Hello, dear readers! My wife and I are escaping a beautiful but intensely hot high afternoon in a tourist cafe in the Land of Anne of Green Gables (Cavendish, PEI). We are camping on our Island’s magical North Shore (read about our place here), but we were baking in the shade. So now we are among the Island’s million visitors searching for some other magical things: namely, ice coffee, wifi, and air conditioning.
Here in this luxurious environment of overexcited, sunburned children, dreamily chatting seniors, and other pilgrims of local brew coffee, I wanted to take a moment to share some good news.
I am now in my 20th year of teaching at the University of Prince Edward Island (I talk a bit about it here and here). Over that time, I have taught 77 sections of 36 different courses at UPEI. Most often, I have taught Religious Studies or Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture—as well as English, History, Philosophy, and Asian Studies. During this time, I have also taught and co-designed more than two dozen First-Year Experience courses, including 17 cohorts of UPEI 1020: Inquiry Studies, 10 sections of an experiment called “Global Issues,” and our brilliant UPEI 1030 program–a course designed to help students succeed in a university context.
After a rigorous competition, I am pleased to announce that I have begun an 11-month contract at UPEI. In this position, I am helping to lead our University Studies first-year experience program–both as a coordinator and a teacher in the classroom–and I am coordinating our Bachelor of Integrated Studies (a degree-completion program for mature students). I am excited about my new position–not just because I will get an office (not with AC but hopefully with wifi and coffee), but because I get to work more closely with the amazing UPEI 100 team, many of whom have spent years–and decades–helping our first-years find where they can fit at university. The previous coordinators have been superstars, so I hope I can carry on a bit of their energy and intentionality.
I may share more later, but as the baristas are cleaning up for closing time, I’ll just share the UPEI news brief this morning:
New Coordinator of Univ. 1000 and Bachelor of Integrated Studies
Dr. Brenton Dickieson has been appointed Coordinator of Univ. 1000 and Coordinator of the Bachelor of Integrated Studies. Brenton has taught extensively in ACLC, Asian Studies, Global Issues, Religious Studies, Univ. 1020: Inquiry Studies and various courses in the Univ. 1000 suite, including University Studies, and Leadership studies. He has won the Hessian Award for Teaching Excellence twice, and recently received a MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing by faculty.
In addition to his scholarly work, including a forthcoming book with Oxford University Press, Brenton hosts a popular blog, A Pilgrim in Narnia, and podcast, The MaudCast: The Podcast of the L. M. Montgomery Institute, now in its third season. He has previously taught at Signum University, where he has supervised eight MAs, and at The King’s College, NY, Maritime Christian College, and Regent Colllege, BC.
For a number of years, Brenton served as department and/or division lead in policy, research, and writing for the Post-Secondary Education division within the Government of PEI. In that capacity, he helped to produce PEI’s population growth strategy, private training school standards, and PEI’s international student strategy.
We welcome Brenton to his new role.
A Pilgrim in Narnia 
Congratulations again, dear boy – the accolades seem to be pouring in lately! I hope they will find they can’t do without you, and perhaps make things more permanent (if that’s something you would like, of course).
Have a wonderful rest in the remainder of your vacation. Any news on when the book will be out?
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Thanks Dana, this is sweet! There are more steps to f/t permanent, but this is a giant leap. I really do appreciate your encouragement.
And the book? I’m dying to know myself! You will hear as soon as I know.
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All of y’all’s shores are north shores. Congratulations!
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Exactly! Except for the south shores, of course.
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Prof. Dickieson,
Congratulations. This sounds like wonderful news not just in terms of career furtherment, but also in terms of what might be done for future students just entering the academic field for the first time. In particular, considering the various challenges that First Years might find for themselves in today’s charged climate, my hope is that this position will allow you to become a good advocate for the student’s rights. That might be tough job, yet I’d argue it’s one worth pursuing. Otherwise, it’s great to hear this new.
P.S.
Sorry to bother you on what’s clearly your vacation, however, I caught your reply about the trouble you’ve been having with your email account re: connections between Spenser, Mythopoeia, and Horror fiction. This last bit is just to let you know that I’ve posted a reply in the original sent letter discussing these interrelated topics, and hopefully this should send my original missive at least somewhere near the top of the letter pile. I hope that’s what’s happened anyway, as you requested I try something to keep the idea behind our previous conversation rolling. Hope this was of help, and thanks again.
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🙂
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Congrats!
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🙂
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Wonderful news! Congratulations!
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Thanks Amy! I have a brief email coming your way soon. I’d like to quote from your lovely book.
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I am so happy for you Brenton!!
Lucky are those coming to your classes🤎☕️
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Thanks Karen–though some feel cursed rather than blessed, at least at first.
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Congratulations, indeed!
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Thanks Marcel!
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