Acadia names new Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and new University Registrar

Acadia University has filled two pivotal senior administrative positons that have wide-ranging influence on student success and the ability of the University to compete for research investments aimed at encouraging discovery and innovation.

Dr. Anna Redden has been appointed Dean of Research and Graduate Studies effective September 1. Redden is a two-time Acadia graduate (BScH and MSc) who returned to campus in 2005 from an academic appointment in Australia to assume a full-time faculty position in the Biology Department. She is recognized internationally and nationally for her research in the ecology of coastal/estuarine systems and marine environments and was the Director of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research (ACER) as well as Director of the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute and Executive Chair of the Fundy Energy Research Network. Redden earned her PhD from Memorial University and has over 30 years research experience with students and collaborators within and outside Acadia. She has supervised 35 research students at the PhD, Masters and Honours levels, as well as numerous technical and administrative staff, research assistants and coop interns. Redden replaces Dr. David MacKinnon who has had a distinguished career at Acadia as a faculty member and administrator in the University’s School of Education and the last six years as Dean of Research and Graduate Studies.

Mark Bishop has been appointed University Registrar beginning October 16. A one-time resident of Canning, Bishop is returning to the Annapolis Valley from the University of New Brunswick Saint John where he has been that campus’s Registrar since 2010. He has over 17 years of administrative experience in post-secondary education at Mount Allison, UNB Fredericton and UNB Saint John and in addition to his undergraduate degree from Mount Allison, he completed graduate work in Counselling Psychology at UNB, and holds a Certificate in Human Services Counselling from the Nova Scotia Community College. Bishop replaces Dr. Jeff Banks who has been Acting University Registrar since 2015 in addition to his full-time position as Director of Open Acadia.

“I want to congratulate both Anna and Mark and welcome them to their new positions,” said Dr. Heather Hemming, Acadia’s Vice-President Academic. “Anna and Mark bring considerable experience to their new positions and I expect will make an immediate impact on our faculty and students. I’m looking forward to working closely with both of them and leveraging the new ideas for Acadia that they brought forward during the search process. I would also like to thank the members of both search committees for their invaluable commitment to ensuring we found the right candidates to fill these critical roles. 

“I believe it’s also important to thank both Dr. David MacKinnon and Dr. Jeff Banks as they leave these roles for their significant contributions” said Hemming. “David is an Acadia alumnus and joined Acadia almost thirty years ago as a faculty member, continuing his contribution as Director of our School of Education and then Dean of Research of Graduate Studies where he led our strategic research planning initiative.  Jeff’s willingness to assume responsibility for the Registrar’s Office in 2015 in addition to his management responsibilities at Open Acadia and teaching in the Department of Chemistry is greatly appreciated. Acadia is fortunate to have a wealth of people who are committed to the success of Acadia, its, faculty, staff and students.”

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