MSVU 2023 Special Edition Research Bulletin

Mount Saint Vincent University’s

2023 Special Edition Research Bulletin Inspiring Action: The Impact of Research at MSVU 1873-2023

Published: November 20, 2023

Land Acknowledgement Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) acknowledges our location in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) People first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources, but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

MSVU acknowledges, with deep respect, the long history of cultural traditions of the Mi’kmaq. We are committed to building and maintaining relationships based on the principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirt of reconciliation.

Table of Contents Land Acknowledgement Section 1 - Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction from Dr. Wayne Ingalls, former Director, Research and Special Projects, and Dr. Jacqueline Gahagan, Associate Vice President, Research .................................................... 1 Access and Impact: Our Themes ................................................................................................................... 2 EDIA and Truth & Reconciliation .................................................................................................................... 3 Section 2 - What is Research, Historically? .............................................................................................. 4 The First Research Bulletin ................................................................................................................................. 4 History of the MSVU Research Office ......................................................................................................... 5 The Nancy's Chair & MSVU’s Feminist Endeavours .......................................................................... 6 Section 3 - The Locations of MSVU Research ....................................................................................... 7 Evaristus Hall ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 E. Margaret Fulton Communications Centre ........................................................................................... 9 Seton Academic Centre ...................................................................................................................................... 10 Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Research .............................. 11 Sheila A. Brown Centre for Applied Research ....................................................................................... 12 Research In View: MSVU Library & Archives ......................................................................................... 13 Section 4 - Current MSVU Research .......................................................................................................... 16 2023 Research Excellence Awards .............................................................................................................. 17 Research Chairs at MSVU ................................................................................................................................... 18 The Conversation: 2023 Publications ........................................................................................................ 20 Section 5 - Moving Forward ............................................................................................................................. 24 What Does Research Mean to You? .......................................................................................................... 25 President's Message ............................................................................................................................................ 26

Research Bulletin Published by the MSVU Research Office Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3M 2J6

Introduction to the First Research Bulletin 14 January, 1980 This Bulletin is being launched in an effort to keep researchers better informed about the constantly changing research millieu in Canada.

Between the bulletin's conception and arrival, a number of events have occurred which could have a profound effect upon the Canadian research scene, in general, and Mount Saint Vincent in particular. Given this kind of information, researchers here at the Mount will be better able to exploit the many funding opportunities which exist. My intention is to produce this bulletin as the need arises several times over the academic year. Your comments and suggestions will, of course, be welcomed.

Welcome to our 150th Anniversary Research Bulletin Fall 2023 As Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) marks its 150th anniversary, we are reflecting on and celebrating the growth in research excellence at MSVU in all disciplines and across all types of research.

Over the decades, we have seen a steady increase in the rate of success with external research grant capture, in the number of Canada Research Chairs, Named Research Chairs, and overall research impacts.

The foregrounding of our new 5-year MSVU Research Strategic Plan (2023-2028) also reflects the growing commitment to both the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility and Truth and Reconciliation within research. These principles are central in collectively shifting our thinking about the role of research in our region, nationally and internationally and to embracing a variety of worldviews, topics, and approaches to knowledge development and knowledge translation.

Dr. Wayne B. Ingalls Former Director, Research and Special Projects

Dr. Jacquie Gahagan, ONS Associate Vice President, Research 1

Access & Impact

Photo Credit: MSVU Archives

The theme for the Research Office's celebration of Mount Saint Vincent University's 150th year is Access & Impact.

This Special Edition Research Bulletin serves to highlight the ways in which MSVU’s rich 150-year history has evolved through research, from the creation of the Research Office in 1974 to the current research chairs. Our researchers are dedicated to finding solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, and their work has the power to change lives and transform communities. As MSVU celebrates its 150th anniversary, this Special Edition Research Bulletin is a testament to the university's ongoing commitment to research excellence.

For all underserved groups, Access & Impact are our top priorities. Through research initiatives based on collaborative relationships with the local community, MSVU researchers are solving social, health, and economic issues. Our researchers are enhancing lives across the lifespan, from young children to seniors. Additionally, we are collectively increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion in research. MSVU is the only university in Nova Scotia to advance EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility) in research through the federal Dimensions initiative (Tri-Agency: SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR). The Dimensions team works to foster increased research excellence, innovation and creativity within the post-secondary sector across all disciplines through increased equity, diversity and inclusion. To learn more about Dimensions, visit nserc-crsng.gc.ca/InterAgencyInterorganismes/EDI-EDI/Dimensions_Dimensions_eng.asp. To view the MSVU Dimensions action plan, visit msvu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Dimensions-Action-Plan-PDF.pdf.

