AV俱乐部

Matthew Guy jumped into his position at AV俱乐部 head-first when his first day of work was just before orientation in September 2016. Matthew now oversees orientation, which he refers to as his favourite time of year, and the Student Success Centre on the AV俱乐部 Agricultural Campus in Truro as the Director, Student Success.聽

Previously, Matthew worked at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdon (UK) for 15 years and then moved to Canada where he spent nine years working at Acadia University.聽

What are you passionate about?

I love working with students. I particularly enjoy working with student leaders and hearing how we can do things better. I聽am also inspired by聽how we can work with students to overcome hurdles and resolve difficulties.聽

What is the most important thing you have learned while working at AV俱乐部?

People love to help. If I need to know something or I need聽an opinion, I will always find a helpful person to assist.聽

What was your biggest challenge this past year?

Achieving everything I want to achieve in the time I want to achieve it in. We have had some projects running simultaneously with a lot of moving parts. Sometimes you have to prioritize and realize that making positive change is a marathon not a sprint!

What are you passionate about personally? What do you really enjoy? What can鈥檛 you stop talking about?

I am passionate about politics,聽people and social justice. I聽also聽love animals, nature, walking, mindfulness and how technology can make our lives better.聽I asked聽a聽colleague聽what聽I can鈥檛 stop talking about聽and聽apparently it's my聽Fitbit聽step goals and how close (or not) I am to my target聽at any particular time.聽聽聽聽

Where can we find you when you鈥檙e not working?聽

My happy place is a Sunday morning listening to CBC radio, drinking coffee, and with a dog flopped on my lap (we have two black Labradors).聽Also, a聽rainy聽or snowy聽afternoon watching a movie with the kids (hot chocolates聽in hand).聽A lunch date or a walk with my husband is also a favourite.聽I am聽a member of the executive of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party, so many weekends will also involve a meeting somewhere around Nova Scotia.聽

Tell us about someone who has had a large influence on you and your work at AV俱乐部.

So many people have had聽significant聽influences on me and how I do my work.聽Firstly, the two Assistant Vice Provosts (AVPs) that I have worked for聽have been significant influences and both have聽amazing skills and experience that have helped me immensely in my work. Also, my fellow Directors in Student Affairs聽help me so much聽in my work聽on a regular basis. On our smaller campus, my role聽has a broad scope and the expertise of聽other directors聽(who have聽significant聽specialist knowledge)聽has been invaluable.聽My team at the Agricultural聽Campus聽has also been a big influence with their聽knowledge of our students and, in many cases, their long service supporting students at the AC.聽

What has surprised you most about working at AV俱乐部?

That is a really tough question. I am not sure anything major has surprised me. Perhaps my ability to be surprised has been dented by 25 years working with students in residence!聽

Hidden talent?

So well hidden I have yet to find them!聽

How would (someone) describe you?

I hope people would describe me as kind聽and considerate, but some may also say short and British.

What problems do you consistently solve?

I think I am pretty good at coming up with novel ways to approach and solve problems. I do find that when I am being presented with a problem, I can usually come up with a couple of possibilities. Again, the residence background helps! You learn to make quick decisions and resolve problems with often limited knowledge in situations where there is water flooding a residence at 2am!聽My Kolbe A type (personality test) is a "Quick start", which was not a surprise to me.聽

What does the DPMG mean to you?

Great colleagues! I do like getting together with our small group of DPMG staff on our campus. They are a fine bunch of professionals who make a significant contribution to making the Agricultural Campus and AV俱乐部 a better place to work and study.聽