Acadia Names Dr. Dale Keefe Provost and Vice-President Academic

Widely respected researcher, teacher, and academic administrator to take new post July 1

Wolfville, NS (May 14, 2019) -- Acadia University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Ricketts today announced that Dr. Dale Keefe has been named the University’s Provost and Vice-President Academic. Keefe’s six-year appointment begins July 1, 2019.

“Dr. Keefe’s academic and teaching record, experience as a Canada Research Chair, Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, Vice-President Academic and Provost, and Interim President at Cape Breton University summarizes his suitability to lead Acadia’s new structure that integrates academic and research initiatives with student support inside and outside the classroom,” said Ricketts. “I am delighted to welcome Dale to our Acadia community and want to thank the search committee for an outstanding job of finding such an experienced candidate whom I believe understands Acadia and its priorities very well. I am looking forward to Dale’s arrival and his immediate contribution to our institutional success.

“Of course, while welcoming Dale I want to thank Heather Hemming for the exceptional leadership she has shown as our Vice-President Academic,” said Ricketts. “Heather was in her position when I arrived at Acadia and she has provided me with invaluable guidance and counsel during my first two years. I know that Dale will benefit from the work she has done and I look forward to her continued contributions to Acadia when her well-deserved leave concludes.”

A Chemistry and Mathematics graduate of Memorial University, Keefe earned his Ph.D. in Physical Experimental Chemistry from the University of Alberta and for the past twenty years he has accumulated an impressive record in teaching, research, and academic administration. A professor in Cape Breton University’s Department of Chemistry, he joined CBU’s faculty in 1996. Between 2006 and 2011, he held a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Molecular Spectroscopy followed by an appointment as CBU’s Dean of Research and Graduate Studies between 2010 and 2014. In May 2014, he was appointed Interim Vice-President Academic and Research and in July 2015 was appointed Provost and Vice-President Academic until June 2018. Most recently he served as CBU’s interim President and Vice-Chancellor between December of 2016 and March of 2018. He has received several awards and honours for his work including the CBU Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching and the CBU Instructional Leadership Awards in 2009 and in 2012 was inducted into the Science Atlantic Hall of Fame.    

“I am thrilled and humbled to be taking on the role of Provost and Vice-President Academic at Acadia”, said Keefe.  “Acadia is one of the oldest and most respected universities in Canada with great faculty, staff and students.  I look forward eagerly to joining an outstanding executive team and to helping Acadia deliver on its promise of a unique and superior student experience and education.”

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