Ryerson Alumni - 2018 Summer - 20

FEATURES

GR AD UATE
DEGRE ES
OVE R THE
YE ARS

When Ryerson was
granted full university
status in 1993, it opened
the door for graduate
programs and funded
research. In the 25 years
since, graduate studies
has exploded, with new
programs being added
almost every year. Here's
how it has changed.

Dave Valliere leads an MBA class at the
Ted Rogers School of Management.

reflecting on these individually and with peers, not only supports
professional practice, but also builds stronger communities. "It's
a way of being," she says.
W H E N T H E D M Z launched in 2010, it was not yet the flagship of
an entire zone learning ecosystem. In under a decade, Ryerson's
model of entrepreneurial education has grown to encompass incubators for student-led businesses in fashion, design fabrication,
clean energy, and a half-dozen other realms. The DMZ was just
one floor at 10 Dundas St. E. when it started, but the energy was
already there.
It's 6:15 p.m. at the Fashion Zone, and Shahad Mahdi (Retail
Management '17) is wrapping up for the day. The Fashion Zone
provides an interdisciplinary and collaborative space for entrepreneurs in an industry that is so often outsourced. Mahdi's startup,
Black Orchid, offers clothing and accessories that combine Islamic
culture with modern design: tops, pouches, phone cases, and other
items featuring colourful, stylish depictions of Muslim women.
"The brand has really grown on social media," says Mahdi. "I've
met artists on social media and through networking events, and
we've collaborated on creating the images of women I'm trying
to represent."
At 70, Ryerson is experiencing a period of extraordinary growth,
but it occurs in a time of global unease. As it looks ahead, the university's goal is nothing less than to make a better world. Black
Orchid was conceived in 2015 and incubated under the shadow of
Donald Trump. "After that, people wanted more than ever to see
Muslim women represented," says Mahdi. "I've gotten a lot of positive responses from Muslim women in the U.S. specifically. I've
also experienced hate-people throwing ignorant comments about
the images I put out there. But usually my audience responds to
that, and it creates a dialogue to educate people."

Ryerson University Magazine / Summer 2018

2003
First
doctoral
students
admitted
2010
The DMZ
at Ryerson
University
opens
2012
The Mattamy
Athletic
Centre
opens
2015
Student
Learning
Centre opens

NEW PROGRAMS

Master's
programs (2018)
-
15 PhD
-
9 Professional
Master's
Diplomas
-
2,660 Students
(Fall 2017)
-
958 Graduate
teaching faculty
(as of March
2018)

Master
of Health
Administration
(Community
Care)
-

Financial
Analysis
PMDip

FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL
SCHOLARSHIPS
(2017-18)

266

Distinguished Visiting
Professors (AS OF MARCH 2018)

First three graduate
programs started

2001

FIRST MA
RECIPIENTS
Eight received
a Master
of Spatial
Analysis
degree

2000
2008

FIRST PHDS
Yifeng He
in Electrical
Engineering, and
Felix OdarteyWellington and
Kate Cornell, both
in Communication
and Culture

SOURCE: YEATES SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

6:4 6 P.M.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ryerson Alumni - 2018 Summer