Executive

President: Charles Coll '84

1st Vice-President: Hugh Bray '76

2nd Vice-President: Sandra Greer  '85

Treasurer: Ed Hemphill '89

Secretary: Mike Kennedy '05 

Past President: Bruce Phinney '81

Directors

Members at Large

Maura Ryan '88

Doug Jackson '99

Troy Yeo '96

Chris Kavanagh '75

Charles Coll

Charles Coll has been active as a proud Alumnus since graduating from Acadia in 1984 with his Bachelor of Business Administration.  He currently serves as the President of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University.  First in Ottawa, and now living in Prince Edward Island, Charles has served on many Acadia-related boards, groups and committees.  He works for the federal government and also has significant private sector senior management experience.  Charles is involved in his community through numerous sports and health-related groups, as a coach, volunteer, board member, and at the executive level.  He is married to Kathryn (MacLeod) Coll (’84), and is the proud father of Charlie (’15) and Hailee.

Hugh Bray

A graduate of Acadia’s former School of Physical Education and Recreation in 1975, Hugh is a competent manager who has enjoyed a 35-year career in business development and marketing. He has evolved professionally in a number of industry and service verticals including sports and municipal administration, consumer-packaged goods, construction and Internet technology. An engaged alumnus, Hugh has been a member of the Board of Directors of the AAAU since 2004 and is the current first Vice-President on the Executive Committee.  Hugh’s personal alumni interests are the ever-important tasks of fostering and encouraging alumni engagement and outreach, enhancing the AAAU’s ability to better communicate and serve its members, and contributing to a healthy and prosperous future for Acadia.

Troy Yeo

Partner and Senior Recruitment Consultant, Accountant Staffing and Administrative Staffing, Troy is a Chartered Accountant whose experience includes nine years with Ernst and Young’s Halifax, Perth (Australia) and Toronto offices. He has developed strong general operations management experience over the past five years to add to numerous audit, accounting, taxation and advisory engagements in a variety of industries. Troy is a member of the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association of Acadia University and President of the Halifax Alumni Branch. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of ALS Nova Scotia and Re-Jigged: A Celebration of Celtic New Music and Dance. Troy has completed 10 marathons, including Boston and New York.

Kiersten Amos

Kiersten attended Acadia from 1992 until 1998. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology (1996) and in Nutrition (1998). During her time at Acadia, Kiersten was active in intramural sports programs and with work at the Acadia University Students’ Union Building. Kiersten went on to practice as a Clinical Pediatric Dietitian in Ontario and Colorado. She returned eventually to the Maritimes to attend UNB, graduating with a Law Degree in 2008. Kiersten now practices as an Associate Lawyer at the Atlantic Regional law firm of McInnes Cooper in Halifax, NS.

Gillian Latham

Gillian Latham graduated from Acadia University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. During her four years at Acadia, Gillian was very involved in the university community. She was a member of the Acadia Business Society, beginning as a Frosh Representative and working her way to becoming President of the Business Society. Gillian is the Life Vice-President of her graduating class. She has been with Bell Aliant for 19 years and has worked in many areas of marketing, including Product Management for Business and Consumer Portfolios, Internet Operations, and Marketing Communications. Gillian joined the Customer Care organization two years ago to manage the Accounts Receivable Management Team and in November 2009 was appointed Director of Customer Care for Nova Scotia. Gillian’s influence extends to her community, where she serves on the Board of Halifax City Soccer Club. Gillian lives in Halifax and is married with two boys ages 4 and 8. She treasures her time with her family, especially traveling, skiing and tennis. She also enjoys supervising her husband while he works in the garden!

Angela Harris

Angela Harris is currently an employee of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is an associate in the audit and assurance group working toward earning her CA designation. Born and raised in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Angela began her adventure at Acadia in September 2006 and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in May 2010. During her four years at Acadia, she was very involved with the University. She says she was fortunate enough to work with the Office of Advancement for the summer of 2009 and throughout her fourth year, which kept her closely linked with Acadia alumni during her years as a student. During her third year, she served as the Acadia Business Society’s External Vice-President and in her fourth year as the fourth-year representative. Angela was also a member of the Acadia Accounting Society. After graduating, she became a member of the AAAU, which has given her the opportunity to be a member of a number of other committees, including the Acadia Gala, Finance, and Awards Committees. In her spare time Angela enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and biking. She loves music and has played the flute in a number of different groups, including the Glace Bay High School Band; the Jugend Sinfonie Orchester in Bremen, Germany; and the New Horizon’s Band in Wolfville. She is actively involved with volunteer programs throughout the community such as Motionball, Easter Seals, and Movember. She’s very excited to be an alumna of Acadia and continue her involvement and dedication to the University.

