NSCAD University is pleased to announce the appointment of Shawn Tracey as its new Dean, Students, effective July 3, 2024.
Shawn comes to NSCAD from Saint Mary’s University, where he was Director of Graduate Student Support and Recruitment at the Sobey School of Business. There, he provided leadership and direction on strategic enrolment management, program operations, and student success. Shawn has a reputation as a consensus builder and collaborator with a strong knowledge of best practices and data-driven decision making.
Previously, he was Director of Advancement at the Halifax Grammar School and worked at Dalhousie University as an Assistant Registrar and a Development Officer. He also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Nova Scotia College of Early Childhood Education.
Shawn looks forward to taking on this role at a critically important time in NSCAD’s history.
“I’m excited to get to know the NSCAD community, to support their amazing and creative students, and work collaboratively with the impressive staff and faculty,” he says. “NSCAD has a bright future as we look to sustainably grow enrolment in preparation of the three campuses coming together on the beautiful Halifax waterfront.”
The new Dean’s role grew out of a strategic need for an integrated, student-facing support system at NSCAD, from admission to graduation. This led to a restructuring of registrarial, recruitment, and student services in the Office of Student Experience, which had been previously led by an Associate Vice-President of Student Experience and Registrar.
The Dean reports to the Vice-President (Academic & Research) and Provost, providing strategic and student-focused leadership to the Office of Student Experience, which houses all these offices under one umbrella. Reporting to the Dean will be Crystal Bona, Manager of Registrarial Services; Rose Zack, Manager of Enrolment and Recruitment; and the Manager of Opportunity and Belonging (currently vacant).
“I’m thrilled to welcome Shawn to our team,” says Jana Macalik, Interim Vice-President (Academic and Research) and Provost. “His deep experience in recruitment, strategic development and commitment to outreach will serve the University well for years to come. I know Shawn’s knowledge of the education sector will help us bring new communities of students to NSCAD, develop student-centred services, and create a culture of student success at our university.”
Shawn replaces Ratish Mohan, who worked as a Special Advisor to the Provost for Strategic Enrolment Management and as Acting Registrar from 2020-2024.
“I also would like to thank Ratish Mohan for his essential work in his interim roles on the senior leadership team,” adds Jana.