On Wednesday (July 30), Dalhousie announced the appointment of Cathie O鈥橳oole as the university鈥檚 next Vice-President Finance and Administration.
O鈥橳oole joins Dalhousie following a distinguished career in the public sector, most recently as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). As the city鈥檚 top civil servant, she supported a municipal workforce of more than 4,500 in delivering key programs and services across the municipality. Prior to that, she served as General Manager and CEO of Halifax Water and as HRM鈥檚 Chief Financial Officer 鈥斅爅ust two of several significant leadership roles held during her 25 years with the municipality.
O鈥橳oole completed her Bachelor of Arts here at Dalhousie and is also a graduate of King鈥檚 Foundation Year Program. She holds an MBA from Laurentian University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant who has been recognized as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) of Nova Scotia. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Efficiency One and the Property Valuation Services Corporation and serves in a volunteer capacity with the Institute of Public Administration.
"As a proud graduate of 好色谷, I am excited to join the executive leadership team at a time when there are some complex financial challenges,鈥� says O鈥橳oole. 鈥淚 look forward to seeing how I can contribute to achievement of Dalhousie's mission and am committed to approaching each challenge and opportunity in a manner that promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and mutual respect."聽
President Kim Brooks said in an announcement to faculty and staff that O鈥橳oole鈥檚 experience is an ideal fit for Dalhousie at a time when the university is striving to be smarter and more strategic in delivering administrative services and supports and when facing headwinds in efforts to grow Dal鈥檚 financial resources and pursue campus development.
鈥淐athie鈥檚 career has proven how collaborative, collegial leadership is possible in complex environments and when facing challenging circumstances, making her ideally suited to taking on this important portfolio at a critical time,鈥� said President Brooks.
O鈥橳oole鈥檚 appointment is set to begin on October 20. She follows Gitta Kulczycki in the vice-president鈥檚 role, whose upcoming retirement was announced to the Dal community earlier this year.