Chris Kavanagh

Chris Kavanagh has established sales processes, coached and managed sales professionals to levels of increasing success in five of the leading industries in Canada over the past 20 years. Chris’s career has been associated with organizations such as the H.J. Heinz Co., New York Life, J&J, GE Capital and CIBC. In 2001 Chris formed a sales process design and sales coaching practice devoted to assisting sales individuals across Canada to achieve greater levels of sales success. Although Chris is believes that successful people are strong self-managers committed to their goals, their ability to dramatically improve depends on sound process and methodology. Today, Chris continues to work with numerous firms - from technology, to logistics, to banking - within Canada and the United States.

Geoff Irvine

After moving east from Quebec at the age of two, Geoff grew up in the village of Smith’s Cove on the shores of the Annapolis Basin in Digby County, Nova Scotia. After studying History and Political Science at Acadia University, Geoff enjoyed a 15-year career in the seafood industry (with a four year “sabbatical” leave in university advancement working as the Director of Alumni Affairs at Acadia University). He has extensive experience with live, raw, salted and frozen seafood products in retail, raw material inspections, sales, marketing, international trading, event, project and business management. Geoff has developed his knowledge of the business in large and small company settings and was Managing Director and partner in Harbour View Seafoods Ltd. from 1998 to 2006. He is currently Executive Director of The Lobster Council of Canada. Geoff has three children and lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Martin Suter

Martin is an agent for change with over 20 years’ experience building and transforming technology companies in the enterprise software, cloud computing and mobile broadband space. As SVP, Corporate Development and Strategy at Syncapse, Martin spends his days traversing the social media ecosystem, building market-leading alliances with strategic partners and agencies to build their business through the Syncapse Platform™ and creating strategic initiatives to ensure Syncapse’s long-term growth and value for investors. Prior to joining Syncapse, Martin held senior executive positions at some of the world’s leading technology companies, including MeshNetworks/Motorola, Nortel, Corel Corp., Cognos Inc. and BelAir Networks. Martin’s solid reputation as a business leader is demonstrated through numerous industry speaking events and media interviews.

Sandra Greer

Sandra Greer is the President and CEO of Amirix Systems Inc. Amirix is a privately held Nova Scotia company in operation since 1981. Amirix, through its product division Vemco, specializes in the design and manufacture of underwater acoustic transmitters and receivers used by marine biologists the world over to study aquatic life in its natural habitat. Sandra currently serves as a Member of the IEF Advisory Panel appointed by the Minster of Economic Development, sits on the Members Board of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, advises a nationwide Ocean Technologies Panel led by DFAIT and is the 2nd Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University. From 2004 to 2010, Sandra was a Governor on the NSCC Board of Governors and served as Chair from 2008 to 2010. Sandra is also a Past Director of the Discovery Centre Board of Directors. Sandra’s charitable works include riding with the AMIRIX/VEMCO MS Bike Tour team to participating in NSCC’s Swim for the College to supporting various local charities such as Feed Nova Scotia and the Canadian Cancer Society. Sandra is married to John Greer (BBA’86), and their two sons, Brandon and Rylan, are currently attending the Fred C. Manning School of Business at Acadia. The Greers are avid supporters of Acadia University through personal giving and Sandra has recently added Acadia to Amirix’s list of scholarships with two entrance scholarships available through the Fred C. Manning School of Business. Educated at Acadia University and graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Sandra has also completed Queen’s University’s School of Business Advertising Executive Development program and is a Quantum Shift Fellow of the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.

Jeff Wright

Jeff Wright is the Associate Director of the Office of Advancement at the University of Alberta, where he manages the University’s Annual Fund and President’s Society. He assumed this role in 2009 after spending nearly three years at MacEwan University as the Director of Donors Services. Prior to MacEwan, Jeff worked at the University of Alberta for five years in the following roles: Coordinator of the Student Calling Program; Campus Campaign Manager; and Alumni and Development Manager in the Faculties of Education, and Physical Education and Recreation. Jeff is currently an appointed member of the CASE District VIII Board of Directors. Jeff and wife Jackie live in Edmonton, AB, have been married for six years and have two young children: Jackson Leith Wright (5) and Abby Anne Wright (2). Jeff is a fifth-generation graduate of Acadia University.

