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Reporting to Dalhousie’s Assistant Vice President, Student Academic Success Services, Heather will be the senior leader responsible for oversight, leadership and hands-on engagement for student retention practices and student services operations for Dalhousie students on the Agricultural Campus. She will work strategically and actively to build on existing student services, partnering with student leaders and collaborating with colleagues at both campuses to encourage students’ development in all aspects of their academic success and personal development. Heather will supervise the team of eight employees who work to support student leadership and study skills, international student support, career services, writing tutoring, health services and administrative assistance.

Heather brings over 10 years of progressive experience in the university environment. In addition to previous related roles as a recruiter and career counsellor, she was the Coordinator of Academic Advising at Lakehead University from 2006-11 and advanced to Director of the Student Success Centre at Lakehead, a position she has held for the last three years. Heather worked to develop the overall vision of the Student Success Centre at Lakehead and led the creation and execution of a three-year action plan that was tied to the strategic mission and academic plan for the University. As Director of the Student Success Centre she brought three separate offices together into a cohesive unit, creating collaborative programming and integrated service delivery for students.

Heather holds a BA in Psychology from UPEI and a MEd in Counselling Psychology from Memorial and is a native of Saint John, NB. She is looking forward to the new position and the move back to the East Coast. “For the past 10 years, I have worked in the area of student affairs. I knew from early on that this was my calling, and that working with students, assisting them with their university success, was my passion. Being able to come back home to the East Coast, and to experience working at Dalhousie, and in the Faculty of Agriculture is extremely exciting and I look forward to becoming part of such a dynamic and innovative University community.”

Dr. Neuman is enthusiastic about Heather’s appointment to this new position, “Heather’s strong interests in research on best practises in student services delivery, with a particular focus on appreciative advising and strength-based approaches, will help her develop and add value to the student experience at the Agriculture Campus. Her positive energy, desire to partner closely with academic affairs and enthusiasm for the small campus environment will make significant contributions.”

Heather’s office will be located in the Dairy Building on the Agricultural Campus and she will officially begin her new role on August 15, 2013.

Article reproduced from original posted in Today@Dal on July 18th.