As a new year emerges, YFile takes a look back on 2018 to share with readers a snapshot of the year’s highlights. “Year in Review” will run as a four-part series, and will feature a random selection of top news stories published in YFile. Here are the stories and highlights for July to September 2018, as chosen by YFile editors.
July
Can dementia be reversed? York U researchers say there may be a way
Researchers in York University’s Faculty of Health found that just 30 minutes of visually guided movements per week can slow and even reverse the progress of dementia. Those in the early stages of dementia who were exposed for 30 minutes a week to a cognitive-motor training game – which used rules to make visually guided movements – were able to slow down the progress of dementia and, for some, even reverse their cognitive function to healthy status.
York University PhD students Susan Chiblow, Leigha Comer, Rivka Green, Natasha Henry and Hannah Rackow have been awarded prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
York University celebrates recipients of prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
PhD students Susan Chiblow, Leigha Comer, Rivka Green, Natasha Henry and Hannah Rackow were awarded prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, receiving $50,000 annually for up to three years to support their research projects. Vanier Scholars demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and/or humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.
The Economist ranks Kellogg-Schulich EMBA No. 1 in Canada, No. 8 in the world
The Economist magazine ranked the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA eighth in the world and No. 1 in Canada in its EMBA ranking. The Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA program in the Schulich School of Business at York University has consistently rated among the top 10 in the world by The Economist in each of the three EMBA rankings it has conducted.
York researchers partner in $3.5-million refugee study
Four executive committee members of York University’s Centre for Refugee Studies were successful co-applicants and collaborators in the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Grant titled “Civil society and the global refugee regime: Understanding and enhancing impact through the implementation of global refugee policy.” The project’s total budget is $3.5 million, with the SSHRC contributing almost $2.5 million.
August
York University launches the President’s Ambassador Program
Designed to provide York students with a unique perspective on the University community, the President’s Ambassador Program offers opportunities for current students to serve as representatives of the University and to share their experiences as York students with fellow students, staff, faculty and alumni. Students selected for the program will attend a number of institutional and community events, including alumni receptions and government announcements.
Professors Jennifer Steele, Gabrielle Slowey and Joan Judge
Three York University professors earn York-Massey appointments
York University Professors Jennifer Steele, Gabrielle Slowey and Joan Judge earned Massey College appointments for the 2018-19 academic year. Steele, of the Faculty of Health, was awarded a York-Massey Fellowship, while York-Massey Visiting Scholarships were awarded to Slowey and Judge, both of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. The fellowship provides the selected faculty member with prime office space in the college for the academic year and the status of a full senior resident of the college, with all privileges enjoyed by senior Fellows. The title “York Fellow of Massey College” remains for life or while mutually agreeable.
York University announces 2018 Sport Hall of Fame inductees
York University Athletics & Recreation and the School of Kinesiology & Health Science welcomed four student-athletes, one coach and, for the first time in school history, a team as inductees into the York University Sport Hall of Fame’s class of 2018. This year’s inductees were: basketball player Mark Bellai, track and field athlete Craig Cavanagh, field hockey player Tammy Holt, rugby player Cheryl Phillips and tennis coach Eric Bojesen. The 1969-70 men’s hockey team will also enter the Sport Hall of Fame as the inaugural team inductee.
Allan Carswell
Stellar $3M endowment will help York students, community reach for the stars
With a galactic $3-million investment, made in partnership with York University Professor Emeritus Allan Carswell and the Carswell Family Foundation, York University will share the wonders of the universe with students, youth in the community and the public through the creation of a new Chair. The Allan I. Carswell Chair for the Public Understanding of Astronomy in the Faculty of Science, thought to be the first of its kind in North America, will be dedicated to science engagement and outreach. It will benefit students and the public through education and activities, involving telescopes at the Allan I. Carswell Observatory, as well as novel technologies such as virtual reality. The endowment will also support the York Science Communicator in Residence program to enhance student learning opportunities in science communications.
September
York Research Chairs Program expanding with competition this fall
Launched in 2014, the York Research Chairs Program (YRC) was developed as York University’s internal counterpart to the national Canada Research Chairs Program. The YRC recognizes outstanding researchers at York and is designed to build, support and intensify the world-renowned scholarship, research and creative activities at the University. The program expanded with seven centrally supported Chairs available and there will also be up to two additional Chairs linked to the Vision: Science to Applications Canada First Research Excellence Fund program.
Five York University professors elected to the Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) elected four York University professors to its ranks as Fellows and one professor as a member of the RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists & Scientists. The University’s newest members of the RSC are Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Professors Wenona Giles and Joan Judge of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and Professor Paul Sych, as well as Osgoode Hall Law School Professor David Vaver. Lassonde School of Engineering Professor John Moores has been named a member of the RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists & Scientists.
York leads experiential education pilot program in Ontario high schools
York University’s Faculty of Education is leading an experiential education pilot project in high schools across Ontario that aims to build students’ capacity for civic action. The Youth in Politics (#YiP) Project, led by Nombuso Dlamini and co-led by Uzo Anucha, both associate professors at York University, hypothesizes that student-facilitated and student-structured civic activities encourage parental election interest. The project supports and builds the civic capacity of students to engage parents in local governance issues, using the school board trustees election as a case study.
Jean-Michel Lemieux, senior vice-president of engineering at Shopify, with Rhonda L. Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of York University
Shopify and Lassonde School of Engineering partner to offer innovative computer science degree program
A new partnership that reflects the future of experiential learning brings an innovative model of education to York University. York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering has partnered with Canadian commerce company Shopify to bring a visionary education opportunity called Dev Degree to the Greater Toronto Area for the first time. The unique program embeds students directly into development teams at Shopify through a paid internship that culminates with a unique honours bachelor of computer science degree. Shopify also pays the students’ tuition for the full four-year program.
Check back in the next edition of YFile for Year in Review: Top headlines at York University, October to December 2018.