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Dr. Mike Smit appointed Dean, Faculty of Management

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Click here to read the full announcement. Congrats Mike!

Photo: Cody Turner

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Management appointed Dr. Mike Smit (Professor, Department of Information Science) to the role of dean this summer for a five-year term following an international search.

Dr. Smit, an Information Science professor and researcher at Dal for 11 years, is uniquely positioned to guide the future of management education at Atlantic Canada’s largest university. In addition to his impressive list of credentials and awards, he has demonstrated his commitment to, and passion for, the university, the students, the region, and his colleagues.

He has also served as acting dean of the Faculty for the past 18 months.

“It is a privilege and an honour to continue to serve this Faculty,” says Dr. Smit. “I first came to Dalhousie because I wanted to do cool things with smart people, and it’s a privilege to do that every day. I look forward to continuing to spend time connecting beyond our walls: with alumni, businesses, government and public institutions, and friends.”

Dr. Kim Brooks, Dal’s vice-chancellor and president, preceded Dr. Smit in the role. She says she is “excited to see the Faculty of Management’s trajectory during its next chapter.”

“Through the pandemic, leadership transitions, and a recent restructuring of the Faculty, Dr. Smit’s leadership has brought a welcome sense of stability,” she says. “Even more important than his intellect and institutional knowledge, Dr. Smit has excelled in this role because of his ability to connect with those around him and to lead with levity, joy, and straight-talk, even in the most challenging situations.”

‘Passionate, tenacious, and generous’ Dr. Vivian Howard retires

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Read the full story here: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/news-events/news/2024/05/17/dr__vivian_howard_retirement.html

After 30 years in the classroom, Dr. Vivian Howard thinks she’s taught her final course — and it was extra special. Anna Jacquart, her daughter, was a student in that final class. Anna was born in 1994 when her mother was completing the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS). It seems fitting that Dr. Howard, who recently retired, share her passion with her daughter as she works toward the same degree.

After moving to Halifax in the early 1990s so her husband could take a position at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), Dr. Howard wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. A friend had completed a Master of Library Science at the University of British Columbia and she liked the idea of a flexible, professional designation that built on her experience.

It was an exciting time to be studying library science, she explains. Computers were new and discussions about the internet were just beginning. “I knew these were going to be big things. Things that were going to shift how we learn and navigate in the world,” says Dr. Howard.

‘The Meryl Streep of professors’

After graduation, Dr. Howard worked as a librarian at NSCAD and the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS) and, in 1996, Dr. Bertrum MacDonald reached out. Then Director of the School of Information Management (SIM), Dr. MacDonald invited her to teach a course in Information Sources in the Humanities and Social Sciences. As she explains, “I was learning at the same time [the students] were learning. It was a real pleasure.”

“Vivian stood out in her very first class, and quickly demonstrated both academic prowess and a suite of management capabilities,” says Dr. MacDonald, now a professor emeritus in the faculty. “Her thoughtful, caring, outgoing personality is an important factor in her numerous successes as a teacher and colleague.”

Her students agree. “The teaching and research of Dr. Howard is what first drew me as a student to the MLIS and she is among the top reasons I remain here,” says Alison Brown, an instructor in the Department of Information Science, and an Interdisciplinary PhD candidate. “Our cohort referred to Vivian as ‘the Meryl Streep of professors’ — fiercely bright, unflappable, versatile, unwaveringly committed, graceful, and elegant. I have had the enormous privilege of learning from Vivian as her student, supervisee, mentee, colleague, and friend.”

Morgan Paul: Seeking solutions to gaps in the publishing industry

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Read full story here: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/news-events/news/2023/10/25/seeking_solutions_to_gaps_in_the_publishing_industry.html

Morgan Paul loves when October rolls around. She says,“it’s holistic and a really good month for me.” The second-year Master of Information student from the Maliseet First Nation in New Brunswick finds Mi’kmaw History Month in Nova Scotia, and the month-long focus on Indigenous culture, energizing and a chance for connection.

