The Alumni Association will help the University accomplish its three primary activities -research, teaching and community service - through participating in governance, acting as a vocal advocate and supporting fund-raising.

The Alumni Association will act as an agent for alumni involvement within the University, within the activities of the Association and in external activities representing the interests of the Alumni Association.

The Alumni Association will recognize the achievements of alumni, students and friends of McMaster University, and reward outstanding contributions to the Alumni Association.

The Alumni Association will provide products, services and benefits that renew and invigorate alumni affinity with the University.

The Alumni Association will undertake appropriate and timely communication with alumni to inform them of issues affecting the University and the Alumni Association, and to facilitate communications among alumni. The Alumni Association will initiate and pursue an appropriate and timely dialogue with senior officials and faculty of the University.

The Alumni Association will encourage current students to become involved in, and assist with activities of the Association to forge an early link with future graduands and it will encourage a lifelong association with the University primarily through the activities of the Student Relations Committee.

It has been a privilege to serve as MAA president over the past two years. I have come to know more fully what an incredible community of graduates we have - full of pride for their institution, ready to mentor and help the next wave of young graduates make their mark, shaping industry and society through important contributions in their work and their volunteerism. From meeting alumni one on one at events and through the extensive alumni engagement survey we undertook in 2015, I’ve truly gained an appreciation for this diverse and talented community of graduates. Through the survey, you let us know what was important to you in your student experience, how you like to stay informed and what ways you stay connected to your alma mater. We took all those learnings and have ensured that your interests are addressed in the 2016-2020 McMaster Alumni Strategic Plan. The Association’s overarching goals are to serve its university and increase the engagement of alumni through relevant programming and communications. The demographic of our members and their needs and preferences are ever-changing. As I move to my role as past-president and hand the presidential reins to my successor, long-time MAA volunteer, Don Bridgman ’79, I am confident in the continued vibrancy and strength of this Association, and that you, our graduates will continue to be a source of pride and delight.

What a team! When I’m asked to reflect on the year that’s passed I consider the collective efforts of a talented group of staff and an enthusiastic group of volunteers who together bring to life the mission of the Association. They are starting point for the plans and ideas of how best to engage alumni of the university, and our rich, diverse community of alumni with whom we interact and get to know make my job, the best job I can think possible!

This past year, we launched a number of exciting initiatives. Our continued evolution in the world of digital is evidenced with interesting uses of our online networking tool; and the impressive uptake on our online mentoring platform. We continued to build memories with student engagement and recent traditions like the President’s Levy and Light up the Night. Our students and our graduates inspire and foster my ever-increasing sense of pride in the teaching, learning and community engagement that is fostered at McMaster, and we are only too happy to recognize amazing accomplishments of remarkable members of this McMaster family. The Board of Directors of the MAA has laid out ambitious plans for the next five years in the new strategic plan. I hope you will find we’ve addressed your interests and needs in this plan and that you’ll join us in participating in our vibrant, productive and engaging community of alumni.

Networking:
Key accomplishments towards this goal include the establishment of a new online mentoring program - the McMaster Alumni and Partners Advisor Network as well as a new online networking tool, Brazen. Together these platforms have connected hundreds of alumni with each other and with students.

Community Engagement:

• The expansion of MACServe Day of Service to multiple cities in Canada and the offering of MACServe alumni service trip increased participation of alumni in service and drew awareness to needs in our communities.
• Increased recognition opportunities for service oriented alumni with the Global Impact Award.
• Fostered Hamilton pride and participation in local events through new partnerships for cultural events such as HPO and AGH Film Festival.

Methods: Made effective use of new technologies including Google Hangouts, introduced new website content management system and online registration system, social sharing tool and significantly increased the amount of video content shared. A digital strategy was established while traditional methods were confirmed where audience preferences and continued demand warrant.

Target Audiences: Identified key audiences from incoming student, through student experience, transition to alumni, young alumni, and for established alumni. New programming for incoming students addressed new communication preferences (social media) with FlatMAC, new young alumni programming addresses career, professional, social and intellectual needs of grads within 10 years of graduation. Segmenting communications and offerings tailor a grad's connection with McMaster to what’s happening in their lives.

Connection to Leaders: University, Student and Alumni leaders continue to be featured in alumni events and more broadly shared now with expanded digital programming opportunities.

Content: Increased digital programming demands timely, relevant content for our audiences. Areas of focus for content continue to evolve around promoting a welcoming, social and supportive community for incoming students, life after mac preparation and enhanced student experience for current students; career assistance for new and recent alumni; to research and innovation stories as well as pride fostering stories of McMaster, student and alumni success across all audiences.

