50th Anniversary Gala
In May 2015, the Faculty of Science hosted a gala to celebrate the many successes and achievements of the past 50 years.
“I am delighted to celebrate the wonderful occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Science. At the heart of any research-intensive institution is scientific discovery, and York University is no exception. The Faculty of Science is situated quite literally at the heart of our campus, and the innovations of this Faculty over the course of its history at York have given life to some of our most celebrated accomplishments as an institution.”York University President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri
More than 160 attendees, including staff, faculty, retirees, students, alumni and friends of the Faculty, came to raise a glass to the rich history and the contributions York University has made in the sciences. Award-winning CBC journalist Piya Chattpoadhyay acted as master of ceremonies for the evening. The gala was held at the Bellvue Manor.
“This is a wonderful time of celebration and renewal for the Faculty of Science. As we raise a toast to five remarkable decades of discovery, learning, innovation, engagement and impact, we are inspired to reach for even greater heights in the years and decades ahead.”Faculty of Science Dean Ray Jayawardhana
Then, following remarks by Vice-President Academic and Provost Rhonda Lenton, past deans of the Faculty were recognized with special awards for their roles in steering the Faculty of Science through its expansion (and number of name changes) over the years to what it is today.
Past deans honoured at the gala were:
- Kenneth Davey, 1982 to 1985;
- Robert Prince, 1994 to 2001;
- Gillian Wu, 2001 to 2006;
- Nicholas Cercone, 2006 to 2009;
- Walter Tholen, 2009 to 2010;
- Janusz Kozinski, 2010 to 2012; and
- Donald Hastie, 2012 to 2014.
Staff recognized for their long service with the Faculty of Science:
- Nikolaos Balaskas
- Michael Belanger
- Marlene Caplan
- Deborah Freele
- Carolyn Hempstead
- Helen Jung
- Liberata Lancia
- Primrose Miranda
- Suzanne Park
- Carol Weldon
Faculty honoured for their long service with the Faculty of Science:
- Norbert Bartel
- Dawn Bazely
- Nantel Bergeron
- Sampa Bhadra
- Krystyna Bugajska
- Novelyn Dayal
- Michael De Robertis
- Pali Delaney
- Ruthanna Dyer
- Geoffrey Harris
- Donald Hastie
- Michael Hempstead
- Eric Hessels
- Marko Horbatsch
- EJ Janse van Rensburg
- Thomas Salisbury
- Jan Sapp
- Stanley Kochman
- Roman Koniuk
- Roger R. Lew
- Neal Madras
- Kim Maltman
- Hélène Massam
- Marshall McCall
- John McDermott
- Georges Monette
- Laurence Packer
- Peter Peskun
- William Pietro
- Alfred Pietrowski
- Pierre Potvin
- Norman Purzitsky
- Joel Shore
- Colin Steel
- Juris Steprans
- Bridget Stutchbury
- Dennis Stynes
- David Tanny
- Walter Tholen
- William van Wijngaarden
- Stephen Watson
- Asia Weiss
- Walter Whiteley
- Palia Wilson
- Augustine Chi Mou Wong
- Jianhong Wu
- Yuehua Wu
- Stanislaw Jerzak
- Hans Raj P. Joshi