SACKVILLE, NB — Mount Allison University Music professor Dr. Vicki St. Pierre has been named the University’s next Dean of Arts. The appointment begins on July 1, 2021 for five years.

St. Pierre has served as the interim Dean of Arts since July 1, 2020.

“Dr. St. Pierre has led the Dean of Arts portfolio with passion and energy over the past academic year,” says Mount Allison Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research Dr. Jeff Hennessy. “Her natural leadership ability and dedication to collegial governance, in addition to her commitment to both our students and faculty, will serve Mount Allison’s Faculty of Arts and the University well.”

One of the University’s key academic areas, the Faculty of Arts has seen recent growth with the establishment of several new interdisciplinary programs, including Community Engaged Learning, Museum and Curatorial Studies, Screen Studies and Popular Culture, and Visual and Material Culture Studies.

“I’m pleased to continue in this leadership role and help celebrate and support the creativity and innovation of programming that really can assist our students in any career path or life experience they choose,” says St. Pierre. “This kind of growth and collaboration between departments, finding new ways to enrich our students’ experiences and providing exciting mentorship opportunities to them throughout their undergraduate degree, is really remarkable.”

St. Pierre has taught at Mount Allison since 2015, specializing in voice. She also served as acting Director of Drama for a year prior to serving as the interim Dean of Arts. A seasoned concert and opera singer, St. Pierre has sung on stages and with performers and ensembles around the globe, including Ensemble Masques de Montreal, the Cleveland Opera, Portland Baroque Orchestra, and Early Music Vancouver. Mount Allison community members will also remember her dynamic rendition of the Alma Mater Song, performed at several formal University ceremonies and celebrations.

Along with her administrative duties, St. Pierre will continue to teach in the University’s Department of Music and also pursue creative activities, including live singing and work on recordings.

“I love teaching and it’s important to keep this direct connection with students and colleagues in the Music department,” says St. Pierre. “It keeps me in touch and learning. It’s also important to stay active in musical performance. This is an area that changed significantly during the pandemic. I’m excited to continue my creative activities through collaborative projects and recordings.”

Each of Mount Allison’s three faculties — Arts, Sciences, and Social Sciences — is headed by an academic dean. The dean is responsible for promoting quality teaching and learning within the faculty; encouraging faculty professional development; administering student academic advising; supporting faculty and student research; and managing the faculty budget. The Deans work closely with faculty members in their areas as well as the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research and other members of the senior administration team.
Find Mount Allison’s Faculty of Arts on social media: @mtaartsfaculty