Skip to McMaster Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to main content

Supporting student success at McMaster

Championing initiatives that support student development, student life and successful student outcomes is the priority for Arlene Fajutrao Dosen, McMaster's new director, student success.

April 26, 2021

A photo of Arlene Fajutrao Dosen smiling
Championing initiatives that support student life and successful student outcomes is the priority for Arlene Fajutrao Dosen, McMaster’s new director, student success.

Championing initiatives that support student development, student life and successful student outcomes is the priority for McMaster’s new director, student success.

Arlene Fajutrao Dosen will take on her new role later in May building on a long and distinguished career at McMaster where she is currently the director of outreach and engagement for the Faculty of Engineering. She is also a McMaster graduate with undergraduate and Master’s degrees encompassing Arts and Science, Labour Studies and the Work and Society program.

“I am excited to welcome Arlene to the Student Affairs team”, said Sean Van Koughnett, Associate Vice-President (Students and Learning) & Dean of Students. “Arlene’s leadership experience at McMaster, and commitment to seeing our students thrive make her ideally suited for this role.”

As Director, she will work collaboratively with all student support units, Faculties, and community partners, along with our student groups, to create learning opportunities that strategically support McMaster students’ personal, academic, professional, and career aspirations. Her role encompasses oversight of the Student Success Centre, The Forge (in partnership with the Office of the Vice-President Research), and the Wilson Leadership Scholar Award.

Fajutrao Dosen succeeds Gina Robinson, who will be retiring next month after a 22-year career at McMaster, and who has been Director of the Student Success Centre since it was established in 2010.

Three people stand in a library, smiling.

Innis Library opens in McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery

McMaster University’s beloved business library is on the third floor of the McLean Centre.
Students in white clothes, led by one with blue hair, pull at a rope during a Welcome Week tug of war.

In photos: Welcome Week 2026

Hundreds of student reps. Thousands of incoming students. More than 140 events. Here are some scenes from Welcome Week 2026.
Autumn scene on McMaster University campus with students walking along a tree-lined street surrounded by colourful fall foliage and flowers.

Welcome to an exciting new term: A message from President Susan Tighe 

We enter this new school year with great momentum, as the energy of the incoming class fills our campus and reminds us why we’re here, writes President Susan Tighe.