Academic Director’s Message – Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement

A message from Wilson College’s Academic Director, Donald Abelson

Welcome to McMaster University’s Wilson College, a unique interdisciplinary program launched by the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences that combines academic rigor with experiential learning opportunities to prepare its graduates for careers in government, the community sector, and the private sector.

The beneficiary of an extraordinarily generous gift from Lynton “Red” Wilson and his family’s foundation, Master University is the first university in Canada to offer a combined Honours BA in Leadership and Civic Studies. A graduate of and former chancellor at McMaster University, Red Wilson has had a long and distinguished career in government and in the private sector, which instilled in him a strong and unwavering belief that the public interest can only be served when well-rounded, creative, and inspired individuals assume leadership roles. 

As political partisanship threatens to unravel democratic processes in Canada, the United States, and in many other countries around the globe, there has never been a greater need and a more propitious time to cultivate generations of leaders who are willing and able to make a positive and lasting impact on the many movements, networks and institutions that shape our society. Moreover, there has never been a greater need to emphasize in our communities the importance of participating in civic life.

With a focus on leadership and civic engagement, students will gain a lifelong appreciation for why it is so important for people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to become involved in shaping the environment they inhabit.  

The tremendous leadership vacuum that has contributed to growing despair among the diverse peoples of Canada remains a formidable challenge for those concerned about the well-being of educational, political, and social institutions that enrich our society. These long-standing challenges present opportunities for Wilson College to make a difference.

At McMaster, we believe that Wilson College will not just transform the lives of its graduates; it has the potential to make its presence felt in so many important and meaningful ways.   

My colleagues and I at McMaster University are very excited to welcome the inaugural class of Wilson College in the Fall of 2025. A new chapter for our students and future leaders is about to begin. 

Donald Abelson

Academic Director, Wilson College