In celebrating the 150th anniversary of MSVU, the Advancement Office has established the MSVU 150 Access & Impact Fund to help remove barriers to education. MSVU has been a trailblazer when it comes to making education more accessible to underrepresented populations. Donations to the MSVU 150 Fund: Access & Impact aim for us to continue to open doors for those who face barriers, and to nurture socially responsible global citizens by emphasizing social justice and EDIA in the next 150 years. For more information on the MSVU 150 Fund and MSVU’s 150th anniversary celebrations, visit msvu.ca/150.

Because the world is a better place when a greater diversity of people have access to higher education.

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EDIA and Truth & Reconciliation As stated in the MSVU Strategic Plan, Strength Through Community, (2021-2028) and our Research Strategic Plan (2023-2028), equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) are central to the overall mission of the university. EDIA is also an integral part of the actions MSVU brings to our research ecosystem, including being a national leader in the removal of systemic barriers to full participation in the university experience for all faculty, staff and students, including in relation to research and scholarship. To view the Research Strategic Plan (2023-2028), visit https://www.msvu.ca/research-at-the-mount/about-us/research-office-strategic-plan/.

Specific actions include the review of existing research policies, practices, and procedures to ensure they are informed by anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and decolonizing principles. Noting that MSVU is a signatory of both the Dimensions program and the Scarborough Charter, we are committed to the core principles of these initiatives (https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/EDIEDI/Dimensions_Dimensions_eng.asphttps://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/principal/sites/utsc.utoronto.ca.p rincipal/files/docs/Scarborough_Charter_EN_Nov2022.pdf), which call for a cultural change within the research ecosystem to address obstacles faced by, but not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

MSVU has taken steps to advance Truth and Reconciliation, however, we recognize that more needs to be done. We will build upon efforts already undertaken, with the valued advice of Indigenous community Elders and leaders as our guide. In particular, we are deeply grateful for the continued leadership of the L’nu Advisory Circle at MSVU, a collective of Indigenous and non-Indigenous community, student, faculty and staff representatives dedicated to advancing work in support of Indigenous learners and communities. We will emphasize listening and learning, followed by enduring action.

For more information on MSVU’s commitments to EDIA and Truth and Reconciliation, please see themes three and four of MSVU’s strategic plan at msvu.ca/strategicplan.

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The History of the MSVU Research Office The Research Office was established in 1974 by Dr. Wayne Ingalls, Assistant Academic Dean. With the additional title, Director of Research, Dr. Ingalls struck a Presidental Committee to develop policy and recommend internal grants to faculty from a fund that began at $1,000. He also assisted faculty to write grant proposals. In his 17 years in the office, it consisted of himself and a single administrative assistant, both of whom only worked on research part time.

Under Dr. E. Margaret Fulton, Wayne’s title changed to Director of Research and Special Projects. He described special projects as “gleams in Margaret’s eye.” A good example was the Nancy’s Chair in Women’s Studies, shown on page six. After Dr. Fulton left, in addition to his research duties, Dr. Ingalls was tasked with overseeing the new occupants of the E. Margaret Fulton Communications Centre: the library, Computer Centre, the Duet TV Studio, and audiovisual services. He left the office in 1991 to assume the role of Vice-President Academic.

As the years passed, the MSVU Research Office grew to include the many facets of research, including federally funded grants, which supports the Research Support Fund. The prior Director of Research, Dr. Patrick O’Neil (2003-2005), had shepherded MSVU’s initial Canada Research Chair (CRC) and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) applications to submission – Tier I CRC Dr. Diane Looker and Tier II CRC Dr. Janice Keefe were the first CRC’s at MSVU. Dr. Anthony Davis, Associate Vice President, Research from 2005-2009, described that his “intention from the outset was to employ my appointment to foster the possible among MSVU’s faculty members and programs”.

Today, the Research Office supports events like the Black and Indigenous Speaker Series and New Faculty Orientation, and MSVU’s faculty members in their research endeavours.

