Floyd W. Dykeman

Vice-President External

When Floyd Dykeman joined the senior administration team at Dalhousie in June 2006, he brought with him not only more than two decades of senior-level strategic leadership experience but also a unique perspective. As a fundraiser with academic and urban planning backgrounds, he understands the academic model, the business of universities, and the sense of community needed for universities to succeed. This is a perspective which serves him well both on campus and abroad as he provides strategic leadership for Dalhousie in its relationships with our many constituents.

Now, in the midst of a $250 million transformative campaign – the largest in Dalhouse's nearly 200-year history – Mr. Dykeman is helping put our Maritime university onto the world stage. As he puts it, "Dalhousie is the east coast's finest institution and has the ability to make a positive impact in many different ways. We need to build on our great potential.  Resources made possible through successful fundraising will transform, in a fundamental way, the academic offerings and ultimately help us be the very best of the best."

According to Mr. Dykeman, Dalhousie's greatest assets are the breadth in its programming combined with a spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration. "We can benefit from our multidisciplinary approach and exploit our mutual opportunities to tackle the big issues and develop solutions. This is what sets us apart."

Mr Dykeman also oversees Dalhousie's communications and marketing which is both challenging and integral to the university's sustained positive performance. “Dal's story has many layers.  Telling it to potential students, the community, faculty and staff, research agencies, government and other very important stakeholders is critical to our overall success.”

Prior to joining Dalhousie, Mr. Dykeman was an established professional with a solid track record of success in fundraising, alumni and corporate affairs, and communications spanning more than two decades. From 1995 to 2006, he served as Vice President, External Relations with Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. During his tenure at Mount A, Mr. Dykeman also served as Founding Director of the Rural and Small Town Research and Studies Programme, and he was a faculty member in the Geography Department. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Thomas University and a Masters of Planning degree from Queen's University.