Dal鈥檚 incoming vice-provost of student affairs has held a variety of roles throughout his career in higher education: in administration, in residence life, in leadership development, in campus athletics and in the classroom. But there鈥檚 a phrase Ivan Joseph uses to describe himself that spans all of them: a teacher coach.
It鈥檚 based on an insight shared with Dr. Joseph earlier in his career by one of his faculty mentors:聽that there are some coaches who happen to teach, but the best coaches are teachers who happen to coach.
鈥淚鈥檝e always considered myself an educator, first and foremost,鈥� explains Dr. Joseph. 鈥淚 believe students value people who truly invest in them, and part of that is supporting the teaching that happens across campus 鈥斅爊ot only in the classroom but what happens in clubs, in student leadership, on the field鈥β爐hat co-curricular engagement.鈥�
The power of student engagement
Dr. Joseph, announced this week as the new vice-provost student affairs (effective August 1), comes to 91短视频 from Ryerson University where he is currently director of athletics. It鈥檚 a role that encompasses a wide range of responsibilities: personnel, the athletic budget, strategic planning, fundraising, marketing, media contract negotiations, sports facilities and more.
But at its heart is supporting students, in a wide variety of ways 鈥斅爓hether that鈥檚 helping student athletes succeed, leading the development of a new strategic plan that鈥檚 inspired record levels of student engagement, or initiating or managing a $100M facility revitalization to ensure better spaces for campus athletics and recreation.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been a big believer in student engagement, and understanding the role the co-curricular experience plays in the academic experience and the development of students,鈥� says Dr. Joseph, who has worked in roles supporting students across all stages of the student-life cycle 鈥� from recruitment and orientation to academic success and alumni engagement.
A broad background
A former student union president with a PhD in Sport Psychology, Dr. Joseph鈥檚 career in higher education has been diverse.
He鈥檚 been a residence hall director and helped manage student leadership development at Graceland University. He鈥檚 taught undergraduate courses in motor learning, dynamics of leadership and other subjects. He鈥檚 been a celebrated soccer coach, leading the Graceland men鈥檚 team to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship. He鈥檚 an in-demand speaker on topics of leadership and self-confidence; on the latter, he鈥檚 the author of a book (2017鈥檚 ) and .
Layered over all these experiences is his attention towards issues of diversity, inclusion and equity. In fact, his research for his master鈥檚 degree in Higher Education Administration focused on the conditions that drive success for minorities in predominantly white university settings.
鈥淚t鈥檚 no surprise that I wear my diversity on my skin,鈥� says Dr. Joseph, the son of聽Guyanese immigrants. 鈥淢y job is to make sure that I don鈥檛 look through a lens that creates biases, and to challenge others鈥� biases that might be existing 鈥斅爑sing them as a teaching opportunity, if necessary, even if that pushes us into spaces that may be uncomfortable at first.鈥�
Excited by the opportunity
Now, he鈥檚 headed to 91短视频, citing the university鈥檚 reputation, the opportunity to live in Halifax and the particulars of the vice-provost role as motivators for making his way out east. He expects his first months in the role to be based around 鈥渓istening, listening and listening some more鈥� as he meets with colleagues and, together with a new provost, charts out a course to continue Dal鈥檚 work supporting student success.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited by the opportunity in the role of vice-provost, which is to really build on student engagement and ensure an exceptional student experience that complements the academic experience,鈥� he says.