The Schulich School of Business community came together on Sunday, Oct. 21 to celebrate the official completion of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building. This campus expansion was one of the five major pillars of Leading Change, Schulich’s most comprehensive fundraising and alumni engagement campaign to date.
Pictured, left to right: Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth, Cheryl McEwen and Rob McEwen
The ceremony was attended by more than 300 guests, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Master of ceremonies John S. Hunkin (MBA ’69, Hon. LLD ’04) welcomed guests and the ceremony started with speeches given by York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth, Rob McEwen (MBA ’78, Hon. LLD ’05), Cheryl McEwen and Graduate Business Council President James Prince (MBA ’19). “This building will help keep Schulich ahead of the curve and at the forefront of business education and research,” said Dean Horváth.
“Schulich is all about excellence and attracting faculty and staff who are the most highly qualified people in their fields,” said President Lenton. “By linking our commitment to access, excellence and strengthening our outreach not only locally but globally, we continue to increase and magnify impact many times over.”
The Schulich community came together to celebrate the official completion of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building on Oct. 22
Rob and Cheryl McEwen, longtime supporters of Schulich who are known for their leadership, entrepreneurialism and philanthropy, also believe that the building will propel Schulich to the forefront of business education globally. “I think this building will ignite an explosion of collaborative research, innovation and a generation of Canadian leaders that will propel Canada into the 21st century,” said Rob McEwen.
With a solar chimney, extensive green roofs and rainwater capture systems, the newly opened facility is one of the most environmentally sustainable academic buildings in North America.
Guests enjoyed exploring and learning more about the features and programs in the building through experiential, behind-the-scenes journeys, including an architectural and art walking tour, presentations from the Centres of Excellence, a deep dive into Schulich’s research world, and a meditation session in the new Colleen and Brian Johnston Wellness Suite.
The evening concluded with a reception honouring Dezsö Horváth’s 30th anniversary as dean. Throughout his 30 years of leadership, Dean Horváth has been pushing forward an agenda that has been changing the course of business education. As the world’s longest-serving dean, he has helped turn Schulich into a leading global business school and a global thought leader in various areas of management education.