Program Review, Theme & Educational Content: Educational content is a primary focus of the majority of all of our programming, with priority given to drawing on McMaster speakers. Programming is regularly reviewed and adapted to changing demands and trends - ie. replaced Student Send-Offs with FlatMAC program.

Measurement Tools, Metrics, Survey: To enhance reporting, evaluation and enhancement of our programs we implemented the Net Promoter Score surveys consistently for alumni events and programming. The Alumni Engagement Score was established as a benchmark for ourselves tracking alumni event participation, volunteerism and giving. The alumni engagement survey provided rich data to compare progress in areas since the first survey conducted in 2009 as well as predictive modelling for non-respondent alumni to better serve alumni based on their behaviours and attitudes (reported and predictive). The MAA annual report continues to share broad measures on performance of the program to the alumni and McMaster communities via email and our website.

The MAA has always been ready to help students through the pressure cooker of exam period – with snacks and highlighters in the Library, Exam Care Packs from home or the offer of a quiet study space in Alumni House. Not to mention sharing encouraging words and compassion ; ) The latest expression of our support uses social media to reach out to students on campus who are in need of some extra fuel to keep those eyes open and those brains focused. After receiving a tweet with their desired ‘wish’ (snack or drink), members of the OAA deliver the wish – wherever the student is tucked away on campus studying. We delivered over 200 of wishes in 2015/16 to many thrilled, grateful, surprised and sleepy students. It was a pleasure to help our awesome students along the way to achieving their goals!

The Albert Lager Lecture Series is a fixture of the alumni program for the last 21 years. So much so, it may no longer attract attention as it quietly goes about engaging life-long learners with its steady offerings of unique and varied topics and speakers. The unique new research facility located within the Psychology Building, the LIVELab was the venue of featured events in the 2015-16 series. The LIVELab’s performance theatre was packed with alumni in November to hear and see how its technology can measure an audience participant’s physiological response to music. In this case, it was the McMaster University Choir that performed while guests learned of the sophisticated systems that were measuring the relationship between music, sound and human behaviour.

Volume 3 of the history of McMaster, “A Chance for Greatness” is the product of many years of planning, interviews and research. Three-time graduate, Dr. James Greenlee authored the volume that reveals the impact and influence of many of whose names grace the buildings familiar on campus. Gilmour and Thode for example would lead McMaster towards the path of research intensity that continues to be a notable strength of the institution today. Covering the period of 1950s through to our centennial year, 1987, the release of the book was celebrated with a launch and talk by its author and those who were instrumental in seeing it come to fruition.

A native of Hamilton, Jennifer Bennett is Canada’s senior ranking reserve officer and the Royal Canadian Navy’s first female rear-admiral. She has over 40 years of distinguished service in a variety of positions with Canada’s Naval Reserve, including Commanding Officer of HMCS Malahat and the Naval Reserve Basic Recruit Training Detachment, Director of the Ottawa detachment of the Canadian Defence Academy, Director of Education and Training Policy, Director of Reserves and Commander of the Naval Reserve, in addition to maintaining a career as an elementary and secondary school teacher and administrator. Jennifer Bennett was promoted to her current rank in April 2011 and appointed as Canada’s Chief of Reserves and Cadets shortly thereafter. She was recently promoted from Officer to Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Canada’s highest military honour for meritorious service and leadership.

Director and Senior Scientist of the McMaster Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute, Dr. Bhatia is a recognized leader in human stem cell biology and applications.

An author, film actor, film technician, inventor and humanitarian, Jock Brandis and a team of volunteers formed the non-profit Full Belly Project.

Dr. Gordon Guyatt is one of the leaders in a world-wide movement designed to help physicians and other health care professionals to use evidence-based medicine to improve their patient care decisions.

Barry Hill is a registered professional engineer, respected and award-winning farmer, founding President of the First Nations AgriGroup and the first Indigenous lecturer at Six Nations Polytechnic.

‘Resourceful’, ‘caring’ and ‘giving’, William Kosar has built a reputation as a world-leading advisor and academic in public law and international relations. He has wide-reaching experience supporting governments and private companies across a broad range of geographies far flung from his native Canada, including Afghanistan and the Middle East, Rwanda, South Sudan and Somalia. He previously worked on policy development at Rwanda’s Ministry of Justice, where he also developed its legal support unit and has drafted over 40 laws for South Sudan’s Ministry of Legal Affairs & Constitutional Development. After completing a year as the Senior Legal Consultant for Somalia on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Governance Committee of the Federal Government of Somalia, William Kosar now works in Mogadishu for the World Bank as an embedded legal advisor in the Somali Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. He lives in a small fishing village on Kenya’s north coast.

