The 17th MCM cohort arrived on McMaster University’s main campus over Thanksgiving weekend, at the peak of the beautiful fall colours to begin their two-year journey of discovery, engagement and debate about the future of Canada’s communications management profession.
Students presenting during wrap up day in Crisis Communications and Issues Management (COMM MGMT 741).
While our new students were undertaking a two-day orientation program, our MCM 15 and 16 students were attending “wrap-up day”, to discuss what they learned during their summer courses. While one group of students met with Professor Aislinn Mosher to finish her crisis communications and issues management course (COMM MGMT 741) other students wrapped up their negotiations and conflict resolution course (COMM MGMT 735) with Dr. Haniyeh Yousofpour, and yet another group met with Professor Martin Waxman to finish their Digital and Social Media Strategy (COM MGMT 742) course.
Dr. Haniyeh Yousufpourfard speaking to students in Negotiations and Conflict Resolution (COMM MGMT 735).
On Saturday night, the community met for our traditional MCM Fall Gala Dinner — the special gathering that marks the end of the previous year’s courses and celebrates the beginning of a new academic year. The Fall Gala Dinner was held at The Hamilton Club, with two-time Leacock award-winning author and McMaster alumni Terry Fallis providing a humorous keynote address and signing copies of his #1 best seller “A New Season.”
Program Director, Dr. Terry Flynn and Speaker Terry Fallis pose for a photo at the MCM Fall Gala Dinner held at The Hamilton Club.
Professor Adam Prokop providing students with guidance during their inital Financial Reporting and Management Accounting class (COMM MGMT 722).
First year students jumped right into Financial Reporting and Management Accounting with Professor Adam Prokop (COMM MGMT 722), while second-year students started their residency week with a marketing lesson from Professor Mo Dezyanian (COMM MGMT 724).
Professor Mo Dezyanian engages in discussion with students during Marketing Management (COMM MGMT 724).
Dr. Terry Flynn leads a discussion with first year students in Organizational Public Relations (COMM MGMT 711).
For the afternoon, first year students were introduced to the theories of public relations and communications with Dr. Terry Flynn (COMM MGMT 711), and second-year students began their deep dive into data and measurement with Dr. Alex Sévigny in his Data Science and Analytics for Communications Management course (COMM MGMT 744).
Students listen in as Dr. Alex Sévigny, APR leads a lecture during Data Science and Analytics for Communications Management (COMM MGMT 744).
On Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Alex Sévigny, APR, led our traditional Residency Nature Walk, exploring the beautiful trails in the forested conservation area on the edge of McMaster’s beautiful campus. Students enjoyed the spectacular fall colours and lovely views of Cootes Paradise, which is the westernmost point of Lake Ontario.
Veteran Canadian Red Cross Disaster Management Volunteer Guy LePage shares his experiences with the Red Cross and how to manage crisis communications in a disaster.
During Wednesday’s lunch we hosted our MCM Master Class, with guest speaker Guy LePage, retired broadcast journalist and Ontario government issues and crisis specialist. Since retiring, Guy Lepage has become a veteran Canadian Red Cross Disaster Management Volunteer. He first deployed in 2005 with the American Red Cross in Mississippi as a public affairs officer in response to Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Guy has deployed more than 20 times across Canada, the U.S., Haiti and with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Budapest, Hungary. In November 2021, Guy received the Order of the Red Cross, the highest award given to Red Cross volunteers.
On Wednesday evening, students, faculty, and staff gathered at the Phoenix Craft House and Grill, McMaster’s graduate student pub, to celebrate another fantastic residency of deep learning and relationship building. We were joined by Dr. Christina Baade, chair of the Department of Communication Studies and Media Arts, where the MCM program is based. Dr. Pamela Swett, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities also joined and shared in the experience.
During lunch on our last day, the MCM community welcomed Dr. Susan Tighe, McMaster University’s Provost and Vice-President (Academic), who gave a compelling talk about the university’s mission and commitment to the highest standards of education and training. Each MCM student in attendance introduced themselves, explaining their current role and the organizations that they worked with, as well as what the MCM program has done for them in their career. Dr. Tighe expressed her appreciation for the excellence of the MCM students and the diversity of their backgrounds and expertise.
Overall, our 17th Fall Residency was another exciting and engaging experience for MCM students, alumni, faculty and staff. By the end of the week, new friendships had been forged among the first year students and old friendships were celebrated among faculty staff, alumni and upper year students.
The MCM community looks forward to reconvening on a snowy McMaster campus in February 2024 for another MCM Winter Residency!
