Dear students, 

On behalf of the faculty, staff, board of governors, the university senate, the town of Wolfville, and thousands of alumni who have called this campus home – welcome to the 2024 / 2025 year at Acadia University! 

I love this time of year. There is a special energy on campus when our students return after the summer or arrive at Acadia for the first time. You’re the reason we are here, and we are so excited to see you! The fact that you’re here – at Acadia – is a big deal in itself – and a terrific choice on your part. I know because I also went to Acadia for my Bachelor of Music degree, and I can tell you that this experience will have a lasting impact on you no matter your program, your courses, or your eventual career.

What happens over the next few years is partially up to us. Acadia’s faculty and staff are committed to providing you with unparalleled opportunities to grow intellectually and socially, and with a greater awareness of the world in which you live, and the impact you can have on it.

Our faculty and staff are passionate professionals who bring a wide range of expertise, experience, and personality to our campus. At a leadership level, we’re incredibly fortunate to now have Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo join us as Acadia’s new Provost and Vice-President, Academic. Dr. Cunsolo is a visionary, a change-maker, and a relationship-builder, all of which lend tremendously to the liberal education that students value at Acadia. In a couple short weeks, we’ll be joined by Lerato Chondoma, Acadia’s new Associate Vice-President, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility. Lerato’s impressive background in equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and decolonization will help us create the most inclusive and accessible learning and working environment we can at Acadia. I’m very grateful to have them – and all our staff and faculty members – on board to deliver a university experience like nowhere else. 

Our resources and programming are also continuing to evolve. Expanded accessibility and accommodations (specifically, the Accommodate program) have been a priority to help level the playing field. How we go about educating is also changing, and we’re particularly proud to kick off our first year featuring Africentric programming. And because we know how invaluable hands-on, real-world learning is, our new Career and Experiential Learning department will help to create professional opportunities like never before.

Several faculty and staff members have been busy curating events and opportunities beyond the classroom that can expand your knowledge and imagination, expose you to different perspectives, and discover new ways to engage in the world. For example, on September 10th, the Law and Society Program is offering you a “Students Know Your Rights” panel, where you can better understand activism on campus. Then on the 13th, you can come out and cheer on our men’s and women’s soccer teams as they battle on home turf against Dal. And later, on the 19th, you can take in a special guest lecture on black holes, an event that brings together discoveries in physics with music composed and performed by members of our Department of Music.

Your fellow students are also offering you opportunities. Today, Acadia’s clubs – which range from academic to social to athletic – will be at the SUB for Club Extravaganza where you’ll learn the different ways you can get involved. It’s just one of many events that are student led.  

The biggest part of your experiences and success will be driven by you. We can create the opportunities and the challenges, but it is up to you to work hard, step outside of your comfort zones, be open to new ideas, and to challenge yourself.

I encourage you to make the most of this new year energy, engage in this community, and to create opportunities if you think they’re missing. Acadia is a place where you can do all that.

My hope is that this year shines a light on what excites and fuels you, that you feel empowered to go after that, and even inspire others in the process. This is an amazing time and place to define your own values and take ownership of the kind of person you want to be. 

I look forward to getting to know you this year. If you see me on campus (and you will!), I encourage you to say hello! 

Thank you, 

Jeff Hennessy
President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia University