In recognition of my good friend and fellow faculty member, Professor Lathif Masood, who passed away from cancer this year, I am raising funds to provide an award to a graduating student in the Project Management Post Graduate program at our college.

Lathif dedicated himself to helping learners develop their career skills. His humour and positivity inspired students to be their best. In his final semester, he taught project risk management while fighting lymphoma that had returned after multiple rounds of treatment, believing he had finally overcome it. It was difficult to watch him using a cane to limp to his classroom when his leg became weakened by the cancer treatments. Nevertheless, he was determined to get to his class and share his project management experience because this is what he loved to do.

Lathif had a Master’s Degree in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. I will never forget his support and guidance for my work in applying AI to project management. He had previously reviewed articles for publication by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and discussed writing his own paper about applying AI to risk management.

Donations will be used to build a fund for presenting an annual award to a graduating student. The plan is to recognize a learner with outstanding academic performance who has shown leadership in helping fellow students. This would be a fitting tribute to Lathif.

Lathif was a member of Toastmasters. He worked at Health Canada and Natural Resources for the Government of Canada, at ESRI Canada, and taught at Algonquin College.