The Research Office was built to encourage faculty to do research that makes effective community change, a basis that still stands today. “I simply see it getting stronger and stronger,” Dr. Ingalls said, and the strength of MSVU research is based on this ever-present need for change.

Photo Credit: MSVU Archives 5

The Nancy's Chair & MSVU’s Feminist Endeavours The Nancy Rowell Jackman Chair in Women’s Studies (Nancy’s Chair) was established at Mount Saint Vincent University in the mid1980s. Endowed by well-known Torontobased feminist, philanthropist, and former Senator Nancy Ruth (pictured at right), the Chair raises awareness of women’s issues by bringing to campus distinguished scholars in women’s studies and activists who have contributed to the advancement of women in research. Since 1986, 17 women have held the role of Nancy’s Chair in Women’s Studies.

Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, CM, President Emerita of MSVU, wrote a biography about Nancy Ruth’s life, titled The Unconventional Nancy Ruth. “Her generous feminist philanthropy allowed numerous women's organizations to flourish,” the book description reads, “and her talents for friendship and for controversy meant the work was serious but never dull.”

“Like Nancy herself, this book is rich in surprises and contradictions about a remarkable woman who used her privilege to support social change and the battle to better women’s lives in Canada.”

The presence of the Nancy’s Chair adds substantially to the intellectual strength of Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University and in the Atlantic region. Duties associated with the Chair include teaching, research, and public presentations on campus and around the Atlantic provinces. Past chairs include Dr. Adwoa Onuora (2022-2023), Dr. Janet Conway (2019-2021), Dr. El Jones (2017 – 2019), Catherine Martin (2015 – 2017), Dr. Deborah Stienstra (2013 – 2015), and Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell (2009 – 2012). For more information on the Nancy’s Chairs, visit https://www.msvu.ca/academics/bachelor-of-arts-ba/womensstudies/nancys-chair-in-womens-studies/.

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The Locations of MSVU Research

Photo Credit: MSVU Archives

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Evaristus Hall In 2023, we also celebrate the 74th anniversary of the opening of Evaristus Hall, the location of many of our faculty members, classrooms, departments, and research labs. The first sod was turned on May 11, 1949, and construction on the Echo Lake granite structure shortly followed. The opening of Evaristus Hall, with Charles A.E. Fowler serving as the architect (pictured at right), took on a new significance in light of the fire that destroyed the main building on the Mount campus in 1951. Although registration opened on September 25, an official opening ceremony took place on October 12, 1951. Up until 1966, Evaristus Hall was the only academic, administrative, and residential structure at Mount Saint Vincent College.

Photo Credit: MSVU Archives

Currently, Evaristus Hall houses the academic departments of Psychology, Family Studies and Gerontology, Sociology and Anthropology, as well as faculty offices, research labs, such as the Franz-Odendaal Bone Development Lab, and classrooms. In addition, there are the offices of the President, Vice-President Administration, Vice-President Academic, Financial Services, the Registrar’s Office, Admissions, Communications & Marketing, the Research Office, Student Experience, Residence Life, and Human Resources.

Photo Credit: MSVU Archives 8

The late Dr. E. Margaret Fulton, OC – MSVU President Emerita and exceptional feminist leader Photo Credit: MSVU Archives

E. Margaret Fulton Communications Centre The pre-cast concrete E. Margaret Fulton Communications Centre was completed in 1989, and it links the Seton Academic Centre with a broad, enclosed corridor that is lined with windows, chairs, and tables. This "link" is a multifunctional area that can be used for reading, studying, and socializing. The facility was created with learning and technological integration in mind and was named after the late Dr. E. Margaret Fulton, President Emerita. The Library, learning commons, counseling services, accessibility services, the Teaching & Learning Centre, IT&S, and the digital media zone are currently housed in the building.

The MSVU Library The Mount's academic purpose has been inextricably linked to the Library since 1873. The MSVU Library works to provide the best possible facilities, services, and resources as a physical and virtual hub on campus. The Library offers research assistance that focuses on topic definition, creating a research plan, or finding and utilizing subject-specific sources. All those who are a part of the MSVU community can use this service. The virtual program NovaNet, a group of academic libraries in Nova Scotia that cooperate and collaborate to improve access to information and knowledge, is another resource made available through the MSVU library.

