News

As Convocation week begins on the Agricultural Campus, members of the Faculty of Agriculture took a moment to celebrate those who make student success possible.

The accomplishments of faculty, staff, and community who have excelled in teaching, research, outreach and service were acknowledged last Friday at a reception in Haley Institute.

Experienced Faculty Teaching Award – Tracey MacKenzie

Assistant Professor Tracey MacKenzie has committed his professional life, teaching and learning to Landscape Horticulture and Architecture. He is well respected by students, colleagues, industry and international partners.

Tracey has contributed his creativity and innovation to developing a range of courses and constantly updates his curriculum to meet the industry certification standards. Tracey has inspired hundreds of students over the years and his passion for teaching combined with his industry involvement brings real-world issues and solutions to the classroom.

Tracey takes an active role in new program introduction, engaging industries and presenting the programs to stakeholders. He has contributed significantly to the development of curriculum for the new B.Tech LA program and is an ardent advocate and voice of this program. Tracey strongly supports the 3+1 program with FAFU and now offers several courses to FAFU through innovative blended learning courses.

Early Career Research Excellence Award – Dr. Sophia he

Since the joining of Department of Engineering, Dr. He has independently developed a research program in the area of biofuel production successfully attracting $1 million in research funding from various sources.

She established a state-of-the-art analytical lab for biofuel without any previous infrastructure and has developed technologies to produce biofuel from non-conventional crops and biomass wastes.

Dr. He has published 14 journal articles in the last four years. Her research not only has high impacts in the academic world, but has also created significant impact on the local community and the agriculture industry. The technology developed by her research group has been adopted by local farmers to produce biofuel in real world.

Achievement in Internationalization Award – Dr. Nancy Pitts

Dr. Pitts, or “Dr. Nancy” as many international colleagues refer to her, has made significant contributions to both the Faculty’s international activities before and during her term as Assistant Dean, International. Nancy has displayed dedication, hard work and passion for internationalization as she has mentored many international colleagues, both through her visits to their countries and during their time on campus.

In her role as Assistant Dean, International, she has fostered and grown articulation agreements, spearheaded a new international strategy and improved opportunities for both domestic and international students. She helped develop successful development projects and has contributed to them both through administration and through providing her own subject-matter expertise. She also models how to include international content in courses on campus, regularly using examples from her own work abroad to provide important real-world context for students.

Above all, Nancy cares about the impact we can have on the world around us, both at home and abroad, and takes action to ensure that we are making a positive contribution both globally and locally.

Staff Award for Excellence in Service – Mandi Wilson

Mandi has made an exceptional contribution to supporting the Faculty of Agriculture through student engagement and supporting a collaborative work environment in the Department of Engineering.

Mandi sets the tone for the Engineering department, providing essential support to students, staff and faculty. She keeps things running smoothly while generating laughter and camaraderie. She is very engaged with the student body, regularly going above and beyond to help with academics and club activities.

She is very organized and always puts in extra effort to help department members sort administrative issues that would fall outside of her job description.  She is normally the lead in setting up Departmental social and professional functions, creating a positive environment in the unit. She has assisted with curriculum development and plays an important role in delivering the “Communication for Engineers” course.

Friend of the Faculty Award - Mr. Peter Swinkels

Alumnus Peter Swinkels has been instrumental in furthering the aims of the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Campus over the past several years as he has re-connected with the Faculty through his work with Doug Bragg Enterprises, which partners with Faculty researchers on precision agriculture.

This association has meant accelerated development and commercialization of innovative practical solutions for blueberry growers. His industry acumen and honest approach to business have produced a very productive relationship with faculty members. In addition, Peter has mentored many undergraduate students through summer research projects, helping to enrich their learning experience.

As the Chair of the Nova Scotia Blueberry Institute, Peter promotes the importance of research and the value of the Faculty of Agriculture to the industry. He has been a key industry supporter for research grant applications, resulting in important undergraduate and graduate research experiences. He has helped the Faculty of Agriculture Precision Agriculture Research Program grow to be recognized internationally for contributions to the field.

Peter provides a critical link to industry that enriches both teaching and research, as well as providing personal mentorship to students and faculty members.