Dr. Donna Hardy Cox appointed Associate Vice-President, Students
The following message was also emailed on October 7 to UPEI students, faculty, and staff on behalf of the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Research.
Colleagues,
On behalf of the Search Committee, I am pleased to share the news that Dr. Donna Hardy Cox has been appointed as the Associate Vice-President, Students, for a five-year term, effective November 1, 2025.
Dr. Hardy Cox has played a leading role in shaping and advancing student affairs and services in Canada. She previously served as the president of the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services. Among her contributions to the professional development of student services in Canada, she supported the development of the CHERD Canadian Institute on Student Affairs and Services.
Dr. Hardy Cox is currently Professor of Social Work at Memorial University. She previously served as the Associate Vice-President, Academic, and Dean of Students, and Dean, School of Social Work, at Memorial. In these roles, she led numerous initiatives that enhanced the student experience, including renovations of student learning spaces, support of faculty in teaching and learning, and leadership in the revision of policies and processes that have a more student-centered focus.
Her research interests include interprofessional health education, health policy, and administration. Her current scholarship focuses on the experiences of Neurodiverse learners in post-secondary education, with particular attention to how recruitment, transition, and retention practices can be enhanced.
She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Memorial University), Master of Social Work in Social Policy and Administration (Carleton University), and Doctor of Education in Student Development and Counselling Services in Higher Education (University of Maine). Her doctoral dissertation involved student services, specifically examining pre-entry, demographic, cognitive and social variables related to the academic success of first-year students.
Many thanks to Megan MacLean for serving as the interim Associate Vice-President, Students, since January 2025. Under Megan’s leadership, significant organizational changes were successfully carried out, new student retention initiatives were launched, and a new Office of Student Culture and Community Standards has delivered programs that foster a more supportive campus community for students.
Special thanks to the members of the Search Committee for their efforts and contributions during the search process. Thank you to all who provided input during this process. This feedback was carefully considered by the committee in its deliberations.
Greg
Greg F. Naterer, PhD, P.Eng. (he / him)
Vice-President, Academic and Research
University of Prince Edward Island
