Nenshi gone from campus, but not forgotten

by Zoey Duncan

Now they call him “Your Worship” instead of associate professor and he can take the C-Train straight to work if he wants. Naheed Nenshi has moved his textbooks out of the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University and into the mayor’s office at Old City Hall.

“He’s been talking about this ever since I’ve known him,” said Sharon McIntyre, assistant professor of marketing. “This is his dream job. He’s been thinking about this for years and years.”

McIntyre said that things at Bissett aren’t much different without Nenshi around, and that she expects to still have some social interaction with the mayor, who is still a faculty member, but is on leave. “Naheed’s a very social guy, always has been, brings people together,” McIntyre said. “If he’s going somewhere and sees you, (he) invites you along and I’m sure that will just continue to happen.”

Wendelin Fraser, dean of the Bissett School of Business, said Nenshi’s workload was cut dur- ing fall semester for the election, and they’re searching for a viable candidate to fill his position in the non-profit faculty for the next three years.
“In some ways we really do miss him,” Fraser said. If he gets into the swing of things next year, she said, only half-joking, maybe Nenshi would teach a night class.

“We try to talk to students about trying to follow their dreams and contribute to their communities and Naheed led by example…

“I love it that he still calls me ‘boss.’ ”