If you ask President Susan Tighe about her favourite moment in her time at McMaster, the answer is immediate: MC-ing the 2024 solar eclipse.
Standing on the football field, surrounded by more than 5,500 students and community members at a full-day celebration of science, Tighe was in her element.
Community and connection are always top of mind for Tighe, who marked the start of her term as president and vice-chancellor with an informal gathering for faculty and staff on campus this week.
Here are some scenes from the event:
Chancellor Santee Smith’s brief welcome remarks touched on some of Tighe’s accomplishments as McMaster’s provost.
“This is amazing,” Tighe said, looking around at the room packed with well-wishers.
“This is what makes this place special – the people.”
Susan Tighe and Jacquie Hampshire from Student Services.
Rokhsana Jamal chats with a colleague at the strawberry social event.
“I look forward to talking to all of you and really being a champion for this institution, because we have a lot to be proud of, and I will be happy to carry that flag,” Tighe said.
MSU executive and President Susan Tighe.
Student leaders and athletes joined the strawberry social event, a celebration of summer and new beginnings.
Facility Services, Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs, Media Production Services (MPS) and Athletics and Recreation partnered to create a themed mini golf course.
Using turf from Athletics and Recreation, construction by staff in Trades, design and layout by MPS, the course highlights not only landmarks on McMaster’s campus, but also Tighe’s career path to Mac, her work as an engineer on the concrete of Highway 407 and – of course – her beloved dog, Coconut.
Mac the Marauder tries his hand – talon? – at mini golf.
Campus celebrity Mac the Marauder joined the event, and even swung a putter!