Shad Dalhousie
Program Directors
Abdullah Al-Shaghay, PhD
Assistant Professor, Mathematics and Statistics, Saint Francis Xavier University
Abdullah’s (he/him) introduction to Shad started when he joined as a Junior Faculty Member in 2017. Since then, he has been excitingly looking forward to Shad each summer and the experiences it brings. He appreciates working with the wonderful staff and students in this unique environment each year.
Abdullah received his Phd from the department of Mathematics and Statistics at Dalhousie University where he completed all of his post-secondary education. His specialization and research interests are in Number Theory. He is currently an Assistant Professor at StFX University in Nova Scotia.
Abdullah has always had a passion for mathematics outreach and teaching. He has worked with Nova Scotia Math Circles, Nova Scotia Math League, and done some volunteer tutoring. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, reading, and trying to learn about and experience new things.
Alex Sproul, BSc, MSc (Candidate)
Graduate student
Alex (he/him) has been returning to Shad Dalhousie every year since 2018. He has an honours degree in psychology and neuroscience from Acadia University and is currently pursuing his masters in experimental cognitive psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has also dabbled in the world of computer science and data analytics, providing tech insight for a multitude of industries. His primary research interests are studying the neurophysiological representations of memory and learning. Alex returns to Shad each year because of the transformational impact it has on its participants. It is an incredible, life-changing opportunity and he is truly committed to ensuring that each student grows throughout the month.
His passion for science and technology is matched with his love of the fine arts. Alex published a children’s fantasy novel when he was 16 and continues to write in a plethora of other forms. A research project he is currently pursuing is the use of table-top roleplaying games (e.g., Dungeons and Dragons) as a treatment option for mental health among transgender youth. When he is not found running around campus in abnormally large hats, he can be seen reading in a hammock or cuddling his two cat-children, Peaches and Mango.
