President and Vice-Chancellor

Dr. Jeff Hennessy

The President and Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the management of Acadia University and all its departments. The President leads the university to ensure students have an academic environment and a community where they can gain a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education that prepares them for global challenges.

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Welcome

Welcome to Acadia University! We are more than a campus. We are a vibrant community, a home away from home, and we are here to help you succeed.

As an alumnus, former faculty member, and now President, I see firsthand how students, faculty, staff, and community members collaborate to unlock their individual and collective potential. It is this inclusive and welcoming experience that defines our university. We pride ourselves in fostering an environment where every student can flourish inside the classroom and beyond.

My experience at Acadia helped me become the leader and the person that I am today, and that’s my hope for today’s students as well.

Our leadership team nurtures the curiosity, creativity and innovation that an experiential liberal arts education gives students. Recognizing the importance of collaboration and unity, we strive to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to tackle the challenges of today’s world, whether those are local or global issues. These are Acadia’s strengths.

As a musician and an academic, I find true harmony in collaboration—a belief I embrace in every aspect of my work.

Welcome once again to Acadia University – a place like nowhere else.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Jeff Hennessy (he/him/his)
President and Vice-Chancellor

Biography

Dr. Jeff Hennessy (’99) became Acadia's 17th President and Vice-Chancellor on September 1, 2023. A distinguished alumnus of Acadia, Dr. Hennessy boasts an impressive repertoire of academic achievements and experience.

Dr. Hennessy was the Director of the School of Music from 2007-2013 and served as Dean of Arts from 2014 to 2019. He was instrumental in leading Acadia’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, paving the way for the university's decolonization strategy.

Before returning to Acadia, Dr. Hennessy served as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor and was Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research at Mount Allison University. He acted as the Chief Transition Officer during Mount Allison’s presidential search and served as Chair of both the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission and the Maple League of Universities.

Dr. Hennessy holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Toronto, a Master of Arts from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Music from Acadia University, and a Bachelor of Science from Trent University.

History

Dr. Jeff Hennessy became Acadia's 17th president on September 1, 2023.

Past presidents of Acadia University:

  • The Rev'd Dr. John Pryor (1846-1850)
  • The Rev'd Dr. John Mockett Cramp (1851-1853 and 1856-1869)
  • The Rev'd Dr. Edmund Albern Crawley (1853-1856)
  • The Rev'd Dr. Artemus Wyman Sawyer (1869-1896)
  • The Rev'd Dr. Thomas Trotter (1897-1906)
  • The Rev'd Dr. W.B. Hutchinson (1907-1909)
  • The Rev'd Dr. George Barton Cutten (1910-1922)
  • The Rev'd Dr. Frederic William Patterson (1923-1948)
  • Dr. Watson Kirkconnell (1948-1964)
  • Dr. James MacDonald Richardson Beveridge (1964-1978)
  • Dr. Alan Sinclair, QC (1978-1981)
  • The Rev'd Dr. James R.C. Perkin (1981-1993)
  • Dr. Kelvin K. Ogilvie (1993-2003)
  • Dr. Gail Dinter-Gottlieb (2003-2008)
  • Raymond E. Ivany (2009-2017)
  • Dr. Peter J. Ricketts (2017-2023)
 

Contact

The Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor is located in Room 216 University Hall, in the centre of the University campus. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. AST.

Natalie Weekes

Executive Assistant University Hall,
Room 216 902-698-9653

Sonya Pineo

University Secretary to the Board of Governors and Senate 902-599-4413

Office of the President and Vice-Chancellor

15 University Avenue
Acadia University
Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6 902-698-9653