Tracy Lightfoot

Tracy is a very proud alum from 1996. While at Acadia, she spent three years working at the Axe Lounge, was the Editor of The Athenaeum, and was Vice-President Communications with the Students' Union. She also had a heck of a lot of fun. After five years in Wolfville, Tracy spent several years traveling in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She went eventually to the University of Western Ontario (which she doesn't think holds a candle to Acadia) and got her Master of Arts in Journalism. Then she went to work for the CBC. Tracy spent two years with CBC Newsworld in Halifax, five years in Toronto and is now happy to call Prince Edward Island home, where she is a Senior Producer with the country's highest-rated supper-hour news program, CBC News: Compass. Tracy is married and had a baby boy in November.

Michele Gerrard

Michele Gerrard is Corporate Controller for Scotia Investments Limited in Bedford, Nova Scotia. She has worked for this company for over 20 years. Her responsibilities include such things as financial reporting, banking and corporate tax work. Prior to this, Michele worked for Touche Ross (now Deloitte Touche) as a staff accountant. She received her CA designation in 1990. In the early 1990s Michele taught introductory accounting courses at Acadia University. She is presently on the recruitment committee for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and prior to that was on the Regional Advisory Board. Michele adopted a baby girl from China seven years ago. She and her daughter Asya, now 8, live in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

Ed Hemphill

Ed Hemphill grew up in Knowlesville, NB in the upper Saint John River Valley. He graduated from Acadia in 1989 with a BBA. His career originally began with the Royal Bank, where he received his Personal Financial Planning (PFP) designation from the Canadian Bankers’ Association. In 2001, Ed joined the Ottawa office of ScotiaMcLeod to begin building an investment practice. As a financial advisor, Ed has over 20 years’ experience helping individual investors successfully manage their retirement dreams. In 2010, Ed’s wife Heather (class of ‘87) was offered a position to work in Paris, France for two years. As a family they thought this was an excellent opportunity and too good to pass up. Ed has now joined Heather and the kids in Paris and is enjoying a well-earned sabbatical.

Malcolm Smith

Malcolm started his career in the insurance industry in 1997 as a producer for a regional broker in the Okanagan area of British Columbia after a successful career in both the food service industry and the industrial lubricants sector. Malcolm left the brokerage side of the industry to work for CNA/Specialty Underwriters, the leaders in "maintenance insurance", first as the Manager, Western Canada, then as Director of Sales, Canada. In 2002, he joined a global insurance broker working from their Kamloops office then transferred to Vancouver in March 2007. Since 2002, Malcolm has focused his efforts on gaining experience and educating himself on the insurance and risk management needs of aboriginal communities, businesses and organizations. To assist First Nation communities with their economic development objectives, Malcolm joined ICAB, the Industry Council for Aboriginal Business, and up until his move to Nova Scotia in July 2009 held the position of VP on the Board of Directors. In 2003, Malcolm achieved a CAIB, Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker, with honours. In 2007, Malcolm obtained his life license and in 2008 attained the RHU (Registered Health Underwriter) designation and his Canadian Risk Manager’s (CRM) designation in October 2009. Malcolm is a graduate of Acadia University, where he completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a dual core in marketing and management.

Mike Kennedy

Mike is an energetic, community-minded Chartered Accountant, currently working with the Department of Health and Wellness of the Province of Nova Scotia as a Manager in the Internal Audit Function. A proud Acadia Alumni (‘05) and former VP Finance of the Acadia Students’ Union, he currently serves as Secretary of the AAAU Board. Mike serves on the Board of Directors of the East Coast Music Association and Halifax Running Club and keeps busy by blogging for Taste of Nova Scotia, dabbling in endurance sports, and playing guitar and ukulele.

Meaghan Sim

Meaghan Sim (MacDonald,'01) came to Acadia University from Charlottetown, PEI.  While at Acadia, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (Honours) degree and competed on the Women's Rugby team. Meaghan practices as a dietitian with experience in the population health, research and evaluation areas. She is currently entering her third year of doctoral studies and is the recipient of both provincial and federal-level scholar awards for her research.  Meaghan currently resides in Halifax, NS with her husband Michael Sim ('00) and two children: Avery and Rhys. She has been a member of the AAAU Board of Directors since 2010.

ARTICLE I:       NAME

The name of the Association shall be the Associated Alumni of Acadia University.

