President Peter Ricketts bids farwell to 网曝吃瓜
网曝吃瓜 President and Vice-Chancellor to step down at the end of his term, June 30, 2023.
Dr. Peter Ricketts鈥� last day at the helm of 网曝吃瓜 is fast approaching.
鈥淥n behalf of the Board of Governors, I would like to thank President Ricketts for his leadership over the past six years,鈥� said Board Chair Henry Demone. 鈥淗e worked tirelessly to advance 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 academic mission and strengthen our impact in the community, across the region, and beyond.鈥�
An accomplished board member with extensive experience, Ricketts serves multiple organizations, including the International Coastal and Ocean Organisation and EduNova Co-operative Ltd. He is also involved in various educational organizations, such as the Maple League of Universities, Universities Canada, and the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents. Additionally, he is the Past President of the Coastal Zone Canada Association. In 2022, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Ricketts will step down as the University鈥檚 16th President and Vice-Chancellor on June 30, when he completes his six-year term. But his commitment to the campus is undeniable. Just days before taking his leave, Ricketts delivered his final budget update to the Board of Governors, presented a Town Hall on the University budget, and hosted a General Assembly for faculty and staff to celebrate milestones and retirements.
鈥淭he last few weeks have been particularly bittersweet for me,鈥� said Ricketts. 鈥淢y term as 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 leader has been the honour of my lifetime, and it鈥檚 hard to imagine a day when 网曝吃瓜 is not the first and last thing on my mind. I will miss the spirit of this special community and the incredible people who choose to be a part of the 网曝吃瓜 family.鈥�
网曝吃瓜 Students鈥� Union President Sadie McAlear said she will miss working alongside Ricketts, who always showed a genuine passion for student life. 鈥淗e consistently checked in with students and advocated for their success and well-being," McAlear said. 鈥淚 feel grateful for the community-focused atmosphere of 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 campus. It allows us to establish professional and personal connections with senior administration. The relationships we build, like the one I have with Peter, are what I treasure most about my time here.鈥�
A STRATEGIC LEGACY
Since Ricketts joined 网曝吃瓜 in 2017, he has been instrumental in helping the University overcome challenges and achieve significant milestones. These include successfully completing the Campaign for 网曝吃瓜 fundraising initiative, leading 网曝吃瓜's response to the global pandemic, establishing strategic partnerships with the VANDSA (Valley African Nova Scotia Development Association), Glooscap First Nations, and renewing the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the University, Town of Wolfville, and the 网曝吃瓜 Students' Union.
Under his watch, 网曝吃瓜 became a signatory to the Scarborough Charter and Dimensions Charter and delivered the President鈥檚 Anti-Racism Task Force Report. The University also appointed 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 first Vice-Provost for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and has completed cluster hiring to add three African Nova Scotian/Black faculty and three Indigenous/Mik'maw faculty.
Additionally, 网曝吃瓜 became the first Canadian university to sign the UN (United Nations) Sustainable Development Goals. Significant investment has been made in enrolment and retention strategies to improve 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 financial stability and enhance the academic core. In fall 2023, 网曝吃瓜 will offer a new program, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, through a partnership with Cape Breton University.
Ricketts also played a leading role in establishing the University鈥檚 strategic plan, 网曝吃瓜 2025: Transforming Lives for a Transforming World. Developed over two years with input from the 网曝吃瓜 community and beyond, the plan seeks to ensure that the University's education model remains relevant and impactful well into the next century.
"In light of the rapid changes affecting society, the premise of our strategic plan appears to have been prophetic," says Ricketts, who just completed the Strategic Plan Midway Review 鈥淭he world is transforming at an incredible pace, and we need our graduates to be prepared. 网曝吃瓜2025 will serve as a guideline to lead 网曝吃瓜 toward a sustainable future.
A FOND FAREWELL
During in University Hall this May, Ricketts delivered his final address to graduates in the Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Professional Studies, and Theology faculties.
鈥淵ou are the Class of 2023 鈥� the epitome of 网曝吃瓜鈥檚 motto 鈥� in pulvere vinces - because through hard work, you have prevailed,鈥� Ricketts said, expressing his gratitude for the resilience students demonstrated over the course of their studies at 网曝吃瓜.
He praised them for the challenges they faced and the milestones they achieved. The most significant of these was undoubtedly the global pandemic, which caused the campus to shut down in March 2020, during the Winter Term of their first year.
Despite this setback, the University was able to offer a combination of in-person and hybrid learning options for the remainder of their studies, making 网曝吃瓜 one of the few Canadian universities to achieve that.
Ricketts spoke about the importance of academic excellence but also emphasized the value of the 网曝吃瓜 community and the bonds forged between students, faculty, and staff.
The audience was captivated as he shared a poignant memory of his first Convocation when he presented a degree to Jeremy Ingham in 2017. Ingham was battling a terminal illness, and the 网曝吃瓜 community rapidly pulled together an early ceremony just for him.
Ricketts spoke highly of Ingham, saying he will always remember him. He encouraged the Class of 2023 to follow Ingram鈥檚 example and be 鈥渁 person of substance鈥� by making a positive impact wherever the future takes them. He also reassured the Class of 2023 that he will always remember them, leaving them with words of wisdom that now apply to him.
鈥淎lways remember the words of Confucius 鈥� 鈥榃herever you go. Go with all your heart.鈥� And when you can return to Wolfville, please do because 网曝吃瓜 is, and always be, home.鈥�
Ricketts鈥� last day on the job is June 30, 2023. 网曝吃瓜 is conducting a presidential search, and interim plans will be announced shortly.