Acadia University’s alumni magazine, the Bulletin, has earned the 2021 Silver Prix D'Excellence Award in the Best Photograph category from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE).

Under the direction of Bulletin editor Fred Sgambati (’83, ’85), photographer Peter Oleskevich’s photo depicts five Acadia Deans on the magazine’s spring 2020 cover, including, from left to right: Dean of Pure and Applied Science, Dr. Suzie Currie (BSCH ’91); Dean of Theology and President of Acadia Divinity College, Dr. Anna Robbins (MRE ’93; MAT ’97); Dean of the Faculty of Professional Studies, Dr. Ann Vibert (BA ’74); Dean of Arts, Dr. Laura Robinson (BA ’88; HC ’88); and (seated) Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and Director, Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research, Dr. Anna Redden (BSC ’79; BSCH ’82; MSC ’86).

The University’s entry, aptly entitled ‘Five Deans’, noted: ‘In planning the spring 2020 edition of the Bulletin, we discovered a unique story hiding in plain sight. The University’s five deans are all alumnae: academic administrators and educational specialists who, after obtaining undergraduate degrees at Acadia and post-graduate degrees elsewhere, chose to return to their alma mater with purpose and intention to share accumulated knowledge and hard-earned professional acumen with the University’s administration and today’s students. We realized very quickly the value of this commitment and knew we not only had a wonderful feature story to share, but a cover photo opportunity unlike any in recent memory that would aptly represent the kind of leadership that has made Acadia a preferred destination for students and faculty here at home and around the world.’

Vice-President, Advancement (Interim) Nancy Handrigan (’92) said, “the goal was to tell a classic Acadia story using the subjects in the photo: students arrive in Wolfville, have a transformative educational experience and then go out and change the world. There’s a magic to it, a water-into-wine alchemy that defines the Acadia experience and produces people who, at the end of their academic journey, sprout metaphoric wings and take flight, determined to accomplish great things. Five alumnae -- five Deans -- did just that: soared after graduation from Acadia and returned with purpose and intention. They are pillars of Acadia’s academic infrastructure, and we were proud to showcase them on our spring cover.”

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