In the short time since graduating from McMaster, Arnav has maintained a tradition of philanthropic leadership. Now, a second-year medical student at the University of Toronto, he oversees over 26 community engagement programs as Vice-President Community Affairs for the Medical Society, and is an active leader in over a dozen programs both within and beyond the University of Toronto. He spearheaded various community-focused initiatives since graduation, from contributing to Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS) position papers, to seeking a formal partnership for a student-led U of T program with the City of Toronto, to co-leading the organization and promotion of several international health and marginalized population health-focused conferences. His energy has carried him to be an ambassador through ground-level involvement as well, assisting with conducting screening exams for kindergarten students, facilitating presentations to empower immigrants and refugees with knowledge on how to access the healthcare system, and providing one-on-one mentorship to undergraduate students interested in pursuing healthcare professions in both Hamilton and Toronto. Arnav has contributed as a co-author to over 30 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, position papers and other peer-reviewed publications. A number of his co-authored works have also featured in prominent journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), and European Urology.

Melissa Andre is the owner and Creative Director of Melissa Andre Events (MAE) - a leading full-service special events planning and design firm currently based in Toronto with frequent travel to Los Angeles. Awarded for producing some of the most imaginative and luxurious celebrations worldwide, Melissa has garnered an industry-wide reputation for her widely-published work and unparalleled design portfolio. MAE’s international celebrity client list includes DRAKE, GQ, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, THE WEEKND, DSquared2, RocNation, Lacoste, Guerlain, Ronda Rousey, and Reebok. With over a decade of experience, her unique ability to add an originative and unforgettable edge to a brand or artist’s event is what has made her work so recognizable. Melissa has elevated the notion of entertaining into an art and the exclusive-nature of her work has made her one of the most sought-after event designed in the world. Her work has been featured in numerous premier industry, wedding, lifestyle, entertainment and consumer publications.

When Serena Bufalino graduated from teacher’s college, she spent a year working and volunteering in detention centres, group homes and mental health hospitals. After working in Canada’s largest detention centre, Serena felt she needed to intervene with at-risk youth before they entered the corrections system. The Toronto District School Board’s Section 23 program provided her that opportunity. With Section 23, Serena teaches and advises at-risk youth who are living with mental health issues, severe past trauma, learning disabilities or addiction. After seeing and learning about the consequences of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Serena’s students were inspired to help. They decided to build a school. As a result, Serena guided her students in establishing a partnership with an organization called Third World Awareness to found the Haiti School Building Project. Together, the students raised more than $100,000 to fund of a new school in Canaan, Haiti. More than 50 orphans of the earthquake now attend the school. Serena was nominated for the 2014 Excellence Award for Teaching, a national award, as well as the Toronto Star’s Teacher Award. In 2015, she and her students were recognized for completing more community service hours than any other class in the GTA.

Tammy is a proud Hamiltonian, Mac Alum, start-up cheerleader, and realist. She currently works for the City of Hamilton in Economic Development's Global Hamilton Office helping immigrant and newcomers start and expand businesses in Hamilton. She's also passionate about supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs through her other ventures, CoMotion Group Inc. and CoBuild Hamilton Inc. As part of the founding teams for both companies, CoMotion Group operates coworking spaces in Hamilton with the largest located at 115 King Street called CoMotion on King. CoBuild is Hamilton's only industrial co-working space located at 391 Victoria Avenue North providing small businesses, artisanal makers, and builders a space where they can share resources and build cool stuff. Tammy is an active participant within the community, a group facilitator, and super connector in the Hamilton area.

Krishna has built and managed multiple sales desks for multiple firms, servicing clients in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, dealing with all aspects of operations as the head of America’s Sales for Portfolio Valuations & Regulatory Solutions at Bloomberg, L.P., a global financial information and news leader. Before entering Wall Street, Krishna was the founder and CEO of Southern Ontario Sports Inc., a non-profit firm specializing in sports marketing and management. Krishna is also an active proponent in the academic community, as a Member at Large on the Board of Directors with the McMaster Alumni Association and as President of the Graduate School Alumni Society at Pennsylvania State University. Currently, he hosts and produces the New York City-based television and web series “STATE OF MIND with Krishna C. Nadella”, a discussion program that explores the relevant social, economic, and political issues associated with post-secondary education.