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MSVU President Catherine Wallace on site of Seton construction Photo Credit: MSVU Archives

Seton Academic Centre Seton Academic Centre was built in 1971, housing faculty offices, classrooms, and language labs, the auditorium, the Print Shop, Art Gallery, and Seton Café. The building houses the departments of Cultural Studies, English, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political & Canadian Studies, and the faculty of Education, as well as Deans’ offices.

Alongside Seton Academic Centre is the Seton Annex, located behind the building, which hosts the International Education Centre (IEC). The IEC at MSVU offers personal, academic, cultural, and immigration advising to international students in Canada, as well as any student or faculty wishing to study, research, or conduct projects abroad. The IEC is also home to the University’s English for Academic Purposes programs. The adjacent Child Study Centre is a unique centre of child care services, founded in 1976.

The CSC provides teaching and research opportunities in early childhood.

The MSVU Art Gallery In 1971, Catherine Wallace, the university president, pictured above, established the MSVU Art Gallery. The Gallery serves as a visual arts resource for Mount Saint Vincent University, the communities it serves, residents of Metro Halifax, and the public art audience through its exhibitions and programming. The Annual Community Show, which invites MSVU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their families to display their artistic endeavors, is a significant exhibition. Research in View, shown on page 14, highlights the artistic aspects of MSVU’s research.

Photo Credit: MSVU Art Gallery

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Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Research The Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Research officially opened on May 29, 2015. The McCain Centre, the first structure on a Canadian university campus dedicated to celebrate the accomplishments of women, honors their contributions to business, public policy, family life, academics, the arts, sciences, and community. The building's namesake, the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, has devoted her life to advancing women, early childhood education, social equality, and the arts. The McCain Centre at MSVU houses the departments of Women's Studies, Communication Studies, Business Administration and Tourism in addition to classrooms, seminar rooms, and student study spaces, as well as the Co-operative Education Centre and the Centre for Women in Business.

On May 29, 2015, the Mount unveiled its new Riva Spatz Women’s Wall of Honour. Named for his mother by Dr. Jim Spatz, Chairman and CEO, Southwest Properties Limited, the Riva Spatz Women’s Wall of Honour is located just outside the McCain Centre and is the only installation of its kind in Canada offering a lasting way of honouring women from all walks of life. To view the Virtual Wall, visit womenswallofhonour.ca.

Pictured above, from left to right: Mount President Emerita Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, CM, Dr. Jim Spatz, Chairman and CEO, Southwest Properties Limited, and the Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain, CC, ONB. 11

Dr. Rosemarie Sampson Centre on Aging The Dr. Rosemarie Sampson Centre on Aging provides modern office space that will enable new synergies within the university and beyond in order to embrace the opportunities and challenges of an aging population.

The Centre is located on the 2nd Floor of the Margaret Norrie McCain Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. It is home to the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, the Jessie MacIsaac Campbell Maritime Data Centre, the Lena Isabel Jodrey Chair in Gerontology (Dr. Janice Keefe), and the Canada Research Chair in Global Aging and Community (Dr. Zachary Zimmer). The naming of the Dr. Rosemarie Sampson Centre on Aging is a result of a generous legacy gift from Dr. Rosemarie Sampson (pictured to the left), a MSVU alumna, former faculty member, and Dean.

The Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice The Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender, and Social Justice (AMI) aims to achieve equity and improve lives through feminist initiatives that extend knowledge and understanding of issues related to women, girls, gender, and social justice for the Mount community and beyond. In March 2013, the Institute was named to honor the late Alexa McDonough, former politician and activist, pictured at right. The AMI leads a number of important initiatives, such as the annual Girls’ Conference and the International Day of the Girl Child Celebration. The AMI undertakes research that coordinates, supports, and builds capacity among feminist researchers and creative artists at the Mount. As well, the Institute is committed to education by creating and offering programs in related areas as well as providing gender perspectives in all disciplines.

Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs In July 2014, Dr. Maya Eichler (pictured at left) was selected as Mount Saint Vincent University’s Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Social Innovation and Community Engagement and was awarded funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to develop the Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs. The mission of the Centre is to contribute creative ideas to research and public debate on military and defence policy through a focus on gender, citizenship, communities, and social innovation. Furthermore, the centre aims to conduct research, train graduate and undergraduate students, initiate military-civilian engagements, and study and explore social innovation.

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Sheila A. Brown Centre for Applied Research

The Centre is named for Dr. Sheila A. Brown, the Mount’s 9th President (1996-2006) and, subsequently, President Emerita, pictured above in front of the Centre.

