Saint Mary’s University appoints new Associate Dean – Student Affairs, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

Dr. Colleen Barber

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Colleen Barber, Professor in the Department of Biology, to the position of Associate Dean – Student Affairs, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) effective September 1, 2018. Dr. Barber will take over from Dr. Diane Crocker, Department of Criminology, who successfully completes her 5-year term on August 31.

Dr. Barber joined Saint Mary’s University as an Assistant Professor of Biology in 1999 and brings close to 20 years of academic experience and leadership to her new role. In addition to her passion for science, research, and teaching, Dr. Barber has a strong history of student mentorship, having advised and supervised more than 75 students at Saint Mary’s.

Dr. Barber also has excellent administrative experience, most notably from her six-year tenure as Coordinator for the Forensic Sciences program, where her responsibilities included hiring instructors, admitting and mentoring students, developing curriculum and serving on the Science Curriculum and Executive committees.

Continuing on the foundation prepared by Dr. Crocker as FGSR’s inaugural Associate Dean, Dr. Barber will be the FGSR lead on all student-related issues. She will continue to work closely with FGSR’s Graduate Studies Officer and all of the Graduate Program Coordinators to support a positive learning environment for graduate students, and provide avenues for mentorship, professional development, and problem resolution.

Saint Mary’s University appoints new Director of Philanthropy

Jillian Gibson

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce the appointment of Jillian Gibson as the Director of Philanthropy in the Office of Advancement, effective August 27, 2018. Reporting to the Vice-President, Advancement, Jillian will provide leadership for the University’s philanthropy programs and staff in the area of major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and donor relations. 

A member of the Advancement Leaders Team and the Senior Management Group, Jillian will play a vital role in building the university’s capacity to attract private sector support through strategic engagement of a broad range of stakeholders in integrated fundraising programs and long-term relationship building.

Jillian has extensive experience in the development, fundraising, and leadership fields, with a career spanning twenty-five years in education and educational advancement.  A member of Memorial University’s (MUN) Advancement team since 2009, Jillian has held increasingly progressive positions in annual giving, faculty development and major gifts, including leading a $5 million campaign for the Faculty of Medicine and management of the major gift team for the university during the “Dare To Campaign for Memorial University” which raised $67 million.  Prior to joining MUN, Jillian served as Director of Development at the Queen’s College Foundation in Nassau, Bahamas for four years, after an 11-year career as a teacher in Canada and Bahamas.

An alumna of the University of Ottawa with Bachelors of Arts and Education degrees, Jillian also has a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Memorial University. An active member of the Rotary Club in Bahamas and Newfoundland since 2006, Jillian is past President of the Rotary Club of St. John’s Northwest and looks forward to continuing her strong engagement in the community.

First cohort graduates from unique, international joint program

On June 24, the first cohort of a unique program based on an international partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Beijing Normal University-Zhuhai (BNUZ) walked across the stage to receive their degrees in China.

The business students are the first to graduate from a joint program from BNUZ and Saint Mary’s University.

A delegation from Saint Mary’s were in China to attend the ceremony, including Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor; Dr. Esther Enns, Associate Vice President, and Dr. Miguel Morales, from the Sobey School of Business. They joined Prof. Qingyun Tu, President, Beijing Normal University-Zhuhai; Prof. Ailan Fu, Vice-President and Prof. Xin Zhong, Dean of International Business Faculty to confer the degrees. Ms. Wenjun Zheng presented the Valedictory Address to her fellow graduates.

The successful partnership between Saint Mary’s and BNUZ dates back to 2002. Since then hundreds of BNUZ and Saint Mary’s students have benefitted from unique shared programs and international education opportunities.

“Together, Beijing Normal University - Zhuhai and Saint Mary’s University share one vision,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray at the ceremony. “We are working to create a world that embraces and values global connections. That original vision, to form lasting connections between our nations and between our cultures, is the foundation of our partnership.”

Government of Canada partners with Saint Mary’s to create new coastal habitat and combat climate change

Dr. Danika van Proosdij

Nova Scotia will soon be home to more coastal habitat and defences against flooding and erosion as the result of a $1.8 million partnership between the Government of Canada and Saint Mary’s University.

“This support from the federal government is crucial. We will use it to create new salt marsh habitat around the Bay of Fundy and beyond, addressing the impact of climate change on our region and tackling a global problem,” said Dr.  Danika van Proosdij, the project lead and a professor at Saint Mary’s University. “Using nature-based strategies and restructuring dyke systems, we will create new vibrant ecosystems for marine life to prosper and new marshes that can absorb rising sea levels and storm surges.”

