Dr. Bonnie Neuman

Vice-President (Student Services)

Bonnie Neuman joined Dalhousie University in July, 2005, as Vice-President (Student Services).

Dr. Neuman holds a BA and MA degree in English literature and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Alberta.  Her previous positions include Vice-President (Students) at York University in Toronto; Associate Vice-President (Student Services) at Brock University; and 20 years’ service in a number of Directorship roles at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Neuman is known for her transformative leadership in university student affairs, from the design of student-focused service delivery processes to innovative service developments using new technologies to enhance students’ opportunities for success.  She brings a particular focus on service delivery from the perspective of students’ needs and concerns, to build new opportunities for students’ academic engagement, campus involvement, service learning and career success. 

Dr. Neuman provides strategic leadership for integrated enrolment management to generate a strong, stable enrolment base at through innovative recruitment and retention strategies.  As the head of Student Services, she provides strategic and financial direction to a number of administrative units on campus, including several hundred professional student affairs staff and a corresponding number of student staff working in areas that include academic advising, writing centre, accessibility services for students with disabilities, study skills support, multifaith centre, black student advising centre, enrolment services, recruitment, admissions, student records, residence life, international student services, university exchange programs, career services, athletics, recreation and fitness services, psychological counselling, health services, peer health, and student relations and advocacy. 

Past examples of legacy programs created by Dr. Neuman include Experience Plus, Med Plus, Volunteer Plus and Experience Works (integrated programs for career planning, skills development, and student campus employment) at Brock University.  At York University she developed the York Student Client Services Centre, the York Visionary Leadership Scholarship program, and the award-winning York is U Student Alumni Association.

At Dalhousie University, her strategic focus is two-fold:  to build the strongest enrolment management system in Atlantic Canada and to transform student campus life at Dalhousie to make the overall student experience at Dalhousie reflect the same high quality as the university’s outstanding academic student experience.  Since arriving at Dalhousie University, her leadership has been central to the redevelopment of Dalhousie’s recruitment and admissions processes in her first year, the launch of a new “Dalhousie Connections” strategic design for enhancing the overall student experience, introduction of an new integrated service unit, Student Academic Success Services, to support students’ academic success and persistence to graduation, transformation of the campus Christian chaplaincy to a thriving Multifaith Centre, expansion of writing and study skills support, improved student communications, new support for student society and individual student service initiatives in the community, much improved relations and connections with student leaders, and major enhancements to student space on campus.  Current major projects include new residence building, developing student partnership for a $55 million enhancement of fitness and recreation facilities, and launching a new Student Co-Curricular Record project to recognize students’ leadership and service contributions on campus, in the Halifax Regional Municipality community, and around the world.   

In addition to her role as Vice-President (Student Services) at Dalhousie University, Dr. Neuman is currently a Board member of the Canadian Bureau for International Education.  She is a past Director of the Halifax Family Service Association; past president of the Edmonton Business and Professional Women’s Association, the University of Alberta Academic Women’s Association; and has served at the executive level for the Association of Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada and as Vice-Chair of the Niagara Business Education Council.