Share.Learn.Inspire.Transform
Dalhousie is celebrating 200 years and is heading into a third century of unimaginable possibilities and opportunities.
Over the coming months, CFAME Connection will revisit our rich and varied history, even as we reflect on the journey ahead. We belong to remarkable community that spans the globe. We invite you to join the conversation and share in the festivities.
This gracious, Georgian-styled building is currently occupied by the Chemistry Department.
Every university has a legend. Dalhousie is no exception.
On Dalhousie’s webpage that lists important dates for 2017 – 2018, Munro Day stands out as unique to Dalhousie University.
Every year on the first Friday of February, Dalhousie closes its doors to celebrate Munro Day. And for good reason. Without George Munro, Dalhousie University would merely be a page in a history book.
George Munro, born in 1825 near the once active shipping port of Pictou, Nova Scotia, did not attend Dalhousie, nor did he follow his first career choice of becoming a Presbyterian minister. Instead, he made his way to New York City and fulfilled his destiny in the printing and publishing business, amassing great wealth in the process. Even so, his loyalty and attachment to Nova Scotia prevailed. When Dalhousie faced extinction, his gifts of $330,000 ($10 or $11 million today) brought life and independence to the fledgling institution. George Munro endowed Dalhousie chairs in physics, history, political economy, English literature and philosophy.
The man who published romances, light fiction and an inexpensive story paper called “The Fireside Companion” recognized the power of education.
As we celebrate DAL200, George Munro’s legacy is a reminder that individual contributions to education, even those seemingly small, generate positive outcomes for society.
“It is our hope that the Dalhousie journey does not end with the completion of the program. Our graduates go on to do amazing things – academically, professionally and life altering. The relationships that evolve over the course of the academic years at Dalhousie are truly valued. As alumni of Dalhousie, graduates become part of a larger, global community.”
Michelle Hunter
Michelle Hunter
Associate Director (Administration
I take this opportunity, as we celebrate DAL200, to reflect upon my 25 years with Dalhousie University. I have witnessed many changes, been involved in countless exciting and challenging adventures and met thousands of wonderful people.
When I started with the Centre for Advanced Management, (originally OEPG), my role was to provide support to applicants and students of the MBA (Financial Services) program. I found my home! Over the years, I was honoured to provide “behind the scenes” assistance to individuals who embarked on a profound and robust academic journey.
In the beginning, the blended/distance program was a relatively new delivery concept to the Faculty of Management and Dalhousie. Together, our Faculty of Management team and incoming students demonstrated that high quality teaching and learning could be achieved without having a physical presence on campus.
The MBA (Financial Services) program, and later the MPA (Management), and Management of Information Management programs, offered working professionals with a unique opportunity to continue with their professional careers and personal obligations while achieving a post-graduate degree. Many students joined the program primarily for career advancement, however they soon discovered that the path to earning a degree presented much more: deeper learning, strategic thinking, confidence, a new way of looking at the challenges they face, and of course, life-long relationships. Recently, I was reminded of these enduring friendships, when I received a photo from a 1999 graduate, depicting a large group of fellow alum at a dinner arranged by the group without Dalhousie involvement.
Over the years, advances in technology have enhanced the delivery of CFAME programs. From facsimile machines to video conferences, live classroom sessions, webcasts, etc., what remained constant was the dedication to deeper learning, exploration and discovery, the staple of higher education. Students bring a vast amount of knowledge to the classroom, which strengthens the experience for everyone.
It is our hope that the Dalhousie journey does not end with the completion of the program. Our graduates go on to do amazing things – academically, professionally and life altering. The relationships that evolve over the course of academic years at Dalhousie are truly valued. As alumni of Dalhousie, graduates become part of a larger, global community.
The goal of CFAME Connection is to enrich the Dalhousie experience and keep our alumni relationships strong (knowledge sharing, deeper learning, building relationship, staying connected).
I want to send thanks to all our students, alumni and faculty for participating in the CFAME Connection conversation, and special thanks to Rebecca (MBA FS 2003) for making it all happen.
Michelle Hunter
Associate Director (Administration)
Centre for Advanced Management Education
January 2018