First Indigenous African Nova Scotia earns PhD from MSVU
From the Springboard Content Lab
Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) graduate Dr. Martin Morrison has become the first Indigenous African Nova Scotian to earn a PhD at the university. He is also the first Indigenous African Nova Scotian man to graduate from the Inter-University Doctoral Program, a collaborative initiative between MSVU, Acadia University and St. Francis Xavier University.
A Transformative Educational Path
His connection to MSVU began in 2002, when he started a Bachelor of Education. It evolved into a transformative relationship that has shaped both his career and identity as an educator and advocate.
Martin’s second degree – a Master of Education in Graduate Studies in Lifelong Learning– proved to be life-changing. The program, offered in partnership with the Africentric Learning Institute of Nova Scotia, brought together 20 African Nova Scotian scholars from across Nova Scotia through full scholarships.
“It provided an opportunity for people of African ancestry to unapologetically place their lived experiences at the centre of their educational experience. This was an opportunity to be in a classroom with 20 other scholars where you didn’t have to work to first build understanding of your lived experience – you could just communicate and have it be validated and affirmed.”
Dr. Martin Morrison, MSVU PhD graduate
From Student to Educator
Martin’s educational journey was motivated by real-world challenges he witnessed in public education. As a classroom teacher who began his career at Graham Creighton Junior High School before moving to Digby to serve the Black community closer to home, he recognizes the systemic inequities affecting African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaq learners.
“When ability meets opportunity, you can succeed,” Martin says. “You just need the appropriate environment for learners to feel accepted, welcomed, understood and supported.”
Dr. Martin Morrison
His doctoral work in Educational Studies focused on Africentricity and critical race theory. He was motivated to create more responsive educational systems.
Martin’s 20-plus years of work experience include roles as a public educator and administrator, as well as positions focusing on race relations, cross-cultural understanding, human rights and African Nova Scotian education.
Following the completion of his master’s degree, Martin worked as the Race Relations, Cross Cultural Understanding and Human Rights Coordinator, Regional Coordinator of African Nova Scotian Education, and principal at Digby Regional High School for Tri County Regional Education Centre, and at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as an African Nova Scotian Corporate Strategist for the African Canadian Services Branch and as the African Nova Scotian Regional Education Officer for the province.
More recently, Martin served as an Assistant Professor at MSVU for two years – enjoying a full circle moment after completing his degrees at the university. He is now an Associate Professor at the Acadia University School of Education, where he is most proud to participate in supporting the development and implementation of the Africentric Bachelor of Education Cohort.
Mount Saint Vincent University is a member of the Springboard Network of 19 post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada. Our mission is grow the economy through research, commercialization and industry/community engagements with academia.