The new project, Making Room for Wetlands: Implementation of Managed Realignment for Salt Marsh Restoration and Climate Change Adaptation in Nova Scotia, seeks to restore over 75 hectares of tidal wetland (i.e., salt marsh) habitat through the realignment and decommissioning of dyke infrastructure at multiple sites in the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. The project will also help to build the Atlantic region’s scientific and technical capacity to manage future realignment and restoration projects.

“At Saint Mary's, community is at the heart of what we do, and that extends to our research,” said Saint Mary’s University president Robert Summerby-Murray. “Dr. van Proosdij’s project shows our commitment to using our knowledge and expertise to address challenges facing our region and the world. I want to thank the Government of Canada for supporting Atlantic Canadian researchers who are at the forefront of combating climate change.”

This project will be undertaken through a well-established partnership between Saint Mary’s University and CB Wetlands & Environmental Specialists (CBWES) Inc. using innovative and proven techniques with a comprehensive monitoring program.

Aspects of the project will also be conducted in consultation with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and in collaboration with Queen’s University Department of Civil Engineering, the Ecology Action Centre (EAC), Dalhousie University’s School of Planning and School of Resource and Environmental Studies.

This project was announced on Monday, June 25, 2018, as part of the Coastal Restoration announcement made by the Honourable Scott Brison, President of Treasury Board Canada, M.P. for Kings-Hants on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. It was announced that four organizations will receive together over $7 million over 5 years for projects to help restore coastal habitats in Nova Scotia and in the Arctic.

““I am proud to support these Coastal Restoration Fund projects that will restore and rehabilitate important coastal habitats in Nova Scotia and Nunavut. Our funding will encourage and build local community capacity to maintain and restore aquatic habitats.”

- The Honourable Scott Brison, President of Treasury Board Canada”

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From the announcement event

Saint Mary’s new Department of Criminology hosts ground-breaking national conference on harm-reduction in the justice system

More than 200 scholars, corrections workers, and social-justice experts from Canada and beyond came together for a fruitful exchange of ideas on harm reduction in the criminal-justice system at Saint Mary’s this past Thursday and Friday.

Criminology graduate student Omotimilehin Idris presenting during the “Transnational Perspectives” session

For the past eight years, the National Conference on Critical Perspectives: Criminology and Social Justice has been held in Ottawa, and focused on scholarly participants. This year marks the first in which the conference will begin visiting communities across Canada, and also the first in which it substantially moves outside the university’s walls to holistically address issues around crime and justice.

Besides scholars, professionals and employees within the Canadian corrections system, social-justice experts, and non-profit workers came together to discuss new ideas around harm reduction.

“The classic idea of harm reduction is around drug use,” says Diane Crocker, chair of Saint Mary’s Department of Criminology. “And that’s being addressed here, but we’re also expanding the scope to look at how the criminal-justice system at large can harm people, or even how larger social structures cause harm, and exploring how that can be recognized.”

Represented at the conference were universities in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK; criminal-justice experts from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice, and the Halifax Regional Police; representatives from First Nations across Canada; and several levels of government.

Government representatives included Karen Hudson, QC, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Nova Scotia; Denise Perret, Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness; Tracey Taweel, Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage; Lynn Hartwell, Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services; and Karen Gatien, Associate Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Dr. Crocker hopes that the conference’s success will be replicated in coming years.

“We’ve set a high bar in terms of having an integrated conference of academics, community members, and criminal-justice professionals coming together to share ideas,” she says. “This has been an incredibly valuable two days.”

The conference was a joint effort between the newly formed Department of Criminology of Saint Mary’s University, and the Nova Scotia Criminal Justice Association.

Saint Mary’s University appoints new Dean of the Sobey School of Business

Dr. Harjeet Bhabra

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Harjeet Bhabra to the position of Dean, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University, effective September 1, 2018.

“I am honoured to announce the appointment of Dr. Harjeet Bhabra as the new Dean of the Sobey School of Business,” said Saint Mary’s University president Robert Summerby-Murray. “Under Dr. Bhabra’s leadership, the Sobey School of Business will continue to advance its position as a top business school in Canada.”

Dr. Bhabra brings over 20 years of experience in university teaching, research and leadership, having served as Associate Dean of Research and Research Programs and as the Director of the MBA and Certificate in e-Business Programs, both at Concordia University. Dr. Bhabra is a Professor of Finance in the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University.

“I am grateful and honoured that I have been given this opportunity to lead an innovative and highly recognized business school in the country, known for its student-centric learning environment and impactful scholarship. I am excited to join a school that has a strong international presence and a diverse community, offering outstanding inter-cultural learning experiences,” said Dr. Bhabra. “These strengths have not gone unnoticed with the Sobey School's programs in recent years having been ranked among the very best in the country. My immediate priorities will be to consolidate and build on the successes of the current strategic plan which focused on internationalization, engagement, and innovation and development.”