Not only is Paul interested in the cultural events, like workshops on traditional beading and drum making, she’s excited about the dialogue on Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS), the right of Indigenous People to own, control, access, and steward data about their communities, lands and culture.

Currently building the framework for her master’s thesis, Paul is examining gaps between open access practices, which ensure academic research is available to everyone, and IDS guidelines. She says, “There’s lots of points of contention between the two,” but she wants to find ways of making them more supportive of one another.

Among the many concerns about academic publishing is its inherent tie to colonial structures like the ‘Indian Act’, passed in 1876. As Paul points out, policy governing Indigenous Canadians is full of assumptions — in this case, an assumption that Indigenous people gather and share information like all other Canadians.

Having just published her first academic article, Looking to the Future: Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Policy in Canada, Paul notes that the open access publisher Pathfinder didn’t require her to submit a positionality statement that tells readers about her relationship to the subject matter.

Instead, Paul included this in her opening. “This paper has been written through a First Nations lens as these are my own people and this is an IDS context I am capable of appropriately examining.” She is appreciative that Pathfinder was willing to publish her article when other open access publications just said no.

Profiles: 2023 MI Interns at Dalhousie Libraries

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Many of our MI students complete internships with Dalhousie Libraries during their studies. Internships are just one of the work-integrated learning opportunities available to students in our program.

Lucy Pauker, Hailey Wills, Catherine Gracey, Alissa Kossar, and Alison Brierley all completed internships at Dalhousie Libraries this year. Click here to read their profiles, and learn more about why they came to the MI program, and what projects they worked on at their respective libraries. Their stories illustrate the breadth of experiences available in our program and the field.

Special thanks to Dalhousie Libraries for their continued support of our students!

In Memoriam: Lise Fortier (MLIS ’02)

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SIM is sad to report that MLIS alumna, Lise Fortier, has passed away.

From the obituary:

Lise Fortier, age 47, born and of Saskatoon died on June 2nd, 2023. Lise is survived by her husband, her parents (J-Michel & Dorothy Fortier), her sisters (Paula & Laura Fortier), her nephews, her niece, and loving in-laws.

After graduating from Bishop J Mahoney HS in 1993, Lise studied at USask. She then attended Dalhousie University to pursue her goal to become a librarian. Lise worked at Saskatoon Public Library for over 25 years. She enjoyed working with the public and providing them with the services they needed.

Lise loved stories in all formats: books, movies, TV shows, and told. Hearing stories and recommendations for books, movies, and TV shows from friends and strangers always entertained her. It was a great way to expand her knowledge and expose her to new interests.

Gaining new experiences was something Lise sought. Learning new skills was always a pursuit. Lise learned how to sew, which allowed her to add dresses to her already extensive collection and to create items for her home. She had a friend teach her how to cross stitch so she could make fun gifts for the people she knew. She also took Spanish lessons to use on her travels. Lise looked for adventurous activities to try as well, like ziplining in the mountains, surfing, and white-water rafting. She was open to new experiences. Lise enjoyed cooking and baking. She kept growing her recipe collection. She and her husband were fond of supporting local restaurants and searching out new places to eat. On their travels, they would seek out good places to eat with a focus on local cuisine. Sometimes Lise would be inspired to try to make similar meals at home, as long as it was not too complicated. Lise loved food.

Lise was lucky to make good long-time friends, many who live in other parts of Canada. This allowed her the opportunity to visit almost every province and territory, all except the Yukon. She loved to travel and explore new places. Lise’s husband was a wonderful travel planner and arranged for them to visit many of the destinations that they wished to see. She also had some friends who would travel with her or invite them on their excursions. They knew Lise would often take them up on these offers. Lise had fond memories of traveling with her family to Maui and spending time with her in-laws in Mexico. She appreciated these moments to spend time with family in new environments and have shared adventures.

