for Acadia

You grew up in Florenceville, New Brunswick. What informed your decision to come to Acadia, and what was the campus like when you arrived?

I think that growing up in a small place like Florenceville, I was naturally drawn to the idea of a close-knit and supportive community, and I guess when I look back on it, Acadia offered exactly that. To be completely honest, I didn't give it a great deal of thought because it kind of made perfect sense to me that Acadia would be my choice. You know, hearing the stories of other people’s experiences with their friends and professors made it very appealing, the fact that my brother Stephen (’81) was there and having fun and enjoying it, and that many of my family members had attended Acadia, it was very familiar to me. That was certainly a factor. I think I also chose Acadia because obviously it had a strong reputation for academics, and great school spirit. That was apparent from my siblings, and clearly apparent when I arrived in those early days. And the community involvement, along with the small learning environment that Acadia offered, was a big draw. When I arrived on campus, it was welcoming. It felt warm. I'm sure that was part of the familiarity factor, and I was with my brother. That was quite nice and helped me to settle in.

Had you visited the campus prior to attending as a student?

Yes. There was that familiarity, and at that stage in one's life, it's a big transition. Acadia was like a second home. Then you layer on the gorgeousness, the sheer beauty of the campus, and you have this wonderful photo-perfect town for yourself. It made it really appealing and, honestly, when I think back about it, it was an obvious choice.

How did being at Acadia influence your life and career?

I think that Acadia, and the experience I had at Acadia, played an important role in shaping my life and career, and I don't think I really understood the impact of my time at Acadia until a lot later. Acadia encouraged me to take more risks than I otherwise would have and to embrace new opportunities. When you do that, it provides a solid foundation for the challenges and future endeavours you undertake. When you think about Acadia, the experience is one of small class sizes that allow you to have connections with your professors and to meet other students more easily. It also provides opportunities to engage, which helped me gain confidence in my abilities. My experiences at Acadia definitely prepared me for so much of what I did and where I went in years after in such a positive way.

Can we chat about what Acadia offers academically and the experiential learning opportunities at the University? It seems like we encourage students to dip their toe in the water a little bit, and it sounds like you had a similar experience.

Yes. I think you said it exactly right. The opportunity to dip your toe without having to fully commit to a particular trajectory is really empowering. It helps you figure out what you like and don't like and provides clarity about directions that you want to take.

What were your takeaways upon graduation?

When I think about the takeaways from my experience, having done my undergraduate at Acadia and lived and worked there and had that very full experience, I would say that I certainly left Acadia with more than just a degree. I gained lifelong friendships, a strong sense of community, and the confidence to take on challenges. I also developed a lot of skills that helped prepare me and served me well. The key thing I came away with was a deep appreciation for the value of that small, supportive learning environment. Having those opportunities helps to build confidence as you move forward, and I had a lot of fun, too!

It was more than just an education. How do I describe it? It’s a perfect setting in which to live, to grow, to experience things at a time in your life when there's so much uncertainty. It was an exceptional experience and I was, quite frankly, lucky to have it.

You and your family have long supported Acadia and generations of students. As you embrace this new role as Chancellor, how important and meaningful is that filial history? What does it represent?

My family's connection to Acadia is a source of great pride. So many members of my family, going back to my father, Andrew H. McCain (’46), either attended Acadia or had other family members attend right up to the present day, most recently nieces, nephews, and two of my children. I had many cousins and uncles choose Acadia for their education so there is a very strong family connection. And it's interesting, as I think of it, that Acadia’s values align with the values in my own family regarding education and community. Those are two very important points of connectivity, and makes taking on the role of Chancellor a tremendous honour. I hope that I do a good job and continue to have that deep engagement with the University.

What do you see for Acadia over the next few years?

I'm sure Acadia will continue to innovate while staying true to its core values of community, inclusivity and academic excellence, and will continue to respond to the needs of students, through programs or technology needs or new kinds of partnerships that will best serve the students as they move forward and meet challenges in a very challenging world.

I see Acadia being innovative in that way and adapting to the needs of our students. The University is also really focused on student well-being, and my role as Chancellor is to be supportive in any way that I can to help it move forward. The question is, how do we adapt and educate students to prepare them for the world they're going to go into?

What makes Acadia continue to be a relevant and reasonable choice for students today?

Acadia remains a top choice for students, mainly because it offers a personalized education the larger institutions simply can't match. The close-knit community, smaller class sizes, access to professors: you get all of those at Acadia and they provide a truly unique learning experience. Students are not just numbers. They're part of an environment that hopefully fosters leadership, teaches them how to think, and teaches problem-solving skills. Those skills are needed in the future regardless of where the education sector goes. In this competitive space of post-secondary education, Acadia really stands out for its ability to deliver that academic rigour and the social aspect that also leads to tremendous personal growth. Acadia occupies a unique space, and I believe that it will remain important and relevant to students going forward.

What role does Acadia’s alumni play in the University’s future?

Alumni are the backbone of the University and the University’s future. Not only do they provide financial support, but they are the best ambassadors out there, sharing their experiences and success stories with the world. An even more important role that I think they play is in mentoring current students, offering career guidance and helping students develop connections that extend beyond graduation. Their involvement is critical for the University, ensuring that it remains vibrant, thriving and supportive. That's the core of Acadia. We want to offer a supportive environment for our students and alumni play a very important role in that, whether as financial supporters, but also, as I said, to be out there talking about the University, sharing stories and engaging with our student body, giving advice, or providing students with opportunities to meet others in different sectors so they can move forward in their careers. The role of our alumni and their importance can't be overstated.

What do you wish for Acadia?

If I were to have a wish for Acadia, it would be that it continues as a place where students are given the tools to reach their full potential, academically and personally. I hope that the University remains a leader in fostering that sense of community, offering a diverse environment in which to innovate while staying true to its roots, and providing a supportive, student-focused situation. Most importantly, I hope that Acadia continues to inspire future generations of students to make meaningful contributions to their communities, locally and in the greater world. I'm thrilled to take on the role of Chancellor and to be helpful in a positive way to facilitate that.