Judy Stymest may know McGill’s students and alumni better than anyone. She is the former Director of Scholarships, Student Aid, and International Student Services, a position she held for over 30 years.
“Students are the basis of everything that goes on in that office,” says Stymest. “I met students from around the world, in every faculty, and at every level.”
That presented a unique range of challenges. “When the Shah was ousted [in 1979], I saw a lot of Iranian students. During the 1998 ice storm, hundreds were stuck in residence. When 9/11 happened, Americans were distraught. You see global events play out on campus.”
Through it all, she and her staff maintained “a human touch. That’s what people remember. It's not just about help, but respect.” That's why she insisted on meeting students face-to-face as often as possible. “We knew they needed more than just money.”
Stymest was the third person, and the first woman, to hold her Director position. She participated on provincial, national, and international committees, even testifying before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Finance to discuss rising levels of student debt.
“It’s still a relevant topic,” she says. “Tuition fees used to be so low that students could work a summer job and pay for education, but that’s simply not the case anymore.”
When she retired in 2012, her friends and colleagues honoured the occasion by creating the Judy Stymest Bursary. It has benefitted 22 students so far, and she’s now made a bequest in her will that will increase its funding capacity.
Her retirement gift “was a very nice tribute,” and contributing to it “just seemed a logical next step for me. It means McGill students will get the support they need when they need it. It’s so important for students to know their university cares and will support them in order for them to live their dream and reach their potential.”
She’s rarely on campus these days, but she remains as enthusiastic about today’s students as she was over 30 years ago. “McGill attracts bright students who are passionate about whatever they want to do in their lives. The details have changed over the years, but the passion, the drive, and the enthusiasm has not. To have that richness sit in my office was the best experience.”
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