A prayer vigil will be held on Wednesday, June 7th at 7:00 p.m. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 8th at 10 a.m. Both are to be held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church on Lenore Drive. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Friendship Inn (https://friendshipinn.ca/donations/), Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre (https://saskatoonfoodbank.org/donate) or Saskatoon Public Library (saskatoonlibrary.ca/donate-now).

 

Alumni Profile: Danielle Hubbard, MLIS 2013

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By: Toni Beaton (First-year MI Student)

Danielle Hubbard graduated with her MLIS degree in 2013 and was recently appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Okanagan Regional Library in British Columbia. I had the pleasure of interviewing Danielle and chatting with her about her rapid career trajectory since graduating.

Please tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? What initially brought you to the information management field?

Portrait of Danielle Hubbard

My name is Danielle Hubbard, and I grew up in Victoria, BC. When I was an undergraduate student, I worked as a Page for the Greater Victoria Public Library. My mother was a Circulation Clerk, so I don’t know if it would’ve occurred to me to apply there otherwise. Partway through my undergraduate in Art History, it occurred to me that my [degree] was not terribly employable. After having a casual conversation with my mom, she didn’t push me towards librarianship or try to convince me, but it was an offhand comment about wishing she’d become a librarian. My mother is a very wise person. I took her non-advice and went to Dalhousie, and graduated in 2013. I’m now the Chief Executive Officer of the Okanagan Regional Library.

Which area of information management most interests you? Did you know this coming into your MLIS program, or did you discover this along the way?

When I entered the MLIS program, I thought I wanted to be an academic librarian. Like many librarians, I’m an introvert. The thought of doing something behind the scenes was appealing. When I started at Dal, I decided by week two that it was not what I wanted to do. I [was drawn] to the public library courses. I took a lot of programming, outreach, and children’s services [courses]. I really care the most about creativity and impact; that I’m doing something creative, and that I can see the positive impact of the work I’m doing. That seemed the most available to me first through programming and outreach, and felt it was even more true in upper management. I had a brief foray in children’s services, which is also very creative.

What has your career trajectory looked like since graduating from MLIS in 2013?

I did my four-week practicum at the Salt Spring Island Public Library [in British Columbia], partially because I love the Gulf Islands, but also strategically because this was a place I’d like to live and work. I wanted to use my practicum to make connections. I then worked there over the summer in children’s programming, which was a really good learning experience. Unlike a big city or regional system, when you work for a small, independent library early in your career, you get tossed into everything. There aren’t departments or silos, and you do whatever you are asked to do. In my second year of grad school, a librarian position at the Salt Spring Island Public Library came up (with a focus in outreach and youth services). I got the position, and I think my connections from the year before helped. I’d say the theme of my career path is that I never meet the requirements of the job postings. This one was [requiring] 3-5 years of experience, and I had just graduated. But the board knew me, and the chief librarian knew me.

After working there for several years, I then moved to Manitoba and worked for the Western Manitoba Regional Library as a Programming and Outreach Librarian. Similar to Salt Spring, that was an unexpectedly good career move. Rural Manitoba is very poorly funded, and public libraries there have some of the least funding in the country. These factors meant I had a lot of free reign to work however I could, with no budget for programming and outreach. I then applied for the Director of Library Services (Chief Librarian) role. I’d only been out of grad school for 5-6 years, and I was not qualified. But I applied, and was offered the position. I think again, because I had already built relationships with the library board, they trusted me as an employee. I had this job through the bulk of the pandemic, for 2.5 years.

My mother [became ill], and I resigned [from the Western Manitoba Regional Library] to move back to the coast to look after my mom in her last few months. When it became clear my mother was not going to get better, I looked for work closer to home; I worked for a time at the Port Moody Public Library in Greater Vancouver. After having been the director of a regional library system, I found that [this role] wasn’t demanding or creative enough. I began looking in the field again [for a job], and was offered a position as the Director of Public Services for the Okanagan Regional Library based in Kelowna. It’s one of the five biggest systems in BC, and geographically spans from Golden in the north down to Osoyoos in the south. I was initially responsible for the northern half of the system (staffing, programming, and outreach activities). Very soon after I started, the CEO announced his retirement and recommended I apply. I like putting myself out there and trying new things, so I applied. I was interviewed three times, and was then offered the position. I’ve been the CEO since November 1st of last year, so almost six months.

