Faculty Awards and Distinctions

Dr. Donnelly Archibald ’10

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Outstanding Staff Teaching Award

Dr. Donnelly Archibald ’10, a senior lab instructor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, is a teacher who quietly but consistently changes students’ lives. Known for his kindness, patience, and ability to make even the most complex geological ideas understandable, Dr. Archibald creates a classroom and lab environment where students feel supported, welcomed, and genuinely excited to learn. His teaching philosophy focuses on respect, accessibility, and meeting students where they are—values he brings to every course he teaches. 

What sets Dr. Archibald apart is the extraordinary research program he has built while serving as a senior lab instructor, something exceptionally rare in Canadian earth science departments. Through determination, mentorship, and an ability to inspire curiosity, he has secured more than $2 million in external funding to support undergraduate and graduate research. He has supervised students at every level, helping them develop as scientists while giving them opportunities typically available only at large research institutions. Through this work, Dr. Archibald has created a vibrant, diverse, and supportive research community that strengthens the entire department.

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Dr. Steven Baldner

Department of Philosophy
StFX Outreach Award

StFX philosophy professor Dr. Steven Baldner has engaged in a range of activities throughout his career that bridge the university, the local community, and beyond. He has given freely of his time to a variety of groups and has consistently sought to avoid the limelight.

Perhaps the most recognized example is Classics for Classics, which he initiated in 2009 and has conducted successfully annually ever since. Classics for Classics is a week-long event, held in the summer, where participants have an opportunity to read and discuss an important work of philosophy. In the beginning, it aimed at StFX alumni – “classics” – but, over the years, non-alumni have joined, as well as alumni traveling from across the country and internationally to attend. In the first year, there were 30 participants; this past summer, participants and visitors numbered over 90. 

Many participants consider this program to be among the best pedagogical experiences of their life. Dr. Baldner has engaged in other outreach activities, but it is Classics for Classics that has had a major impact in building relations in and with the community. His commitment is so strong that he intends to offer it again next summer – after his retirement. 

Dr. Baldner has been an outstanding ambassador for StFX to the wider community.

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Theatre Antigonish

Community Partner Recognition Award

For over 50 years, Theatre Antigonish, and its professional managing company, Festival Antigonish, have been at the Bauer Theatre on the StFX campus, serving our students and regional community. This past year alone, they have organized 28 events, including participants from at least 13 StFX departments, and with over 600 students directly involved in the collaboration.

Theatre Antigonish showcases students, who have the opportunity to work with professional theatre members as playwrights, actors, stage managers, and designers. StFX alumni speak of Theatre Antigonish as a place that offers “a sense of belonging,” “creative freedom,” and a vital “outlet.” Other alumni write that Theatre Antigonish was key to the “strong connections that have yielded so much professional success” and was their “most important experience [at StFX].” 

This partnership is unique: as film/TV actor and StFX graduate John Ralston explained, “In all my travels, I have yet to see this kind of relationship between a theatre and university.” Theatre Antigonish embodies the best of our Xaverian values: community, leadership, diversity, inclusion, and responsiveness.

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