U of C professor emeritus gives life support

By Sally Collins

Jagannath Wani is a familiar face to many on the U of C campus—after all, he was here for more than 26 years. As professor emeritus of mathematics and statistics, he’s taught more than 1,000 classes and mentored hundreds of graduate students.

Wani says, “I proudly look back at the legacy I left behind at the U of C. Overall, it was a great learning experience marked with a sense of fulfillment culminating into a pleasant, accomplished retirement.”

In 1982, he was named chair of the statistics division and led the establishment of an undergraduate degree program in actuarial science, the first program of its kind west of Winnipeg.

But his support wasn’t limited to his own department. In 1987, Wani also initiated the world music course in the Faculty of Continuing Education, including providing the salary for the course instructor for the initial two-year period. And to support his native India, Wani formed the Maharashtra Seva Samiti Organization (MSSO), which helps less fortunate through medical clinics, training, education and other support. Since 1984, more than $500,000 has been directed back to India through donations and government grants.

He’s rounded out his legacy through his own philanthropic contributions. Wani has established four scholarships at the U of C, in areas that he’s passionate about— statistics, schizophrenia and vendanta philosophy.

“Of the 30 years of my teaching career in Canada, more than 26 years were at the University of Calgary. I believe in returning to the society which has given you so much over the years,” says Wani.

And he’s giving again in the form of his life insurance policy. The policy will establish an endowment to help with expansion of the statistics and actuarial science program and to ensure that the quality of the program Wani helped create is maintained for future generations of students.