Dr. Bhabra says he looks forward to engaging with the Saint Mary’s community to continue developing entrepreneurial mindsets and to build on the strength of the school’s research profile.

The Sobey School is one of the top business schools in Canada, acclaimed nationally and internationally, and is recognized with the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, a distinction achieved by only 5% of the world’s business schools. Established in 1934, it is one of the oldest business schools in the country, and offers new and innovative undergraduate and graduate programs such as the Master’s of Applied Economics, Master’s in Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Graduate Diploma of Co-operative Management.  Sobey School enrolls approximately 3200 students per year and enjoys an alumni network of more than 25,000 worldwide.

Saint Mary’s ITSS and partners win national award for collaboration

‘Innovative IT collaboration wins national award

Saint Mary’s University, on behalf of Nova Scotia’s 11 higher education institutions, has been selected as one of three finalists to receive a prestigious national award.

The 2018 CUCCIO Collaboration Award - presented by the Canadian University Council of Chief Information Officers - recognizes initiatives that promote collaboration between institutions, campuses, faculties or departments within the higher education IT sector.

Nova Scotia Higher-Ed IT Shared Services (HISS) was formed in 2014 when 11 institutions agreed to share IT services to improve service delivery and manage costs.

Together, the group successfully implemented cloud-based Microsoft Office365 across eight institutions -- the first province-wide implementation of its kind in Canada. Last year, the group was recognized for this work at the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO) annual conference in Ottawa with the Canadian Quality and Productivity Award.

The CUCCIO award recognizes the achieved benefits of knowledge sharing between institutions and increased efficiency from the on-going collaboration of shared services. By 2019, Nova Scotia institutions will have avoided costs exceeding $950,000, with additional savings and efficiencies projected from future IT Shared Services projects.

Upcoming priorities for the group include moving ahead on shared network architecture and cyber security standards.

Congratulations to Vice President Finance and Administration, Gabe Morrison, the ITSS Senior Director, Perry Sisk, and the ITSS team, for taking the lead in the initiative at Saint Mary’s and to our partner institutions for being a shining example of collaboration!

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day

Today let’s all take a few moments to recognize and celebrate the persistence, perseverance, and strength of all Indigenous Peoples across Canada. As Indigenous Canadians, let’s celebrate ourselves, our place in history, our ancestors and our future. #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay

— Boyce Campbell (@BoyceCampbell) June 21, 2018

People across Nova Scotia and Canada are taking part in celebrations today, Thursday, June 21st, as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.

Events are taking place across Nova Scotia today. Click here for more information about events taking place here and across Canada.

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. Visit our online exhibit for information on indigenous people in Nova Scotia. https://t.co/ZaMosQKNXMhttps://t.co/n2UrHDWvGX

— Nova Scotia Archives (@NS_Archives) June 21, 2018

Today we celebrate peace and friendship through National Indigenous Peoples Day! Learn more about this day as well as the many events taking place: https://t.co/RxGDmXiLzb #NIPDCanada pic.twitter.com/s6kXjs9aqB

— SMU Halifax (@smuhalifax) June 21, 2018

Intercultural success at SMU

From June 14 - 16, Saint Mary’s hosted distinguished academics from around the world for the International Conference in Intercultural Studies: Immigration, the Dynamics of Identity and Policies for Managing Diversity.

The main goal of the bilingual conference—a collaboration between Modern Languages & Classics professor Dr. Jean-Jacques Defert, Psychology professor Dr. David Bourgeois, and Université Laval faculty member Dr. Jean Ramdé—was to build bridges between researchers and professionals in the public and private sectors.

“We had representatives and employees from the federal and provincial governments, as well teachers, civil servants, and social workers from YMCA and the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia, and many others,” said Defert. “They gave very positive feedback, especially around the variety of themes we tackled.”

Variety was a keystone of the conference: more than 40 workshops, panels, and keynote presentations covered subjects ranging from child soldiers to international-student retention to immigrant entrepreneurs.

“The workshops given by community organizations pointed at really concrete ways of dealing with diversity,” said Defert. “For example, we had 45 people from the Conseil acadien scolaire provincial, the Acadian school board in Nova Scotia, attend a workshop by Marie McAndrew of the Université de Montreal on equity and diversity in education, and at the end invited her to continue the discussion.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Ather Akbari, Chair of the Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity, gave a talk entitled “In-Migration and Out-Migration: Atlantic Canada at a Crossroad.” In an interview with Star Metro Halifax, he said “whatever focus groups I have done, I found…if people were given a choice to live either in Nova Scotia to go to another province, if they have a job offer, then they would prefer to stay in Nova Scotia.”