Congratulations on your new position as CEO of the Okanagan Regional Library. Please tell us more about your position. What are your roles and responsibilities? What does a typical day look like for you?

The term CEO in the public library is really synonymous with Chief Librarian, City Librarian, Executive Director… it just means you are the top staff member. I report to a board of elected officials with representatives from each of the ORL’s member communities. I am ultimately responsible for all operations of the library system; everything from finances, operating budgets, services for the public, our human resources, marketing, outreach… ultimately, I’m responsible for all of that. I have an executive upper management team of seven members, and then all of the staff of the library flow out from them. The majority of my time I spend interacting with those seven members of the management team.

I see my role as moving things forward. As the CEO, you are the connector; for example, taking IT, public services, and HR together, and finding a [common] ground that will work for all of them. It’s also my role to set and move initiatives forward. Right now, we’re in the early stages of doing strategic planning. The onus falls to me to set meetings and deadlines, and hold people accountable. Sometimes it’s like herding everyone forward. I also do a fair bit of work with the board (24 people). We have four annual meetings. They need to be in the know of what the library is doing, so that their municipalities will want to remain within the library system. It’s a very interpersonal, political, and tactical role. Honestly, it’s very far-removed from any assignment I ever did in grad school. I might be attending a finance committee, or driving to Revelstoke to speak to their city council, or attending a union labour management meeting, or a building project meeting, or talking to the press about a drag storytime we’re going to host… it’s hard to say exactly what a normal day is. It’s usually a lot of emails and lot of meetings.

Lastly, what advice would you offer second-year MI students graduating this June, as they enter the information management professional field?

I want to emphasize – be willing to move around, take initiative by applying for work that stretches your on-paper credentials, and take initiative within a role and be able to articulate what you uniquely contributed [in future interviews].

As you enter the profession, even if you don’t enjoy your very first role, learn what you can and contribute what you can. Be aware of where there might be gaps in what you know; for example, what are some of the experiences employers are looking for you to have? Project management, financial leadership? Where could you get those experiences, or how can you spin your experiences to show you are able to do that? Librarianship is so dynamic. You won’t have a cut and dry role. Really demonstrating that you are able and willing to go with the flow and set your own direction is what employers are looking for.

Apply above your rank, even if you don’t meet all the requirements… go for it anyway. I oversee hiring in my role, and right now public libraries are desperately looking for MLIS [MI] graduates. If you are willing to move, you stand a very good chance. I can’t speak for all organizations, but certainly based on my own experience and the conversations I have with other library leaders, I keep hearing the question, “Where did all the librarians go?” Being willing to move around really sets you up for career success, if that is what you want to prioritize. I don’t think it would’ve happened this way [my career path] if I hadn’t had my experiences in Manitoba before moving back to BC. Sometimes you just can’t gain the same diverse array of experience if you stay in one place.

Highlighting MI Student Work at The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

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By: Toni Beaton (First-year MI Student)

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with several School of Information Management students whom are both current and past employees and volunteers at The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Lisa Phinney, Maddie Hare, and Lara Morrison shared their experiences at Pier 21, as well as advice on those looking to enter the museum or heritage sector.

Please begin by introducing yourselves, including what drew you to the museum or heritage sector within the field of information management.

Lisa: When I first joined this program, my goal was to always work in museums. I have a background in anthropology, so I really wanted to combine it with this management degree. I thought, what better way to do so than to work in a museum? There happened to be an opening last fall [at Pier 21] and I got the job. I [looked forward to] getting exposure to see what the museum sector would be like, and then go from there.

