FEATURES

6:46 P.M.
Dave Valliere leads an MBA class at the Ted Rogers School of Management.

WHEN THE DMZ 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.”

2003
First doctoral students admitted

2010
The DMZ at Ryerson University opens

2012
The Mattamy Athletic Centre opens

2015
Student Learning Centre opens

GRADUATE DEGREES OVER THE YEARS

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.

42

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

NEW PROGRAMS

Master of Health Administration (Community Care)
—

Financial Analysis PMDip

FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL SCHOLARSHIPS (2017-18) 266

52 Distinguished Visiting Professors (AS OF MARCH 2018)

First three graduate programs started 2000

2001
FIRST MA RECIPIENTS
Eight received a Master of Spatial Analysis degree

2008
FIRST PHDS
Yifeng He in Electrical Engineering, and Felix Odartey-Wellington and Kate Cornell, both in Communication and Culture