K’jipuktuk/Halifax (August 23, 2021) – NSCAD is pleased to announce that interim president Sarah McKinnon, PhD, will remain at NSCAD into January 2022 until a new president is recruited. Dr. McKinnon has helped NSCAD through one of the most challenging periods in its history as a consequence of COVID, and is glad to be able to continue the work she started back in July 2020 when she was first appointed.
“Despite the pandemic, NSCAD continued to make great strides and I am so proud of the work we’ve accomplished together so far,” said Dr. McKinnon. “NSCAD is an incredible institution with heart and drive, and I look forward to working with the NSCAD community to build upon our current momentum towards continued success.”
NSCAD’s achievements over the last year include the development of a new mission and vision statement; a facilities review of existing and future opportunities; the prioritization of accessible and sustainable spaces for learning with the Port Campus revitalization project; a substantial increase in successful fundraising efforts leading to a new capital campaign; amplified equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts across the institution, and much more. However, the greatest achievement was successfully navigating through a global pandemic, pivoting to online learning and carrying out complex return to campus preparation and planning.
These accomplishments were realized in collaboration with the whole university community, including the NSCAD Board of Governors, led by chair Louise Anne Comeau. After being a member of the Board for seven years including two years in the role of chair, Ms. Comeau extended her term for an additional year to ensure the university could successfully navigate the wide-ranging impacts of the pandemic. As planned, Ms. Comeau’s extended term will be concluding at the annual general meeting in September. We look forward to announcing the appointment of the new chair of the board of governors at that time.
As fall approaches, NSCAD will once again welcome students in person to help them reach their creative potential. We look forward to being back on campus and continuing our work in creating value and economic impact through art, media, craft and design.
For more information on NSCAD University, visit nscad.ca.
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