Maddie: When I started at SIM, I wasn’t really considering working in museums. One of my colleagues at the Kellogg Library connected me with her husband who was Head of Digital Collections at Pier 21. I was so interested in archives and digital preservation, so we discussed opportunities to volunteer in this area. That position didn’t exist yet, and they [Pier 21] were going through a transition, so the volunteer coordinator, Annette Carter, suggested that I volunteer in “Visitor Experience” in the meantime to familiarize myself with the museum. I already loved the museum, and my grandmother actually came through Pier 21! Now it’s been a year, and I’m still in Visitor Experience; I really enjoy it.

Lara: I also have had some experience working in the heritage sector before, and that’s where I wanted to go with this degree as well. The fact that Pier 21 is a very local museum was really attractive to me when I saw the job posting. I have a background in history, and am really interested in Canadian history; you can’t discuss Canadian history without discussing immigration. A lot of people have very personal connections to immigration in Canada. That was really interesting to me in terms of working in a museum like that.

What is your (current or past) role within The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and in which area(s) of the museum were you affiliated?

Lisa: I was hired in September of 2022 as a Heritage Interpreter. It is within Visitor Experience, and my role was to lead and facilitate tours throughout the Pier 21 exhibition, help visitors, work the front ticket counter, sit in exhibitions to answer questions, give directions, and be on the floor face-to-face for visitor help. I was there for 6 months in a contract position.

Maddie: I’m in Visitor Experience, and I work on the floor alongside the interpreters as a volunteer. I answer questions, greet guests, talk about the museum, offer directions, facilitate our activities (including our citizenship table). We have a reflections area where guests can offer reflections on what immigration means to them; I really love chatting with guests about things they’ve written there. We also have an area where people can write their name and story on a tag, and put it on a map. I help to facilitate these types of activities. I also assist with special events at the museum in the evenings, such as the “Voices of the Pandemic Latinx Community Celebration,” the “Canadian Association of Executives: Discover Halifax,” as well as the Pier 21 booth at the Dalhousie Societies Expo.

Lara: I was working as a Genealogical Researcher/Library Assistant for the Scotiabank Family History Centre within Pier 21. The service offered there is open to visitors or anyone who visits the museum, and we do genealogical research for them. It’s a really interesting opportunity to talk with people face-to-face, get a little bit of their family history, and then take a dive into the historical records that we have. Typically, we would use digitized records like the census or ship records. Essentially, we’re trying to find passenger manifests from when people came into Canada. There are some limitations on that, of course, with privacy laws; typically, we only have [records created] before 1935, although there are some exceptions. It was a really great opportunity to talk to people all day, every day, in the summer I was working there. For a lot of people, they themselves came over [to Canada]; it was really interesting to hear people’s stories and the memories that they were sharing with us. It’s a really emotional and difficult topic to discuss for some people, but it’s also really celebratory as well for others. There’s a lot of feeling behind all of those stories.

What have been your most enjoyable takeaways from your experiences at Pier 21?

Lisa: Those really personal interactions you get with visitors. Everyone has a unique story, and you do meet some really interesting people. One of my very last days there, I met a lady whose father had come through Pier 21. Her father and her uncle had fled Poland; they were taken prisoner and had to spend 17 months in Serbia. Then, they fled Serbia and ended up in an East African country. When Canada was looking for labourers, they sent over a boat; her father and uncle lied about their ages so that they could be eligible [to immigrate]. It was a really powerful and unique story I hadn’t heard before. She then spent a good hour in the Family History Centre. It’s moments like that you really appreciate what you’re doing. In those one-on-one moments with visitors, you realize what you’re doing is actually very important.

Maddie: Connecting with guests can be really personal. Hearing their stories and family histories is always really moving to me. We get a lot of cruise ship passengers coming through the museum, and I always really enjoy interacting with them and helping them learn about Canada’s immigration history. I find they, [as well as] newcomers to Canada, really connect with the museum. I love to hear their stories. There’s a wedding dress in the museum from a war bride who came over to Canada; one of the employees who works there [at Pier 21], it’s her grandmother’s best friend’s dress. I was just blown away, because that’s such a direct connection to an object in the museum. On a personal note, my grandmother came through Pier 21 from Italy. Getting to make connections through the museum is amazing; another of the volunteers is Italian, so we’ve chatted about our family history. During Italian Heritage Month, reading all the guests’ stories about their families coming down [to Canada] was really moving.

