“A life-changing experience” is how Stacy Joseph (’93), President and CEO of Beam Semiconductor and an Engineering & Management alumnus, described his time in the McMaster program – just over 30 years later.
Joseph was one of several graduates, spanning from the 1970s to the 2020s, who returned to campus on September 20 to celebrate and speak about the 50th anniversary of the interdisciplinary program that blends engineering and business education.
Despite graduating in different decades, alumni shared remarkably similar reflections on their experiences. “We were learning how to problem-solve under pressure and turn challenges into opportunities,” said Brittany Robertson (’13), Partner and Director of Development at Crozier.
Stephen Elop, tech industry leader and current Chair of McMaster University’s Board of Governors, added, “The background we got was fundamentally important. It served me well.”
Program co-directors Paul Snowdon and Vince Leung spoke about the program’s enduring legacy, emphasizing that its strength lies in its people: students, alumni, faculty and industry partners. With approximately 175 attendees, the event was filled with plenty of opportunity for meaningful connections and sharing of memories.
Hearing from influential alumni across five decades was a powerful reminder that the skills and community we’re building now translate into real impact, and it made me even more excited to carry that forward.
McMaster President and Vice-Chancellor Susan Tighe, herself a civil engineer, highlighted how Eng & Mgt graduates embody the university’s approach to education – breaking barriers, shifting expectations and embracing a truly unique learning experience.
L.W. Shemilt Distinguished Alumni Award
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the L.W. Shemilt Distinguished Alumni Award, named after the Faculty’s second Dean. Established in 2006, the award honours engineering alumni whose accomplishments and contributions are of national or international significance and have had a transformative impact on their field.
This year’s recipient was Lisa Brown, a 2003 Mechanical Eng and Mgt graduate. Brown is a strategic operations executive and transformation specialist, currently serving as Vice-President of Transformation & Digital at AtkinsRéalis. Her career spans energy services, infrastructure, and digital innovation, and she is known for building high-performance teams and driving meaningful change.
Beyond her professional achievements, Brown is deeply committed to community and governance. She serves on McMaster’s Board of Governors and the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her contributions have been recognized with the Arch Award, inclusion among the Faculty of Engineering’s Top 150 Alumni, and a nomination for the YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Making a match in support of students
In honour of the occasion, alumni Marlene Lenarduzzi, ‘92 and Bruce Watson, ‘91 generously pledged to support McMaster students and match every dollar donated to the McMaster Engineering Experiential Learning and Travel Fund, up to $25K.
The fund, established in 2022 by Engineering alumni to fund undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering, has provided numerous experiential learning and travel opportunities that augment classroom learning.
“Let’s support the next generation of innovators!” said Lenarduzzi at the event, rallying her peers. And her words certainly made an impact. Thanks to the generosity of alumni leading up to and during the event, $5,410 was raised towards the $25K Double Your Impact Matching Challenge.
Current Civil Eng & Mgt student, Nariman Hassan, who is also the co-president of the McMaster Engineering and Management Society, was in attendance and felt the anniversary was like “stepping into the program’s living history.” She said: “Hearing from influential alumni across five decades was a powerful reminder that the skills and community we’re building now translate into real impact, and it made me even more excited to carry that forward.”
