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Alumni Association

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Our mission:

To inspire alumni pride, engagement and commitment to support the »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ Agricultural Campus and foster connections between alumni, students and the agricultural community. 

Meet the board of directors

Terms of reference

The Faculty of Agriculture’s Alumni Association board of directors serves to facilitate communication and build relationships between the broader alumni community and the Faculty of Agriculture. As a volunteer advisory board, this group works closely with the alumni engagement manager at the Faculty of Agriculture to provide support and guidance.  

View the Alumni Association Terms of Reference [PDF – 63KB]

Meet the board of directors

The Alumni Association board of directors is made up of nine dedicated alumni volunteers, currently led by chair Brian Crouse (Class of ‘75).

Chair

Brian Crouse (Class of '75)

Now happily retired, Brian Crouse is serving his second term on the board of directors and currently serves as chair. Following 10 years with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, AC grads from 1986 and later will remember his varied career with Student Services. Brian enjoys serving on the Alumni Association's board as it provides the opportunity to keep connected with campus, alumni, and the students and families he worked with over the years. He is also a dedicated volunteer with the Heart & Stroke Foundation and is going on 30 years of fundraising for this important cause. 

Brian lives in Valley, NS with his wife Liz (Class of ‘78) and spends as much time as possible with their two children and several grandchildren.

Smiling man with short white hair wearing black leather jacket, pictured on a snow covered Agricultural Campus, with trees and the iconic watertower in the background.

Secretary

Breagh Ross

Bre Ross is serving her second term on the board of directors and currently serves as secretary. She graduated from Dal AC in 2015 with a BSc (Agr) in environmental sciences. Throughout her studies, she was actively involved in campus life, including being captain of the woodsmen team, social coordinator of Chapman House, and Off-Campus president. Since 2015, she has been working with Farm Credit Canada and is currently located in Kentville, NS.  

Headshot of Breagh Ross

Vice-chair

Mark Rose (Class of ‘06 and ‘09)

Mark Rose is serving his second term on the board of directors and currently serves as vice chair. Mark grew up in Northeastern Newfoundland and graduated from NSAC with an animal science degree in 2006. Not growing up around farms, Mark found his love for agriculture and in particular the dairy industry, thanks to his years spent at NSAC. In 2009, he graduated with an MSc (Agr) focused on ruminant nutrition. Mark works with Lely North America as Regional Development Manager for English-Canada. He and his wife Beth (Class of ''07) live in East Hants, NS.

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Past chair

Robyn McCallum (Class of ‘13 and ‘17)

Robyn is serving her third and final term on the board of directors and currently serves as past chair. She graduated from Dal AC in 2013 with a BSc (Agr) in animal science and obtained her PhD (biology) through »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥. Throughout her studies, she was actively involved in student government, including serving as president of the »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ Agricultural Students' Association for three years. Upon her undergrad graduation, Robyn was named life president of her graduating class. Robyn is based in northeastern New Brunswick and currently works with the Government of New Brunswick.

Smiling woman with long blond hair wearing a silver pendant and black t-shirt.

Shelly Juurlink (Class of ‘01 and ‘04)

Shelly is serving her third and final term on the board of directors. She graduated from NSAC in 2001 with a BSc (Agr), in 2004 with an MSc (Agr) in animal science and in 2010 with a co-op management certificate (CMC) from the Schulich School of Business at York University. During her years at NSAC, she was active on several committees and was a member of the woodsmen team. Over the years, she has held a variety of agricultural-related positions working with farmers in various places, including Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and West Africa. Currently, Shelly and her husband, Perry, live in Fall River with their two children.

Smiling woman with long dark hair wearing burgundy top poses with her hand on her hip.

Robert Larsen (Class of ‘21)

Robert is serving his first term on the board of directors. He graduated from Dal AC in 2021 with a BSc (Agr) in agricultural business. Throughout his studies, he was actively involved in many different aspects of campus life; most notably on the judging team and serving three terms as vice president finance and operations, including a semester as interim president, of the »ÆÉ«Ö±²¥ Agricultural Students’ Association. Upon graduation, Robert was elected life president of his class. He farms alongside his family on their beef cattle feedlot and agri-services operation, Norring Road Custom, in PEI. Passionate about board governance, Robert currently volunteers with five boards of directors, in addition to serving as president of the PEI Young Farmers Association and as chair of 4-H Canada.

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Dale McIsaac

Dale is serving his second term on the board of directors. Raised on a potato and beef farm in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Dale graduated from NSAC in 1973, followed by Macdonald College of McGill University. In his career, Dale has worked for government and private industry in Atlantic Canada as seed potato specialist, horticulturist, and maple and wild blueberry extension specialist. Dale is now retired and lives in Truro. He enjoys volunteering, hiking, reading, and visiting with family and friends in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Toronto.  

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Geneve (Gardner) Newcombe (Class of ‘86)

Geneve is serving her third and final term on the board of directors. She graduated from NSAC in 1986 with a BSc (Agr) in animal science. Geneve and her husband Craig (Class of ‘86) reside in Port Williams, NS, where they operate Cornwallis Farms Ltd along with Craig’s brother Brian and wife, Edna. Geneve and Craig have three adult children, one of whom is also an NSAC graduate, and several grandchildren. 

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