Sara is in her first year of the Masters in Global Health program, specializing in Global Health Management. Having completed her undergraduate degree also at McMaster, Sara has consistently been involved in various initiatives and groups throughout her undergraduate career and continues to do so as a graduate student. Sara's passion for supporting first-year students into university led her to various opportunities, including being a Residence Orientation Representative and Events Coordinator for the Horizons Leadership Conference. Sara dedicated her time to community building and improving the student experience as a Community advisor, where she was the recipient of the Dr. Phil Wood Community Impact Award for leadership across Residence Life. Within the classroom, Sara was a laboratory teaching assistant, where she worked tirelessly to guide students from a variety of academic backgrounds through first year biology. Sara continually shares her passion for McMaster with other students and visitors through her role as a campus tour guide and helping to lead MacServe service learning groups to represent McMaster in New Orleans and Dominican Republic. Sara's dedication is also evident through her commitment to COPE: A Student Mental Health Initiative for 4 years through various leadership positions, during which COPE recognized as Club of the Year and Social Issues Club of the Year.

Sifat Syeda is graduating with a double major in Economics and Political Science with a Business Studies Certificate. During her time at McMaster, she contributed to countless volunteer and leadership initiatives. Sifat was involved with the McMaster Economics Society for three years, including her time as President when her team received recognition as MSU Academic Club of the Year. She was also a member of the executive team for the MSU Shinerama & Terry Fox team, acting as Sponsorship Coordinator one year and Programming Assistant the next. During this time, the Shinerama Campaign raised well over $150, 000, placing McMaster as the largest post-secondary fundraising school in Canada. Sifat was a Peer Conduct Advisor for the Office of Student Conduct, a Student Representative for MSU Advocacy Street Team, a Mentor for the International Student Services, and an Orientation Leader for the McMaster Social Science Society Rep Team. Outside the university community, she volunteered as the Community Outreach Assistant for the Canadian Cancer Society in the Mississauga Office. Sifat also had the opportunity to participate in McMaster’s service-learning trips abroad, travelling to the Dominican Republic to teach English to elementary school students and to New Orleans to work with Habitat for Humanity on a housing project along with other McMaster students.

Andrew Nguyen, who is graduating with a degree in Biology, has been involved with many volunteer roles that relate to his interests over the course of his undergraduate career. He cares deeply about his cultural heritage and has been heavily involved with the Vietnamese community through his work as a President and Vietnamese translator with the McMaster Vietnamese Students’ Association and the McMaster Language Buddies respectively. He also developed a hobby for insects through his work as a Research Assistant studying social behaviour in fruit flies in the Dukas lab as well as entomology at the Queen’s University Biological Station. Andrew enjoys helping other students with their transition to university and has been involved with many roles that facilitate that transition including being an Academic Skills Coach for the Student Success Centre, a 4th year Representative for the McMaster Biology Society, a Welcome Week Representative for the Faculty of Science and a SWHAT Walker and Dispatcher for the MSU.

Shaina McDonald, who is graduating from the Honours Social Psychology program, has contributed to the Faculty of Social Sciences through various key roles. Within the McMaster Social Sciences Society, she has served as a Welcome Week representative, third year representative, Social Psychology mentor and most recently, as the Vice-President Programming. She also served as the President of the McMaster Social Psychology Society. For the Office of Experiential Education, Shaina has held positions as a student ambassador, a student representative on the Experiential Education Governing Council, a research assistant, and a Program & Engagement assistant. Similarly, she performed as a student scholar for the McMaster Institute for Innovation & Excellence in Teaching & Learning (MIIETL), working on a community engaged education research project. Shaina was chosen to serve as the undergraduate student representative on the Selection Committee for the Dean of Social Sciences. She was also active as a volunteer mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton & Burlington.

Terry Cooke joined Hamilton Community Foundation as President & CEO in January 2010, bringing to the job his leadership abilities, his wide-ranging experience, and most important, his passion for Hamilton. Of his role, Terry says “I am awed by the generosity of spirit of the thousands of donors who make the Foundation’s work possible. Each and every day our city is made better through their giving, and enables HCF to make innovative investments in areas as diverse as poverty reduction, education, arts and the environment.” He is both a champion for HCF and for our city. Prior to joining Hamilton Community Foundation, Terry was president of Cooke Capital Corporation, a management consulting firm focused on leadership, strategic planning and government relations. He previously served as president and chief operating officer with the Foxcroft Group of Companies in Hamilton, and is perhaps best known for his term as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth from 1994 to 2000. He began his career in 1983 at the Ontario March of Dimes, leading the development of housing and support service programs for disabled persons in over 20 communities across Ontario. Terry has served extensively as a community volunteer with a number of charitable and other organizations. He is a past chair of the Canadian Urban Institute, and currently serves on the Community Foundations of Canada board of directors, and on the boards of a number of corporate organizations, including Northgate Properties, and the LPF Infrastructure Fund. Terry is a McMaster University graduate and lives in Hamilton. An avid athlete, he enjoys squash, basketball and running, and has completed numerous marathons including New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C.

