Nancy's Chair

Nancy's Chair in Women's Studies was established at Mount Saint Vincent University in the mid-1980s. Endowed by well-known Toronto-based feminist and philanthropist Nancy Ruth, 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. The presence of the Chair adds substantially to the intellectual strength of women's studies at Mount Saint Vincent and in the Atlantic region. Duties associated with the Chair include teaching, research, and public presentations on campus and around the Atlantic provinces.

Dr. Rita Deverell, Nancy's Chair
2009 - 2012

Dr. Deverell's distinguished career has included work as an academic, broadcaster, television producer/director, journalist, arts administrator and theatre artist. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Adelphi University, MA in History of Religions from Columbia University and EdD in Curriculum from OISE at the University of Toronto, and was the first woman to lead a journalism program in Canada in her position as Director of the School of Journalism at the University of Regina in the 1980s. She completed her term as head of news and current affairs at the Aboriginal People's Network in 2005 and is a founder of Vision TV, the world's first multifaith and multicultural network.

Recently Dr. Deverell has produced, directed, written, or acted in several theatre pieces and television dramas, as well as being an Editor and/or Contributor to three books. .  She was recognized in 2005 with the Order of Canada for her pioneering work in journalism, with the CanWest Global Fellowship at the University of Western Ontario in 2007, and as Storyteller in Residence at Centennial College's Centre for Creative Communications and in 2008.

In 2011 Nancy's Chair celebrated its 25th. anniversary and the contributions of the Chair, Senator Nancy Ruth, Deverell, and the Mount were recognized by a Resolution presented by Diana Whalen, MLA in the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly.

Contact:
msvu.ca
902-457-6257

msvu.ca
Nancy's Chair Assistant
457-6257