In 1956, McMaster named its first Director of Engineering Studies – Dr. John W. Hodgins, a young chemical engineering professor from the engineering faculty of the Royal Military College at Kingston.
Hired with a mandate to develop a full engineering program for McMaster, a new building to house it and the academic staff to run it, Hodgins moved rapidly. He saw the program approved by the McMaster University Senate in February 1958, the building officially opened in October 1958, and the first class of 25 students graduated in 1961.
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