Dr. Robert MacKinnon is the vice-president of the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. His five-year term began July 1, 2008.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Allison University, a Master of Arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a Doctorate from The University of British Columbia.  His research interests are varied, and include the broad areas of the Geography of Atlantic Canada, rural and transportation history, and urban geography. 

A resident of the local area since 2001, Dr. MacKinnon has been an active member of the community. He serves on a number of boards including the Human Development Council, the Saint John Community Arts Board, and most recently, Enterprise Saint John. 

In his academic role Dr. MacKinnon has contributed to regional and national journals and publications including:  National Geographic Magazine, Acadiensis, Canadian Historical Review, Canadian Journal of Regional Science, and The Historical Atlas of Canada.  He is leading a Community University Research Alliance Project entitled:  “The Industrial City in Transition:  A Cultural and Environmental Inventory of Greater Saint John” funded by SSHRCC, as well as a Knowledge in Society SSHRCC Grant entitled:  “Business Development through Community Development”.   His collaborative research focus has led to his appointment as a member of the Board of the Chronic Illness Research Institute recently established at UNB, and as a member of two national research teams working on Major Collaborative Research Initiatives with an urban and regional focus.  His work has advanced our understanding of how the Community and University can work together to achieve results greater than what could have been achieved without utilizing the unique strengths that each group brings to the partnership. 

As an educator, he has taught Regional and Cultural Geography at Memorial University, and the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, BC (now Thompson Rivers University).   In addition to his teaching appointments, Dr. MacKinnon has held the positions of Visiting Professor at the University of Bonn (1998-1999), and Visiting Teaching and Research Fellow at Obirin University in Tokyo (1995).   Before taking up his appointment as Vice-President Saint John, Dr. MacKinnon was the Dean of Arts at UNB Saint John (2001-2008), and Chair of the Department of Social and Environmental Studies at the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, British Columbia.   He has been a strong advocate for students in his capacity as a graduate student supervisor but also in his support for student- led activities on and off campus.

The father of one son, he lives in Quispamsis with his wife Karen.