, Corporations, and the Challenge of Globalization. His scholarly work has covered a variety of themes including corporate governance, corporate codes of ethics, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, environmental ethics, business and human rights, ethical investment, the ethics of extractive industries, and economic development affecting First Nations communities. He served on the editorial boards of several Canadian and international academic journals; The Journal of Business Ethics; Business Quarterly; and Interchange.
He has worked extensively with Natural Resources Canada, DFAIT, CIDA, a number of other federal government departments, and Export Development Canada. Mining and nuclear waste disposal issues have dominated his work as a private sector consultant and adviser.
He was a past president of the Canadian Philosophical Society and the John Howard Society of Canada, as well as a member of the choir of the Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora.
Memorial services have been set for Saturday, Sept. 9 at 10:30am at the Trinity Anglican Church, 79 Victoria Street, Aurora, Ontario. For more information, visit the Thompson Funeral Home website.
Schulich professor partners with industry leader to design innovative case competition
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Large-scale infrastructure projects are complex and require close coordination and cooperation between the public, private and civic sector. It’s for that reason York University Professor Sherena Hussain, of Schulich’s Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure, chose to structure a course around the subject of partnership models.
Schulich Professor Sherena Hussain
To better expose students to the complexity of a substantial infrastructure project, Hussain eschewed a traditional final exam, and instead organized a class project in the form of a case competition – with assistance from industry leaders.
Hussain partnered with Enbridge Gas and a panel of industry leaders to challenge students to come up with a partnership model for introducing sustainable public transit infrastructure powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Students were asked to form groups and put together a business case to answer questions like: how would we be able to introduce infrastructure facilitating CNG-powered public transit without fuelling stations; how can we fulfill sustainability objectives while also delivering a financial return for private partners; and how can partnerships evolve as new technologies emerge?
“Students were given the chance to think creatively, use their problem-solving skills, apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world, topical problem, and present it to a senior market leader,” Hussain said.
The panel provided feedback and ranked the business cases. For the top-ranking team, Enbridge donated a monetary prize and the opportunity to present their case to the president of Enbridge Gas at their Toronto office.
Designed by Hussain for Schulich’s Master of Business Administration and Master of Real Estate & Infrastructure programs to provide graduate business students foundational infrastructure training set in the real world, the case competition was a hit with the students. It is illustrative of why industry leaders are eager to bring Schulich graduates into their ranks.
