At the end of June, the W Booth School says goodbye to director Brian Baetz, who led the school from January 2021, a period that began during the global pandemic and included the rise of AI and other world changing events.
Throughout his tenure, Baetz created a workplace culture that enabled the school to thrive as part of McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering and the wider campus community.
Advancing Walter Booth’s mission
From the outset, Baetz focused on the vision of the school’s founding benefactor and namesake, Walter Booth.
“Walter’s vision of a university-based school dedicated to hands-on engineering and technology education remains consistent with the ongoing needs of students, employers and society at large,” says Baetz. “His kindness, work ethic, generosity and entrepreneurial spirit are an enduring inspiration for our school.”
In partnership with faculty, staff, students and community partners, Baetz built on this vision through an enhanced focus on pedagogy, scholarship, inclusion and community engagement.
Investing in people
“Brian’s core values, especially love of neighbour and care for the environment, stem from his childhood growing up in small-town Ontario,” says Richard Allen, Community Engagement Consultant at the W Booth School.
“He lived these values in how he guided our school with a gentle hand, generous heart, open mind and positive spirit.”
Brian’s impact lives on in the many faculty and staff members he helped develop and advance throughout their careers. His investment in people has helped ensure the next generation of leaders is well positioned to continue building on the school’s success.
Community at the centre
“Brian is a systems thinker with an eye on the big picture and opportunities for societal impact,” Allen continues. “Community engagement, a pillar of Brian’s lifelong work as an educator and environmentalist, was central to his mission at the W Booth School. It shaped his collaborative work with partner institutions, relationships with Indigenous communities, and efforts to help faculty and students ‘plug into’ real-world challenges found in Hamilton, our region and across our country.”
This outward-facing approach to developing well-rounded, work-ready graduates accelerated the growth of community-engaged teaching and learning at the W Booth School. It created additional pathways for students to tackle complex challenges facing our world, including climate change and planetary health.
Reflections from colleagues
We invited W Booth School faculty members to share their thoughts on Brian Baetz’s leadership and impact.
“Brian’s legacy is the people he has inspired. Through his leadership, mentorship and genuine care for others, he has helped shape not only the school but also the careers and lives of many colleagues. It has been a privilege to learn from and work alongside him.
One thing that always stood out to me was walking across campus with Brian. He seemed to know everyone, not only faculty and staff, but also the gardeners and custodians whose contributions often go unnoticed. He greeted each person by name and with genuine warmth. To me, that reflects the essence of Brian’s leadership: treating every individual with respect, kindness and appreciation.”
Zhen Gao, Associate Professor, Automation Systems Engineering Technology
“Brian has been a tremendous advocate for the W Booth School (SEPT) and its people. His leadership has helped create opportunities for faculty and staff to grow, earn recognition and pursue new initiatives. I am personally grateful for his mentorship, encouragement and support throughout his time in SEPT. His impact on SEPT, the Learning Factory, and the many people he has helped will be felt for years to come.”
Tom Wanyama, Associate Director, Graduate Programs (Effective July 1, 2026)
“Brian led with vision, served with humility, cared with sincerity and inspired with action. Because of his leadership, our school is not only different, but also better. His legacy lives on in the people and culture he helped shape.”
Seshasai Srinivasan, Program Chair, Software Engineering Technology
“Brian was not only an exceptional leader for his administrative skills, but he was also a leader who showed empathy to a degree that made you feel that you are with family. He deeply cares about the W Booth School family (staff and faculty), and their family members alike. To that, I am eternally grateful”.
Rashid Abu–Ghazalah, Program Lead, Biomanufacturing & Industrial Biotechnology
On behalf of the W Booth School community, we thank Brian for his leadership and unwavering commitment to our students, faculty and staff. We wish him every success in the next chapter of his journey.