Biography

Dr. Tom Herman was appointed Acadia University’s Vice-President Academic in March 2008. He has been a faculty member in Acadia’s Biology department since 1978, serving in the previous year as both the Vice-President Academic and Acting President and Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Herman received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Studies from Antioch College in 1972. He then moved to the Zoology Department at University of Alberta, earning his Master of Science in 1975 and his Ph.D. in 1979. He arrived at Acadia as a Sessional Lecturer in 1978 and was appointed an Assistant Professor in 1980. In addition to an extensive list of appointments to Acadia committees, both past and present, Dr. Herman is a Past President of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, President of the Science and Management of Protected Areas Association, and Vice-Chair of the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute. He sits on several national and regional advisory committees on endangered biodiversity, as well as the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Environmental Science Network and the Offshore Energy Environmental Research Association.

Dr. Herman has authored or co-authored more than 50 refereed publications, presented more than 70 papers at professional conferences around the world, and generated more than $1.3 million in external and contract research funding. In Nova Scotia, he is perhaps best known for his work in and around Kejimkujik National Park on recovery efforts for the endangered Blanding’s Turtle. Dr. Herman, his colleagues, students and community volunteers have worked to preserve and restore the habitat of this unique species through a campaign of public education and stewardship. Throughout his career, Dr. Herman has actively promoted environmental awareness, citizen science, and community engagement.