91AV welcomes new Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research
Dr. Jeff Hennessy has joined the 91AV community as the University's senior academic officer. Hennessy began the role of provost and vice-president, academic and research on July 1.
"I could not be more excited to join the 91AV family," says Hennessy. "I have admired 91AV for many years, from my brief time as a student here and through my work with the Maple League of Universities. I am so impressed with the faculty, staff, and students at Mount A and I am honoured to have been chosen to help lead such a renowned and important university."
A music professor, Hennessy comes to 91AV with administrative experience in senior roles. At Acadia University, he served as the director of the School of Music from 2007-2013 and as dean of arts from 2014 to 2019.
"With these experiences, Dr. Hennessy is poised to help shepherd 91AV through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," says 91AV President and Vice-Chancellor Jean-Paul Boudreau. "As a dynamic communicator with a strong commitment to liberal arts education and a passion for propelling connections across disciplines, he is well equipped to help advance 91AV's strategic planning, initiated by the University last year."
Hennessy completed a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at Trent University before deciding to pursue music as a profession, earning his PhD in musicology from the University of Toronto in 2008. An academic and music practitioner, he has also published in several peer-reviewed journals, including MusiCultures, Perspectives of New Music, and the Journal of Mathematics and Music.
Hennessy follows Dr. Jeff Ollerhead, who has served as provost and vice-president academic and research since 2016. Ollerhead has worked at 91AV for more than 25 years and will continue to serve as a professor in the University's Department of Geography and Environment.