Opened in 2018, the Sheila A. Brown Centre for Applied Research is home to researchers in areas of human health ranging from healthy food product development (for example, food innovations in the Medavie Community Kitchen led by Dr. Bohdan Luhovyy and Dr. Shannan Grant) to infant nutrition (in the Milk and Micronutrient Assessment Lab led by Dr. Kyly Whitfield), Alzheimer’s disease detection (leading work by Dr. Ian Pottie) and early childhood development (in the Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre led by Canada Research Chair Dr. JessieLee McIsaac).

“Sharing knowledge and inviting the community to be part of that process is exemplified in this building,” said Dr. Brown.

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The Research in View (RiV) exhibition showcased a visual representation of scholarship from across disciplines at Mount Saint Vincent University, and was displayed in the MSVU Library from 2021-2023.

Dissemination of academic research often involves the written word published in books or scholarly journals.

RiV exhibition participants used a variety of mediums such as mixed media, musical performance, painting, photography, textiles, sculpture, and video compilation to explore new and alternative forms of scholarly communication to connect audiences with their research. RiV encouraged intentional, arts-informed practices in research to deepen understanding, enrich scholarship, encourage community partnerships, and enhance public engagement in academia through the creative process.

Dr. Phillip Joy, Department of Applied Human Nutrition, Through the Looking Glass

Dr. Reina Green, Department of English, Malvolia's Corset Elizabethan-style corset

Dr. Zachary Zimmer, Department of Family Studies & Gerontology, Stories Stored in our Blood

Holly Meuse, RSW The Role of Mi’kmaw Art and Lifelong Learning in Sustaining Mi’kmaq Culture

Atlantis: Critical Studies in Gender, Culture & Social Justice/Études critiques sur le genre, la culture

Kenya Thompson, Prefigurative Care: Everydayness and Activism in Nova Scotia’s Childcare Deserts

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Dr. Daphne Lordly, Department of Applied Human Nutrition (Research Team: Daphne Lordly, Jennifer Brady, Kathryn Fraser), The Making of Sense and Self: Understandings of Compassion, Creativity and Coherence Fibre

Dr. Krista Ritchie, Faculty of Education, Latent Beauty Dr. Stephanie Mason, Faculty of Education, WHAT MATTERS: Material Object Interactions for Adults Informal Learning in Public Places Installation

Dr. Michelle Forrest, Faculty of Education, 20/20 : A Year of Drawing Blind

Dr. Ashwani Kumar, Faculty of Education, Raag Yaman Kalyan

Dr. Tamara FranzOdendaal, Department of Biology, Larval seahorse stained

Dr. Karen MacFarlane, Department of English, Island of the Dolls

Dr. Tianyuan Yu, Department of Business and Tourism, Eating as a mindful Zen practice

Dr. Jeff MacLeod, Department of Political Studies, Mother of Wild Things

Dr. Ardra Cole, Shirley Hardin, Dr. Margie Knickle, Beth McAra, Theresa Myra, Faculty of Education, Grow Old Along with Me: The Meaning of Dogs in Seniors’ Lives

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Current MSVU Research

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2023 Research Excellence Award Dr. Anna Smol Dr. Anna Smol is the 2023 winner of MSVU’s prestigious Research Excellence Award. Presented during MSVU’s spring convocation, the award celebrates Dr. Smol’s outstanding research achievements in her field. Additionally, she was honoured with the title of Professor Emerita, for her significant contributions to academia.

Dr. Smol is a professor in the Department of English at MSVU. She holds a BA Hons from Concordia University and an MA and PhD from Queen’s University, specializing in Old English literature. Her research endeavours have encompassed a wide array of subjects, including J.R.R. Tolkien studies, medievalism, medieval literature, and higher education pedagogy.

Notably, Dr. Smol is an accomplished Tolkien scholar and currently serves on the editorial board of Mallorn, the peer-reviewed journal of the Tolkien Society. Dr. Smol’s most recent research, which is supported by funding from SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), focuses on the influence of medieval literature in Tolkien’s work, specifically with his writing in the style of Old English poetry, known as alliterative verse. With her team of research assistants, she has produced a website called, “Tolkien and Alliterative Verse.” The website serves as a valuable resource for students researchers and poets interested in studying and exploring Tolkein’s work.

