IMPACT Report - 2020
The power of community
As I begin my mandate as the new Dean of the Desautels Faculty of Management,听I warmly welcome you to our 2020-21 Impact Report, where we look back over the听past year and reflect on the collective challenges we faced and the milestones we celebrated in our mission to shape leaders of impact.
Having spent the last decades in academic leadership roles at Smith School of Business at Queen鈥檚 University, I took it for granted that I could teach, mentor,听conduct research, and lead face-to-face on campus. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge us to connect in new and unexpected ways, the power of听community has never been more evident, especially at Desautels鈥攁nd this is one of听the initial attractions for me in coming to this Faculty.
I owe my deepest gratitude to my predecessors, Morty Yalovsky听and Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, for laying such a solid foundation听upon which we can build an even stronger future. Their听predecessor, Peter Todd, was once my Queen鈥檚 colleague.听I thank him also. After the pandemic upended our world in听March 2020, the health and safety of the community was a top听Desautels priority. I know that nothing about that transition听to remote teaching and working was easy, but our teams at听Desautels worked tirelessly to ensure that students received听the high-quality instruction they have come to expect, including听additional support through:
Expanded course offerings during the summer semester;
- Personalized health and wellness care, educational听opportunities, and group activities;
- A new equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) unit to ensure听that every student feels affirmed and valued;
- Opportunities for students to work on projects geared听toward helping local organizations navigate the pandemic; and
- Virtual versions of networking and educational events,听including the annual Desautels career fair.
We also revamped our Faculty鈥檚 strategic plan after considerable听consultation with stakeholders. Going forward, we are committed听to three core priorities:
- Students
- Research excellence
- Community impact
We have committed to making measurable progress on these听three priorities by activating new initiatives and enhancing existing听ones that:
- Harness the power of McGill;
- Strengthen connections;
- Champion sustainability; and
- Advance equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
While I am still new to the role, I am already so proud of the ways听in which our donors, alumni, students, faculty, staff, and industry听partners have stepped up to lend support throughout this difficult听time. In the pages that follow, you will get a sense of the pivotal role听this community of talented, dedicated people plays in so many lives.
With your continued support, the Desautels Faculty of Management听will enter the post-pandemic era with renewed hope and confidence听in our mission.
听
Yolande E. Chan
Dean and James McGill Professor