Alyssa graduated with an alliterative degree from McMaster: a B.A. (Hons) in Communication Studies, Theatre and Film Studies. An aspiring media professor, she sees the trees for the forest in the path to academia. Her curiosity leads her down the rabbit hole, where she explores news reporting, web and graphic design, photography, public relations in the non-profit sector, and more. In her journey to build her career toolkit, Alyssa has written for CBC Hamilton, stage managed for a touring LGBTQ dance theatre show, and more. Alyssa came to Canada in 2008 as an international student and caught the volunteering bug during her second year of university. It took her on many learning trips abroad and locally. She has never looked back. Through volunteering, Alyssa found herself in the nonprofit world, a sector that has helped her thrive personally and professionally. Working in public relations, she utilizes various communication channels and techniques to highlight the important work of different community organizations in the city. She feels honoured to work for Information Hamilton, the Hamilton Children's Choir and the Hamilton Community Foundation. Outside of her day jobs, Alyssa volunteers with several groups. She's a board member of the Bay Area Restoration Council and a founding member of two young professional groups. As the vice chair of Hamilton HIVE, she collaborates with other young professionals and key stakeholders in the city attempting to attract and retain young talent in Hamilton. A true Gen Y-er, she has many online selfs. You can learn more at about.me/alyssaglai

Andy Duncan of the McMaster Class of ’74 and Curt Heckaman of the Class of ’80 are well known and well appreciated around the McMaster campus as the men who have led and sustained the Graduate Students Association (GSA) Summer Softball League for a decade and a half. Before Andy and Curt assumed their current roles, the GSA Summer Softball League was already a McMaster fixture from May to August every year. Likely founded more than half a century ago, the league developed a truly inclusive cohort of players with graduate students comprising approximately a quarter of the league and McMaster staff and alumni also providing strong contingents. Undergraduate students, faculty, family and friends also participate, making the GSA Summer Softball League one of the McMaster community’s most fully integrated activities. As strong as the league is now, however, its survival has often been precarious. Mr. Duncan and Mr. Heckaman assumed their positions as the volunteer coordinators of the league at one of those times. They now administer a vibrant 40-team, 600-player league. They coordinate field maintenance, steward the league’s partnership with the University administration, coordinate parking arrangements for league players, schedule umpires, provide equipment, facilitate the social aspect of the league and ensure that all of the organizations supporting the league – the GSA, the Phoenix, Athletics & Recreation, Facility Services, Parking & Security and the Department of Physics & Astronomy – are all fully engaged partners in the league’s success. Of course, Andy and Curt are also players. They are the Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista of the Semper Fly team.

Andy Duncan of the McMaster Class of ’74 and Curt Heckaman of the Class of ’80 are well known and well appreciated around the McMaster campus as the men who have led and sustained the Graduate Students Association (GSA) Summer Softball League for a decade and a half. Before Andy and Curt assumed their current roles, the GSA Summer Softball League was already a McMaster fixture from May to August every year. Likely founded more than half a century ago, the league developed a truly inclusive cohort of players with graduate students comprising approximately a quarter of the league and McMaster staff and alumni also providing strong contingents. Undergraduate students, faculty, family and friends also participate, making the GSA Summer Softball League one of the McMaster community’s most fully integrated activities. As strong as the league is now, however, its survival has often been precarious. Mr. Duncan and Mr. Heckaman assumed their positions as the volunteer coordinators of the league at one of those times. They now administer a vibrant 40-team, 600-player league. They coordinate field maintenance, steward the league’s partnership with the University administration, coordinate parking arrangements for league players, schedule umpires, provide equipment, facilitate the social aspect of the league and ensure that all of the organizations supporting the league – the GSA, the Phoenix, Athletics & Recreation, Facility Services, Parking & Security and the Department of Physics & Astronomy – are all fully engaged partners in the league’s success. Of course, Andy and Curt are also players. They are the Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista of the Semper Fly team.

Dr. Alenia Kysela is the executive director of medicine for the western zone of the Nova Scotia Health Authority, a new structure consolidating nine district health authorities into one. As a part of the senior medical leadership team, she is working to strengthen the medical governance structure in the province, as a part of the organization’s overall goals to provide safe, high quality health care to patients, and to ultimately improve provincial health outcomes.

Annette Trimbee is the President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Winnipeg, formerly serving as Deputy Minister of Service Alberta, Deputy Minister of Treasury Board and Finance, Treasury Board and Enterprise, and Advanced Education and Technology in Alberta.