The recipient of two MSVU teaching awards, in 1993 and 2011, Dr. Smol has supervised numerous honours students and research assistants. She is also an active member of MSVU’s Community for Arts-Informed Research and Teaching. Receiving the MSVU Award for Research Excellence is a testament to Dr. Smol’s profound contributions to her field, and underscores her commitment to advancing knowledge, inspiring future scholars, and uncovering the complexities of medieval literature in addition to its relevance in modern society.

To view Dr. Smol’s writing on The Conversation Canada, visit https://theconversation.com/profiles/ anna-smol-1367439.

“He used to spend a long time on a single leaf, trying to catch its shape, and its sheen, and the glistening of dewdrops on its edges.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, “Leaf by Niggle”

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2023 Early Career Research Award Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac has been recognized with the prestigious Early Career Research Award at Mount Saint Vincent University. Presented during the university’s 2023 spring convocation celebrations, the award highlights Dr. McIsaac’s exceptional contributions to the research community generally and her significant impact on early childhood development research in particular.

Dr. McIsaac is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education and the Department of Child and Youth Study at MSVU. She is also a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Early Childhood: Diversity and Transitions and directs the Mount’s Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre (ECCRC). Her academic background includes a PhD in Public Health and an MSc in Health Promotion from the University of Alberta, along with a BSc in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University. Previously, she served as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate Research Scholar at Dalhousie University’s Healthy Populations Institute.

Dr. McIsaac is a dedicated researcher who specializes in early childhood development. Her primary focus is to understand and address the needs of marginalized families. One mainstay of Dr. McIsaac’s research is to use the perspectives of families to understand how societal factors impact their health and overall well-being. Dr. McIsaac also aims to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice. She goes beyond traditional research outputs to make research as accessible as possible for a wider audience. Additionally, she believes in a collaborative approach to research, working closely with researchers, community members, policymakers and research participants to co-produce research that influences both policy and program design.

Dr. McIsaac’s recent research has delved into various critical early childhood development and education aspects. One recent example is an exhibit from a newcomer family photovoice project that has been shown in multiple community locations such as parks, libraries, museums, and government institutions. In addition, she has undertaken research funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research investigating the impact of COVID-19 on families in the Maritime region.

Receiving this award is a testament to Dr. McIsaac’s outstanding early-career accomplishments and leadership across her research endeavours.

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Research Chairs at MSVU Dr. Zachary Zimmer, Professor – Family Studies and Gerontology Tier I Canada Research Chair in Global Aging and Community Dr. Zimmer directs the Global Aging and Community Initiative, a demographically oriented research center focused on the health of older persons worldwide. His research covers a range of topics related to the health and welfare of older persons studied in a global and comparative perspective. He has published over 100 articles in scientific journals that cross disciplines, such as gerontology, sociology, demography, public health, medicine, and epidemiology.

To learn more about Dr. Zimmer’s research, visit globalagingandcommunity.com/.

Dr. Maya Eichler, Associate Professor – Political Studies and Women’s Studies Tier II Canada Research Chair in Social Innovation and Community Engagement Dr. Eichler leads the Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs. Her academic interests include feminist international relations theory, gender and armed forces, veterans and military families, and security privatization.

To learn more about Dr. Eichler’s research, visit msvu.ca/researchat-the-mount/centres-and-institutes/centre-for-social-innovationand-community-engagement-in-military-affairs/.

Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac, Associate Professor – Faculty of Education and Department of Child and Youth Study Tier II Canada Research Chair in Early Childhood: Diversity and Transitions Dr. McIsaac is the Director of the Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre and is the Principal Investigator of the centre’s projects. She studies early childhood and educational policy initiatives using an engaged scholarship approach to co-produce research that mobilizes knowledge for and with marginalized families.

To learn more about Dr. McIsaac’s research, visit msvu.ca/researchat-the-mount/centres-and-institutes/early-childhood-collaborativeresearch-centre/.

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Research Chairs at MSVU Dr. Jennifer Khoury, Assistant Professor – Department of Psychology Tier II Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies in Neuroscience Dr. Khoury has been involved in a number of federally funded projects in both Canada and the United States. Recently, Dr. Khoury received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant to examine child social-emotional development within the family context. Dr. Khoury leads the Developmental Psychobiology Research Centre, where her team examines how early life experiences influence child biological, psychological, and social development.