ARTICLE II:      HEAD OFFICE

The Head Office of the Association shall be located in Alumni Hall, at Wolfville, N.S.

ARTICLE III:     PURPOSE

The purpose of the Association shall be to bring about the unity of graduates and former students of Acadia University and to afford them the opportunity to promote the best interests of the University.

ARTICLE IV:      MEMBERSHIP

A. Present Members
All members of the Association including graduates of the Acadia Ladies Seminary and Horton Academy, who are Regular or Associate members, shall continue to hold such membership in the Association.

B.   Regular Members
i. All holders of degrees, certificates, and diplomas of Acadia University shall be Regular members of the Association.

ii. Any person who has attended Acadia University for at least two years and has left the University in good standing, shall be a Regular member of the Association upon application to and approval of the Board of Directors.

iii. (a) Only a Regular member may hold office in the Association.
(b) Only a Regular member may vote at annual or special meetings, or by mail on any matter pertaining to the affairs of the Association.

C.   Associate Members
i. Members of the Board of Governors of Acadia University who are not otherwise entitled to membership shall be Associate members of the Association

ii. Faculty and staff including retirees at Acadia University who are not otherwise entitled to membership shall be Associate members of the Association.

iii. Any other individual may become an Associate member of the Association upon application to and approval of the Board of Directors.

D.   Honorary Members
i. Any person, other than a Regular member, who receives an Honorary Degree from Acadia University shall be an Honorary member of the Association.

ii. The Board of Directors of the Association may from time to time designate individuals (who are not otherwise entitled to membership) as Honorary members of the Association.

E. Resignation
Any member wishing to withdraw his or her membership shall be entitled to do so upon notifying the Board of Directors in writing of such intentions.

ARTICLE V:     APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A.  Officers
The officers of the Association shall be:
i. President
ii. First Vice-President
iii. Second Vice-President
iv. Secretary
v. Treasurer
vi. Past-President

The President, Vice-Presidents, and Secretary shall hold office for a two-year term and are not eligible for re-election for a successive term in the same position.

B.     Board of Directors and Executive Committee
There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of:
i. The officers of the Association

ii. The immediate Past-President

iii. Twenty four directors, whose term of office shall be two years. (Directors may be re-elected for successive terms, but not to exceed a total of four years unless in an officer position.)

The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the Association and shall have all powers necessary, for this purpose. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board which may exercise and discharge all the rights, powers, privileges, and functions of the Board in the intervals between meetings of the Board.

iv. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and four members at large from the Board of Directors.

v. Ex-officio (without vote)
The following shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee:

• Director of Alumni Affairs
• Provost of Acadia University
• Director of Development
• Representative of the student body appointed by the Students Representative Council

The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the Association and shall have all powers necessary for this purpose.

ARTICLE VI:    FINANCE

i. The Board of Directors shall maintain accounts of:
(a) All monetary transactions of the Association.
(b) All assets and liabilities of the Association.

ii. The Board of Directors, on behalf of the Association, shall have the power to enter into arrangements for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, receiving monies for, and disbursing the Acadia Annual Alumni Fund.

ARTICLE VII:      COMMITTEES

A. Finance Committee
i. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for the preparation of an annual budget and the supervision of actual expenditures.

ii. The Finance Committee shall also be responsible for the preparation of a budget for the disbursement of undesignated funds received through the Acadia Annual Alumni Fund.

iii. It shall also be responsible for the co-ordination and supervision of fund raising programs approved by the Board of Directors.

iv. The Chairman of the Committee shall be the First Vice-President.

B.    
The Board of Directors may appoint such other committees from time to time as is deemed necessary or advisable.

ARTICLE VIII:    ELECTIONS/APPOINTMENTS

A. Election of Officers, members of the Board of Directors, and members of the Executive Committee
i. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of the three most recent past-Presidents which shall report to the Annual Meeting of the Association.

ii. The election of all Officers, Directors, and Executive Committee members shall be held at the Annual Meeting.

iii. A voting procedure based on simple majority shall be used  ands separate ballots shall be used for the election of members of the Executive and Table Officers, and a separate ballot for the election of the Board of Directors , and the exact count  of the vote shall be recorded  and given to the President and used ballots shall be returned to the president of the Association for safe-keeping for three (3) months.".

iv. The newly elected Officers, Directors, and Executive Committee members of the Association shall assume their duties at the close of the Annual Meeting. In the event that any member of the Board of Directors is unable to complete his or her term of office, the Executive Committee may appoint a successor to fill the remainder of such term of office.