Lara: Having studied history in school, and as someone who is really interested in archives and archival materials, it is really interesting to speak to the people who are actually documented in those records. We get to interact with people on a very personal level about that. It’s really interesting when you see people coming in to [investigate their family stories]. I remember someone who had always been told their grandmother was born on a ship. And sure enough, we saw in the records, alongside their family someone had pencilled in, “+ Baby born at sea” on the ship’s passenger manifest coming into Canada. It was really cool to be able to do that research for them. It’s a very personal connection, and adds a lot to archival literacy in terms of being able to think critically about records (and how much is left out of records). They are only telling a part of the story; it makes it very real when you get to see it right in front of you.

What advice would you give to current MI students interested in the museum sector?

Lisa: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid if you don’t have the qualifications. You learn a lot as you go, and you don’t have to have all the answers at first. My biggest worry was that someone would ask me a question, and I wouldn’t know the answer. The whole point of it is, you don’t have to have the answers. Part of the experience of the museum is learning and growing with your visitors. Just apply! Apply everywhere, regardless if you think you fit the job description or not. Kristine Kovacevic is who you want to speak with and reach out to if you have any interest in working as a Heritage Interpreter at the [Pier 21] museum.

Maddie: Annette Carter is a great person to reach out to for those who want to volunteer! There are lots of volunteer opportunities, and always some things students can get involved with… especially during the summer when the cruise ship season starts. I was supposed to volunteer in a different behind-the-scenes roles, and initially thought Visitor Experience would not be for me. I actually really enjoy it, I have learned a lot, and met a lot of wonderful people in the GLAM sector. Be open to different roles, because you can always find connections and learn something new. There’s a lot of different, interesting events going on, and volunteering is a great way to get experience within museums. It is a great way to meet people and get involved in the community.

Lara: Think about what interests you in particular, and what are some of the skills that you do have. I think museums are a really interesting sector, because there are so many directions they can take you. There’s behind-the-scenes work, there’s front-facing public service, there’s a lot of creative [opportunities] as well. There’s a lot of intersections with education. Don’t be shy about using your past work experiences to coincide with current work positions at museums. Even if you don’t hit all of the qualifications, still apply – you are probably bringing something [unique] they will need!

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Lisa: Pier 21 is a very different museum from what is considered a traditional museum, but I think that’s what makes it all the more interesting. It’s very specific, but very poignant. If you’re looking for something a little different in the GLAM sector, Pier 21 is definitely that niche spot.

Maddie: For incoming SIM students who are new to Halifax, definitely make a point of getting down to the museum. There’s a lot to learn, and there are rotating exhibits.

Lara: Go when there isn’t a cruise ship, if you can!

For further information about The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, including volunteering and employment opportunities, please visit their website at https://pier21.ca/. 

Alison Brown Featured in 2023 Dalhousie ‘Open Think’ Initiative

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Dalhousie’s Open Think Initiative highlights PhD researchers each month from across Dalhousie University. They draw on their studies to publish articles that provide context for the world’s toughest challenges, highlight thorny issues we’ve not even begun to contemplate, and open up fascinating worlds to inspire our spirits.

Alison Brown is an Interdisciplinary PhD student, and Lecturer in SIM.

Click here to learn more about her research. Click here to read her first post. Keep an eye on the website here for future posts.

From the Open Think website:

Alison Brown studies how bringing people together to read aloud and discuss compelling literature can strengthen wellbeing and build social inclusion in our diverse communities.