To learn more about Dr. Khoury’s research, visit dpresearchcentre.com/.

Dr. Jamie Metsala, Professor - Department of Education Gail and Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Learning Disabilities Dr. Metsala’s research and dissemination activities focus on equitable access to academic achievement for all young children and youth, including those with or at risk for learning disabilities. She engages with community to address the link between instructional approaches in our schools and social justice issues. Dr. Metsala was recently one of two content area experts on the Ontario Human Rights Commission's Right to Reading public inquiry. The findings are influencing how young students and those with dyslexia are taught to read in Ontario, Nova Scotia and across the nation.

Dr. Janice Keefe, Professor & Chair - Department of Family Studies & Gerontology Lena Isabel Jodrey Chair in Gerontology In 2002, Dr. Janice Keefe was selected as Mount Saint Vincent’s first Canada Research Chair in Aging and Caregiving Policy which she held from 2002-2012. Dr. Keefe has received numerous provincial, national and international recognition of her research. In 2006, she was awarded the Lena Isabel Jodrey Chair in Gerontology and appointed Director of the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging. Dr. Keefe’s research areas are caregiving policy and practice, continuing care policy and projecting the needs of older Canadians in the future.

To learn more about Dr. Keefe’s research, visit msvu.ca/research-atthe-mount/centres-and-institutes/nova-scotia-centre-on-aging/.

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The Conversation Canada: 2023 Publications MSVU is proud to be an academic partner of The Conversation Canada, a daily independent online publication, delivering analysis and explanatory journalism from the academic and research community directly to the public. It’s a not-for-profit collaboration, where professional editors work directly with academics and researchers to publish articles for a wide audience. To view the current MSVU Faculty publications in The Conversation, visit https://theconversation.com/institutions/mount-saint-vincent-university-3741 February 1, 2023

Dying to be seen: Why women’s risk for heart disease and stroke is still higher than men’s in Canada Jacquie Gahagan, Associate Vice-President, Research and Shannan M. Grant, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Human Nutrition Women are often under-diagnosed and under-treated for heart disease and may be unaware of their specific risk factors. Clinical and research practices need to reflect the diversity of women in Canada.

March 14, 2023

Pregnant during the pandemic: Long-term effects and the importance of social support Kiera O'Neil, Manager, Developmental Psychobiology Research Centre Jennifer E. Khoury, Assistant Professor, Tier II Canada Research Chair in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Being pregnant and giving birth during the pandemic meant disruptions in pregnancy care and birth experiences, as well as detrimental effects on mental health and birth outcomes.

March 19, 2023

3 ways to unlock the power of food to promote heart health Shannan M. Grant, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Human Nutrition, ; Andrea J. Glenn, Harvard University, and Dayna Lee-Baggley, Dalhousie University Research shows the key to changing your diet is focusing on changing eating habits and food behaviours, one at a time.

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The Conversation Canada: 2023 Publications Mass Casualty Commission report details the Nova Scotia shooter’s abuse of sex workers

March 30, 2023

Meredith Ralston, Professor of Women's Studies and Political Studies, and Gayle MacDonald, Professor, Women's Studies The mass casualty commission report into the Nova Scotia mass murders outlines the perpetrator’s history of sexual abuse toward sex workers and what should be done to prevent it from happening again.

In Canada’s two-tiered mental health system, access to care is especially challenging in rural areas

April 2, 2023

Conor Barker, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology & Faculty of Education Krista C Ritchie, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education; Sara King, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, and Veronica Hutchings, Memorial University of Newfoundland Rural Canadians face challenges accessing mental health services, and an exodus of psychologists from the public system may make matters worse.

June 1, 2023

5 things to know about Drag Queen Story Time Conor Barker, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology & Faculty of Education and Daniel G. Seguin, Professor, Department of Psychology Drag Queen Story Time events have faced backlash and protests recently. But contrary to misconceptions, these events can support child development and promote acceptance.

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The Conversation Canada: 2023 Publications June 8, 2023

Even after an indictment on federal charges, ‘persecuted’ Donald Trump could win again Jeff MacLeod, Professor, Political Studies and Public Policy Studies Donald Trump has carved out an aspect of the survivalist trope so adroitly that it led to unexpected political success in 2016. It could easily happen again in 2024.

