Mount Saint Vincent University announces new president and vice-chancellor

Dr. Joël Dickinson will take over the position on July 1

CITYnews halifax \ Meghan Groff

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Mount Saint Vincent University has announced its new president and vice-chancellor.

Dr. Joël Dickinson will take over the position on July 1.

“Dr. Dickinson demonstrates a strong commitment to the mission, vision and values of MSVU, and to our purpose of fostering the education of women and other engaged thinkers, while committing to social justice and to an equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible community,” stated Amanda Dean in a news release, who is the chair of the Board of Governors and Presidential Search Committee.

“As President, she will lead us through our next chapter while ensuring our continued focus on that core purpose. She is excited by our strategic plan for its clarity of direction and ambition, and for its emphasis on putting people above all else.”

Dickinson is currently the dean of the Faculty of Arts at Sudbury’s Laurentian University.

She held a leadership role with that school’s Sexuality and Gender Diversity Committee, and was a long-standing member of the Presidential Advisory Committee for the Status of Women.

She also served as an ex officio member of the Laurentian University Native Education Council.

Dickinson was born and raised in New Brunswick, graduating from the University of New Brunswick in 2006 with a PhD in experimental psychology.

“MSVU is a special institution, unlike any other in the country, and I’m eager to ensure it remains a post-secondary destination of choice,” said Dickinson in a news release.

“The opportunity to lead and exemplify all that makes MSVU unique is a privilege that I am delighted to have been afforded. I look forward to working alongside the exceptional students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, supporters and partners who make up the MSVU community.”

Dickinson replaces Mary Bluechardt, who left the university last March before the end of her term after announcing she would not stand for renewal.

Since then, both Dr. Ramona Lumpkin and Dr. Sheila Brown have filled the role on an interim basis.