Dr. Daniel O’Brien serves as the Acting President of NSCAD University for one year. He begins his term effective May 16, 2012.
The former president at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, Dr. O’Brien is looking forward to working with the campus community and the provincial government on the implementation of NSCAD’s “Framework for Sustainability,” which was recently submitted to the provincial government.
“I’ve had the privilege of gaining an in-depth understanding of NSCAD over the past few months,” he says. “Part of that understanding was the development of an appreciation for the truly unique role the university plays in post secondary education in Nova Scotia. I am committed to its value and am looking forward to doing my part, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, faculty, staff and students to continuing the work already started.”
Dr. O’Brien was the President and Vice-Chancellor of New Brunswick’s St. Thomas University from 1990 to 2006 and is St. Thomas’s first President Emeritus. A member of the Order of Canada and the Order of New Brunswick, he is also the chair of Capital Health’s board of directors and a longtime board member of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. Prior to his appointment at NSCAD as facilitator (January to March 2012), Dr. O’Brien served as acting president of the Atlantic School of Theology.