For Margaret Zanel, stepping into the role of president of the McMaster Alumni Association is less about taking on a new title and more about continuing a relationship that began years ago.
A proud McMaster graduate with both a commerce degree and an MBA, Zanel says her time on campus shaped how she leads today.
“It was a formative period in which I learned how to think, lead, and work with others toward shared goals,” she says.
The lessons she carries forward are rooted in collaboration, resilience and knowing “when to step forward and lead, and when to step back and support others.”
A commitment to service and stewardship
Zanel’s path to alumni leadership reflects a deep commitment to giving back. As a member of the McMaster senate and the Strategic Oversight Committee, which oversaw the creation of the Bolder Together strategic plan, she is comfortable representing graduates at the university level, something she sees as both a privilege and a responsibility.
“For me, governance is stewardship,” she says. “It is about service and working with others to position an organization for long-term success and impact.”
That sense of responsibility extends to the broader alumni community. With more than 250,000 graduates worldwide, she is focused on ensuring their voices are heard as McMaster continues to evolve.
Strengthening connections across generations
Looking ahead, Zanel sees an opportunity to strengthen alumni engagement at every stage of life. It starts early, she says, by building pride in being part of the McMaster community while students are still on campus.
“We need to start the pride of being a member of the alumni community early in a student’s journey, and continue well past convocation,” she says, noting that engagement can take many forms, from mentorship and lifelong learning to volunteering and giving back.
For Zanel, alumni are central to the university’s impact far beyond campus: “Every alumna or alumnus who leads with integrity, mentors and supports the next generation, innovates in their field, or gives back to their community is an extension of what this university stands for.”
As she begins her term, her focus is clear: building meaningful connections and ensuring that McMaster’s alumni community remains strong, engaged and connected for years to come.