B.     Appointments to the Board of Governors of Acadia University
The Alumni Association shall have the privilege of appointing 12 of its members - six every three years for a six year term - to the Board of Governors of Acadia University. Board members can only serve a maximum of two successive terms.

The Board of Directors on behalf of the Association shall be responsible for appointing the Association's representatives to the Board of Governors of Acadia University.

That the current standing President and Vice-President of the AAAU shall hold two of the twelve appointed positions on the Board of Governors at any given time and upon completion of their respective terms or resignation, or removal from those offices, they shall be deemed to have resigned from the Board of Governors of Acadia University, and the AAAU's Nominating Committee shall nominate successors to the Board of Governors forthwith.

Appointment Procedures:
i. The Board of Directors on behalf of the Association shall appoint a Nominating Committee.

ii. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for soliciting nominations within the membership for the six positions.

iii. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for the preparation of background information and obtaining a written acknowledgement from each candidate that he or she will accept the Association's appointment to serve on the Board of Governors.

iv. No restrictions shall be laid down requiring a candidate to qualify with regard to age, race, colour, national origin, political or religious affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, place of residence, reappointment, or otherwise.

v. The Nominating Committee shall present its report to the Board of Directors.

vi. The Board of Directors shall announce the names of the Association's appointees at the Annual Meeting of the Association and a brief biography of each appointee will be published and mailed to all Acadia alumni.

vii. Any vacancy of the Association's appointments to the Board of Governors may be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and such an appointee shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office of the Governor whose seat is vacated.

ARTICLE IX:      MEETINGS

A. Annual Meeting
i. The Annual Meeting of the Association shall take place at the time of the closing exercises of Acadia University and the date of such meeting shall be announced.

ii. The Board of Directors shall present to the Annual Meeting a full report of its proceedings during the year, and the Treasurer shall present an interim financial statement.

iii. The Association at each Annual Meeting shall appoint an auditor, who shall prepare a final financial statement to be presented to the Board of Directors. A summary of the financial statement shall be published in the Acadia 'Bulletin' .

iv. The fiscal year of the Association shall be April 1 - March 31 in any year and may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

v. The Board of Directors shall meet twice a year, once at Homecoming and once at the Annual Meeting during May convocation. Any ten members shall form a quorum.

vi. Thirty regular members of the Association shall constitute a quorum.

vii. The Executive Committee shall meet when necessary and any five voting members shall form a quorum.
viii. The Executive Committee may call special meetings at such time they may deem advisable.

ix. The President, and in his or her absence one of the Vice-Presidents, and in the absence of all three, any member of the Executive Committee present and chosen by the meeting shall preside at any meeting of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors of the Association.

Regular Meetings of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall meet six times a year when necessary. Any five members shall form a quorum.

ARTICLE X:      ALUMNI BRANCHES

The Board of Directors shall encourage the development of Alumni Branches in any locality, and shall assist where necessary in the Branch activities.

ARTICLE XI:     AMENDMENTS

The Constitution may be amended by any Annual Meeting of the Association by a two-third majority vote of the members present, provided notice of such amendments is given in writing to the members at least thirty days in advance of the Annual Meeting . by placing an advertisement in the provincial and local newspapers and sending an e-mail to as many Alumni as possible by Internet directing Alumni for details to the AAAU web page, and in the Bulletin, if available, but no later than 30 days before the meeting.

ACADIA UNIVERSITY - 2012 STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Athenaeum and Associated Alumni of Acadia University Award
 
Created in 1981, The Student of the Year Award is presented annually to an Acadia student who has excelled throughout his/her time at Acadia. The award is presented to a nominee who has contributed to the Acadia and Wolfville communities and has worked to further the Acadia spirit through his/her extracurricular and/or academic activities.
 
Nominees must be full-time students, with preference given to students who will be graduating in May 2012.
 
Nominees should show good academic standing, but academic achievement is not the ultimate determining factor.
 
Forms should be returned in a sealed envelope to one of the following locations:
 
Information Desk, Students’ Union Building (ATTENTION: ALICIA ROMKEY)
Alumni Hall (ATTENTION: FRED SGAMBATI)
 
Applications could include one or more letters of reference and other supporting materials, such as resumes and unofficial transcripts.
 
Nomination Deadline: Noon on March 16, 2012