Acadia University - Newsroom

From the field, to the lab, to the archives, Acadia students were hard at work all summer long! Our students worked on projects from the geologically old (350 million years, in fact!) to the startlingly new (stroke rehabilitation through VR, anyone?).

Throughout their university journeys, Acadia students often develop strong connections with staff and faculty. Five members of the Class of 2024 shared their gratitude through video thank-you letters, and we had the joy of surprising and filmed the responses of those lucky recipients.

Dr. Caroline Cochran has a passion for pedagogy and numbers. She loves to teach, and it all adds up to student success. Her energy, enthusiasm and commitment to mathematics and learning are infinite, and why she is the recipient of this year’s Acadia Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The 2024 winners of the prestigious Frank H Sobey Awards were recently announced, and for the first time in the award’s history, Acadia has emerged with two recipients: Alex Dulay and Cole Sanford.

Acadia's Dr. Mark Mallory, Canada Research Chair in Coastal Ecosystem Connectivity and Resilience and director of the Mallory Lab, was inducted as a Fellow into the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), along with his wife, Carolyn Mallory, a gifted writer and artist.

In the summer of 2023, eight students – six from Saint Mary’s University (SMU) and two from Acadia – travelled to France with the goal of recovering the remains of a missing American World War II aircrewman.

In recognition of International Women’s Day (#IWD), Acadia University is pleased to shine a spotlight on several exceptional women in our community. While their accomplishments, talents, and stories are diverse, each of these individuals are making contributions that inspire and accelerate progress beyond their fields.

Now in her fourth and final year of a Business Administration degree with a major in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Kirsten Lawrence has more on her plate than studying. The busy Acadia undergrad is also President of the local chapter of Enactus, a student-led entrepreneurial organization committed to creating positive social and environmental change. Kirsten and her team have focused their energy on addressing food insecurity and food waste on campus – and the ideas they’ve come up with are meaningfully helping others while gaining attention outside the Valley.

You might say that author Amanda Peters has taken the long way home. The daughter of a Mi’kmaw father and a settler mother of European descent, Peters was raised in the Annapolis Valley but has lived and worked in Japan, South Korea, England and Scotland. Now, Peters is back home. In July 2023, she was hired as Associate Professor in the Department of English and Theatre as part of a cluster hire to increase the number of Indigenous and Black scholars at Acadia.

Acadia University is excited to share plans to build a new nursing facility, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to establish an independent program. Announced today, the government of Nova Scotia is investing $13.9 million to support the expansion of nursing education at Acadia, addressing the pressing need for well-trained healthcare professionals in the Annapolis Valley and beyond.

U SPORTS named the country's eight best and brightest university student-athletes on Wednesday night, unveiling the student-athletes selected as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2022-23 season. Acadia's Haley McDonald was honoured for her exceptional academic achievements while being an impressive player for the Axewomen basketball team.

Acadia University is pleased to announce the appointment of Erin Beaudin as the new Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 22, 2024.

Dr. Lesley Frank from Acadia University's Department of Sociology has recently been awarded a prestigious $237,238 research grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to study the North American infant formula shortage.

Acadia is pleased to announce the signing of a collaboration agreement with The Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) to develop future research and funding opportunities related to musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and related health areas.

Acadia University is pleased to announce that three faculty members have been awarded a total of $696,379 to support cutting-edge research on the Wolfville campus.

Acadia University recently hosted its inaugural Festival of Teaching and Learning, focusing on reimagining the classroom and fostering excellence in education.  

Acadia University is set to begin the 2023-2024 academic year under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Hennessy, who will serve as the institution's 17th President and Vice-Chancellor. An exceptional array of welcome and orientation events awaits students, designed to foster personal and academic development on the Wolfville campus.

“Our students come from across Canada and around the world to experience Acadia’s excellent programs, stellar faculty, and our immersive and high-engagement educational experience,” says Hennessy who begins his term as President on September 1. “We look forward to welcoming our new students and welcoming back our returning students. Together, with the Town of Wolfville, we offer our students a unique and wonderful living and learning environment.”

A recent report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) features the research of Acadia University graduate Robin Lauzon, whose thesis delves into the unique challenges and needs of rural communities when using virtual mental health programs. 

Acadia University has appointed three Scholars to the inaugural Evans Teaching and Learning Scholars program.

Three Indigenous and three African Canadian scholars are joining the faculty of Acadia University. The new hires are in recognition of the systemic underrepresentation of Indigenous and Black faculty at Acadia.  

Acadia University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Ricketts will step down at the end of his term on June 30, 2023. 

Two computer science undergraduates from Acadia University have embarked on a remarkable career-building experience. James Robinson (’24) and Selina Mailman (’25) have joined a select group of student interns to undertake an 11-week game development and entrepreneurship program this summer.

One of Acadia University’s highest honours, the Arthur L. Irving Medal of Commitment, has been awarded to three outstanding members of the Acadia community: Libby Burnham (’60, ’00); Dr. Kelvin Ogilvie (’63, ’64, ’83); and Sandra Irving (’74, ’17).

In celebration of National AccessAbility Week, May 28 to June 3, Acadia University is proud to recognize the completion of improvements to accessibility in the S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) program.

Acadia University business student Kirsten Lawrence has been awarded the prestigious Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies in recognition of her exceptional qualities in entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2023 inductee class. Four athletes, one team and two builders will be celebrated for their outstanding contributions to Nova Scotia sport. Included in the class of 2023 are Acadia's 1993 Axemen hockey team and former Axemen soccer head coach John Kehoe.

Acadia University master’s student Diane Grant is among the Top 25 finalists in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2023 Storytellers Challenge.

On May 14 and 15, 2023, more than 800 graduates from Acadia University’s four faculties – Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Professional Studies, and Theology – will receive their diplomas and certificates, joining Acadia’s more than 40,000 alumni worldwide. In addition, Acadia will confer six honorary degrees on individuals who have distinguished themselves in the arts and public service.

Fourth-year psychology honours student Maura Whitman has received two East Coast Music Award nominations for her debut EP, Introspection.

Acadia University will add three Mi'kmaw or Indigenous scholars and three African Nova Scotian or African Canadian scholars to its ranks through a newly established cluster hiring initiative.

Vice-Provost of Equity, Diversion, and Inclusion, Dr. Claudine Bonner, is leading change on campus and beyond. Learn how she works with others to advocate, educate, and provide a platform so everyone can learn and do more to ensure equity, diversity, and inclusion at Acadia University.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Acadia is recognizing inspiring women who have had an important impact on our University and surrounding community.

Acadia University leads all primarily undergraduate universities in Atlantic Canada for corporate research income in the fiscal year 2021.

Dr. Claudine Bonner is leading transformational change at Acadia University as its first Vice-Provost of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). She is the senior leader responsible for providing vision, excellence, and leadership to support the University’s equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.

“My goal is to enact change, which begins with education and understanding,” says Bonner, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Women’s Gender Studies, who was appointed to the new role in September. “There is much work ahead to ensure everyone at Acadia feels accepted and supported in a way that provides them opportunities to thrive.”