Gatherings of academics and public and private-sector workers like this are critical, says Defert, to build intercultural competence in the province and ensure those immigrants do remain here.

“Nova Scotia is relatively new to having significant levels of diversity,” he said, “so it’s important to exchange ideas and practices.”

The conference was structured around some of the main themes of intercultural studies—education, health, social services, and the workforce—which are also the pillars of a new Intercultural Studies degree program offered by Saint Mary’s.

“This was really the strength of the conference and the program,” says Defert: “bringing together people of all backgrounds to discuss how they deal with, and support, diversity in their own ways.”

Saint Mary's unveils the details of The Dauphinee Centre

June 18, 2018

Saint Mary’s University celebrated the philanthropy behind the new on-campus arena and unveiled its design, renderings and name, today, June 18.

The facility will be named The Dauphinee Centre, in honour of the late Bob Dauphinee, a Saint Mary’s alumnus and community champion, who donated $2 million for an arena through his estate.

“Saint Mary’s University has a proud and successful hockey tradition that will continue for generations to come in The Dauphinee Centre,” said Saint Mary’s President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “This new arena will contribute to the continued success of our varsity men’s and women’s hockey teams, providing our athletes and coaches with a new home to continue their tradition of excellence.”

The Dauphinee Centre will feature an NHL-sized ice surface with seating and sightlines designed to enhance the fan experience. The centre will have seating for 850 fans with ample standing room that brings the capacity to more than 1200 people.  The building is fully-accessible with an elevator between floors and six accessible changing rooms for visiting teams, community-based recreational sports groups and summer camps.

The centre will also feature an upper-level warming room with an attached fan room overlooking the ice surface, a pedway link to the Homburg Centre for Health & Wellness, and men’s and women’s varsity dressing rooms that are equal to the best junior hockey facilities in the country. These enhancements to the project were made possible by a generous gift of $2 million from local entrepreneurs Glen and Nancy Holmes, parents of two current Saint Mary’s students. Glen and Nancy Holmes are the owners of Pseudio, Samuel & Co and Envy.

“Glen and Nancy Holmes have been true partners in the vision for this facility,” said President Summerby-Murray. “Their tremendous gift has elevated the entire project, and we are incredibly grateful to them for their vision, leadership and passionate support of Saint Mary’s, the Halifax community and this project.”

If you would like to make a gift to the arena project, please click here.

The new arena will continue Saint Mary’s tradition of hockey excellence and community engagement and is being constructed on the same site as the former arena. The overall cost of the project is approximately $14.8 million, and the centre is scheduled to open in time for the 2019 varsity hockey season.

“For 50 years, the Saint Mary’s Alumni Arena served as a community gathering space. A place where students who are new to Canada experience what it’s like to strap on skates for the first time and where young children learn to love skating and Canada’s game,” said President Summerby-Murray.

“Today, we look forward to the next 50 years. A time when students, friends and families will create new memories in The Dauphinee Centre, a new facility designed to meet the needs of our university, and the greater Halifax community, for years to come.” 

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See updates on the progress of the Dauphinee Centre.

An evening with John Ralston Saul

John Ralston Saul gave his insights into immigration and Atlantic Canada at Saint Mary’s University on Friday, June 1st. Ralston Saul praised the centuries-long Canadian approach to welcoming newcomers, something he said is unique to this country and learned from Indigenous peoples. Ralston Saul noted that Canada now stands out among westernized nations for its pro-immigration policies and practices including government programming and citizen volunteers. 

Growing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Saint Mary’s shines a light on alumni entrepreneurs

A sold-out crowd gathered to hear from Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray and three entrepreneurial alumni at a Halifax Chamber of Commerce luncheon on May 24.

More than 120 guests attended “Growing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Halifax and Beyond”, where Dr. Summerby-Murray highlighted Saint Mary’s leadership and vision for creating a thriving economy and then interviewed Ross Simmonds, Janet Chiang and Gregg Curwin - all proud Saint Mary’s alumni at different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys.

Alumni Entrepreneurs

Gregg Curwin, Janet Chiang, Ross Simmonds, and Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray

Live at @halifaxchamber’s Distinguished Speaker luncheon. https://t.co/7NatIa3Qgb

— Rob Summerby-Murray (@smuprez) May 24, 2018

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• Entrepreneurial Disruptors from Saint Mary's
• The Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre
• The Entrepreneurship program at Saint Mary's