I hope you had a wonderful winter. On and around campus, we had more snow than we have had in years. It was a beautiful sight – from inside my office.
As we head into spring, we look forward to warmer weather, a vibrant campus, and significant annual events like Waterloo Ready day when we meet our incoming class, Reunion 2025 when we welcome our alumni back to campus, and June Convocation when we celebrate the hard work of our students and newest alumni!
Each of these events is an occasion to celebrate our remarkable and growing Environment community. It should come as no surprise then that we have chosen “community” as the theme for ENVision 14.
In this issue, we tell the stories of Environment community members and how they have impacted and been impacted by the communities in which they live and work. It features some new and familiar faces, such as Rex Auyeung (BES ’77), undergraduate student Yasseen Mobada, Glen Schnarr (BES ’74), Oluwabamise Afolabi (PhD ’25), Partners for Action and Environment professor, Dr. Leah Jones-Crank.
Thank you for being part of the Environment community. I hope you enjoy the stories and updates in this issue of ENVision. Please stay in touch.
Planning alum Rex Auyeung (BES ’77) is the Chairman of Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Corporation Limited in Hong Kong. He takes us behind the scenes of one of the most efficient and sustainable transit corporations in the world.
In the spirit of the famous Beatles song, With a Little Help from My Friends, PhD candidate Oluwabamise Afolabi's journey is a testament to the power of community and reminds us that no one succeeds alone.
Are economic development and environmental conservation at odds? From a conceptual viewpoint, perhaps, but according to Dr. Leah Jones-Crank in the Faculty of Environment, they don’t have to be. In her work on water-food-energy resource management, she explores the possibilities of pursuing economic development and conservation in local and global communities.
We are thrilled to announce Yasseen Mobada is the first recipient of the Glen Schnarr Memorial Award, created by the Planning Class of 1974 with generous contributions from Glen's family and friends to honor the legacy of a beloved friend, classmate and colleague.
CLASS NOTES
Wondering what your classmates have been up to? Submit an update of your own for next issue’s Class Notes. Or better yet, join us at an upcoming Environment event. We hope to see you soon!
