SACKVILLE – Sabine Beisser has been named the new Director of People and Culture (formerly Human Resources) at Mount Allison University. Beisser joined the University in 2017 as an HR Consultant and advanced to assistant director. She served as interim director since September 2022 and will now permanently take on the position. 

“I am delighted that Sabine has taken on the role permanently after an extensive search process,” says Vice-President, Finance and Administration Robert Inglis. “Sabine is an accomplished leader and has already played a vital role in strengthening the University’s workplace environment and I am excited to leverage her impressive experience to continue to work towards our strategic plan.” 

Beisser has made significant contributions to ongoing organizational development, policy renewal, and labour relations engagement, and has been the force behind the innovation of various human resource processes, such as non-academic recruitment.  

Last fall, the department of Human Resources was renamed to People and Culture. The name reflects one of the University’s greatest strengths — its people. The name also reinforces the function of the department, which is to champion efforts to continuously improve the University’s workplace environment by establishing and delivering on human resources objectives in line with the University’s strategic plan. 

“We talk a lot about building a Mount A+ experience for students,” says Beisser. “What I am really working towards is having something similar on the employee side.” 

Her objective is to continue to cultivate an environment where employees feel energized by their work and recognize how their contributions play an integral role within their department and the University’s success.  

“We have engagement that already runs very deep within our employees. We’re building on that and focusing on innovating and updating processes to create the conditions that allow this high level of engagement to continue to thrive,” she says.  

When it comes to workplace culture, Beisser says she’s excited to build on and contribute to the University’s values of inclusivity and working towards a diverse community where all employees have a strong sense of belonging.  

“While a lot of this culture already exists, a focus on governance and capacity building around matters of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility is essential. We can always strive to do better, and learn more about what it means to be truly respectful and supportive with each other,” says Beisser. “The true value of combining different perspectives comes to life when we break through our silos and collaborate effectively.” 

Originally from Germany, Beisser travelled to Canada as an international student with the Tübingen exchange program at Mount Allison in 1990. Beisser returned each year working towards her Bachelor of Arts Degree and graduated from Mount Allison in 1993 with honours in English. Her favourite part of Mount A is the people, past and present. She met her partner, Kip Jackson (‘94), while attending Mount Allison, as well as some of her closest friends. Now, her daughter, Severine, attends Mount Allison and is in her second year. 

The Director of People and Culture (formerly the Director of Human Resources) is responsible for the management and guidance of the University’s people and culture function. The role is integral in the facilitation and guidance of the institution on all human resource matters, including campus culture and positive people outcomes.