Acadia University Vice-President Academic, Dr. Tom Herman, recently announced three senior academic appointments. Dr. David MacKinnon is appointed Dean of Research and Graduate Studies and Dr. Ian Hutchinson is appointed Director of the Fred C. Manning School of Business Administration effective July 1, 2011. Dr. Robert Perrins is re-appointed Dean of Arts effective July 1, 2012.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. MacKinnon and Dr. Hutchinson to their new positions and congratulate Dr. Perrins on his re-appointment,” said Dr. Herman.  “Acadia’s Deans and Directors are important campus leaders, providing guidance and direction to our academic departments, working directly with current and prospective students and connecting Acadia with our community. David, Ian and Bob have impressive records of scholarly achievement and have been active and positive members of the Acadia community for many years. We have been well served by their contributions and they are highly respected by their colleagues. I look forward to their continued leadership.”

Dr. David MacKinnon graduated from Acadia in 1974 with his Bachelor of Science (Geology) degree. He subsequently earned his Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from Acadia before earning his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from the University of Alberta.  A full-time Acadia faculty member since 1988, Dr. MacKinnon is the author or co-author of more than 35 publications and has received more than $2M in research grants during his career. Dr. MacKinnon’s research and reputation in leadership are recognized nationally and he has played an active role with teachers and school administrators throughout Nova Scotia. Dr. MacKinnon is an acknowledged leader in issues related to equity and social justice. Dr. MacKinnon has held a number of administrative positions at Acadia, including Director of the School of Education, and Acting Dean of Research and Graduate Studies since 2008.

Dr. Ian Hutchinson earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mount Allison University in 1979. He earned his Chartered Accountant designation in 1982 and his PhD in Accounting and Organizational Behaviour from Queen’s University in 2003. In 2005 he earned his Certified General Accountant designation. Dr. Hutchinson has had a diverse career in business and academia with four years at Atlantic Wholesalers Ltd. and ten years as a professor at Mount Allison before joining Acadia in 2000. Dr. Hutchinson is widely recognized for his contributions to the Accounting profession, and to innovation in the teaching of accounting. He has received a number of awards including the Acadia Students’ Union’s Teaching Recognition Award in 2002, 2008 and 2009, the Canadian Academic Accounting Association’s Innovation in Accounting Education Award in 2004 and Acadia’s Faculty of Professional Studies Outstanding Teacher Award in 2004. He has been the Acting Director of Acadia’s Fred C. Manning School of Business Administration since 2010.

Dr. Robert Perrins has been re-appointed for a second term as Acadia’s Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Dr. Perrins earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University and his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in History from York University. Dr. Perrins joined Acadia’s Department of History and Classics in 1995 and, in addition to his teaching and research duties, has also served as the Co-Director and Acting Dean of the Research and Graduate Studies. Dr. Perrins is an internationally recognized scholar and has authored more than 40 refereed articles and conference papers; he also served as editor of Chinese Facts and Figures Annual, volumes 24-30. Among his many awards, grants and achievements, Dr. Perrins has been a winner of the Acadia Students’ Union’s Excellence in Teaching.

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