July 13, 2023

Joys of summer reading: the books we’re devouring are likely influenced by someone we know and trust DeNel Rehberg Sedo, Professor, Department of Communication Studies and Danielle Fuller, University of Alberta Even for people who regularly look to social media platforms for book recommendations, recommendations from friends, family members or colleagues are a main way of choosing what to read.

August 30, 2023

Saskatchewan naming and pronoun policy: The best interests of children must guide provincial parental consent rules Conor Barker, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology & Faculty of Education and Patrick Richards, University of Saskatchewan Elected officials must consider relevant research and legal context when shaping education policies. Otherwise, they risk destabilizing classrooms and harming students.

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The Conversation Canada: 2023 Publications September 17, 2023

Hollywood letters of support for Danny Masterson demonstrate the pervasiveness of myths about rape culture Meredith Ralston, Professor of Women's Studies and Political Studies In letters to the judge, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis asked for Masterson to be shown leniency based on his supposedly good character.

October 10, 2023

Reading disabilities are a human rights issue — Saskatchewan joins calls to address barriers Andrea Fraser, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education A report from the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission outlines government and school responsibilities for educating students with disabilities and calls for changes in reading instruction.

October 29, 2023

Pup Play: Kink communities can help people build connections and improve their body image Phillip Joy, Assistant Professor, Applied Human Nutrition and Kinda Wissef, Research Assistant, Applied Human Nutrition Pup play communities can help tackle problematic ideas about masculinity and provide space for personal development and self-expression.

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Moving Forward

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What does MSVU Research Mean to You? As part of our 150th Anniversary celebration, members of the MSVU community were anonymously surveyed and asked “What Does MSVU Research Mean to You?” “To me, MSVU research means achieving gains in understanding underrepresented populations through rigorous, thoughtful, novel research that is based on the scientific method and disseminated via thoughtful platforms.“

“For me, MSVU research means improved access, for under-represented individuals, to post-secondary education. MSVU research means enhanced student experience as well as the provision of socially just, equitable, innovative and inclusive pedagogies.

MSVU research means mitigating barriers and identifying supports for vulnerable individuals and communities. MSVU research means diversity is celebrated and that relevant Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action are being fulfilled. MSVU research means opportunities for peer to peer and faculty to student mentorship and collaborations. Overall, MSVU research means a better society for all.”

“Collaboration with colleagues on human behavior and organizational strategy/issues that can lead to insight into how to be more innovative and how to better make more effective decisions, and solve either long-term or current problems. The research has to, in our field, be practical more so than academic so that organizations can implement recommendations and ideas directly from the research findings. A different spin than scientific or non-professional academic research but nonetheless just as important because the impact of business research in today's world is designed to help organizations expand conventional business success metrics to include an organization's contributions to social wellbeing, environmental health, and not just the economy.”

“Lifting voices that have been historically silenced.

Creating dialogue. Changing minds.”

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President's Message Looking to our next 150 years

At Mount Saint Vincent University, we believe that access to education is a powerful tool that can impact lives and communities. As stated in the MSVU Strategic Plan, Strength Through Community, we understand that research plays a critical role in advancing knowledge, promoting social justice, and creating positive change. The second theme of our MSVU Strategic Plan, research, scholarly work, and professional activity, aims to enhance and expand the ability of our researchers to conduct work that supports the advancement of women, girls, and other marginalized groups, social responsibility, and social justice. We work to encourage research that is community-based and engages students of all levels in research endeavours, ranging from undergraduate research through to the world-renown programs of research among our faculty members.

The MSVU community is made up of a diverse group of individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in the world. From our faculty and staff to our students and alumni, we all share a common goal: to make a positive impact on the world around us. We are proud of the work we do, including the research and scholarly work conducted by our students and faculty, and we are committed to building a better future through the interconnectedness of education, research, and community engagement.

As we move forward, MSVU will continue to uphold our values: academic freedom, accountability, creativity, engagement, professionalism, and respect. These values are at the heart of everything we do, and they guide us as we work to create a better future for all. From reviewing our past 150 years, we become excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, in research and scholarly work, and we look forward to continuing to challenge the status quo at Mount Saint Vincent University and beyond.

Joël Dickinson, PhD President and Vice-Chancellor Mount Saint Vincent University 26

Notes

Because the world is a better place when a greater diversity of people have access to higher education.

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Designed & Created by Elayna Foran, MSVU 150 Research Ambassador

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