“For many, reading is deeply personal. We read to make sense of our lives, escape into the unknown, find companionship in the familiar, discover what we and others are capable of. All of this can be amplified when we read aloud together.”
 @QuillAndSpade

Dr. Colin Conrad on his new role as Interim Director (Master of Digital Innovation)

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By: Toni Beaton (First-year MI Student)

Dr. Conrad headshotDr. Colin Conrad is an Assistant Professor with the School of Information Management (SIM). He is currently serving a 6-month interim directorship for the Master of Digital Innovation (MDI) program here at Dalhousie University. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Conrad to learn more about his new role:

Please tell us your new title and briefly explain your key responsibilities.

I am the Interim Director of the Master of Digital Innovation, and am filling in for Dr. Vlado Keselj for 6 months. The program is interdisciplinary between Computer Science and Management. The biggest things I do within this position are being responsible for cultivating both the program and the student experience, being able to regularly liaison with students on how they achieve their goals, deal with admissions, and guide the strategic vision for the program as it goes through a review.

How would you describe the MDI program to someone who is not familiar with it?

This is Dalhousie’s premier program for dealing with the intersection of technology and different applications of business. For instance, the MDI is designed to equip students to go into different areas of the economy and identify the ways in which digital technologies are transforming those areas. It’s about advancing digital technology and improving those areas of discipline. It is also a program for other professional disciplines, such as health informatics, and non-profit organizations, such as DeepSense. We have three certificates; one of them is in digital business for people primarily interested in business, there is one in health information for those who want to work in health industries, and one in data science for those interested in data science applications to other areas of society and the economy.

What courses will you be teaching in the MDI program?

I’ve been teaching a core course called “Digital Transformation;” it is the first of two core courses in the MDI program. It is a super cool course, because it involves business, management, communications, and technology. In this case, students learn about identifying problems that organizations face, how to prototype solutions using technology, and then guiding an innovation process from beginning to end. It is a very hands-on course and is taught by two instructors (one from Management and one from Computer Science). One of the features of our program is that it is very interdisciplinary; we want to offer an immersive experience where students receive mentorship. It’s been a great course, and I’m optimistic that it will once again be well received by students (this is my third year teaching it).

What connections do you see between the MDI and SIM programs?

There’s a lot! People come into MDI primarily to find a job in digital transformation; SIM students often have a broader interest. Whether that means they are working in non-profits, they really care about things like the social good. In SIM, students often come from interdisciplinary backgrounds, but especially from the Arts and Social Sciences. In MDI, students are mostly coming from Computer Science backgrounds. There’s also a different balance between international and domestic students; in SIM, there are mostly domestic, whereas in MDI, there are mostly international students.

Other than those differences, they have more similarities than anything else! They are both interested in the intersection of information in society (in the case of SIM), and digital technology in society (in the case of MDI). Those two things overlap a lot. There are opportunities for shared courses, collaboration, and social opportunities. A lot of MDI students take our “INFO 6540 Data Management” course, for example. There are students within SIM who have gotten involved and really been transformed by this community. Some of our SIM students who are more technical in their interests have taken a course called “Data Mining and Data Warehousing” offered through MDI.

Do you have any special goals you are hoping to accomplish during your time with the MDI?

I want to have a really good understanding of what motivates students to go out and meet other people. One of the things we saw during the pandemic was that it was very difficult to do that; I want to know how we can go about creating a greater sense of community within the MDI cohort. I also want to find the right way to structure the program in making everything more flexible. Right now, we don’t have a lot of flexibility within our rigid certificate programs; I want to have students use the MDI in a way that they are best able to achieve their goals. For example, if a student is passionate about user experience in health, how can we take our current structure and empower that student? Those are the two things I am looking at.

Do you have any other comments you’d like to add? 

SIM is a stakeholder in a new initiative called the College of Digital Transformation, and this is going to be an initiative related to the program. It’s a new partnership between Computer Science and Management. There will be lots of opportunities to collaborate and enrich each other’s communities. That’ll be something to watch over the next year!

If you’d like to learn more about the MDI program, please visit their website at: https://www.dal.ca/academics/programs/graduate/digital-innovation.html.

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