Alumni profile: Victoria Goodfellow Nicholls
Victoria Goodfellow Nicholls (MISt ’08) had an idyllic upbringing in rural England surrounded by old 
collections of family books, enjoying the outdoors, reading voraciously, and writing her own stories.
By the time her family moved to a rural area of Nova Scotia when she was thirteen, her passion for reading myths, fantasy, and historical fiction was already fully entrenched.
Her first professional calling came in Grade 7 as a result of a career day held at her school. A presentation by Colleen Jones, a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), left Victoria with a strong desire to become a journalist.
From CBC Halifax to the iSchool
As a student, Ms Goodfellow Nicholls believed in the power of words as a vehicle to communicate ideas and realities, and wanted to use her education to create change in the world.
After high school, she began a journalism program at the University of King’s College in Halifax where she specialized in television. As a student, Ms Goodfellow Nicholls believed in the power of words as a vehicle to communicate ideas and realities, and wanted to use her education to create change in the world.
Upon graduation, Victoria began working for the CBC in Halifax in the news department and in the library. She found her time in the library particularly rewarding and felt very at home in that environment. This positive experience and the advice of a colleague led her to the iSchool.
Love of learning
Although it was a challenge returning to school after working full time, her love of learning greatly eased the transition.
“Juggling class work, career, family, and friends helped me keep an eye on the forest but not forget about the importance of individual trees. A lot of the in-class work taught me about the science of what I’m doing [at the CBC], which makes decision-making easier,” she says.
As a content manager, not only will she be given an opportunity to experience this evolution first-hand, but she will also be an active contributor to the strategic evolution of the CBC Libraries & Archives.
Coordinator of Media Management
Combined with her new degree from the iSchool, Victoria’s experience at CBC Halifax helped her land a job with CBC Libraries & Archives in Toronto as the Coordinator of Media Management. She is responsible for all of the digital processes involved in the management of content, which includes ensuring an effective process, the correct corresponding documentation, a training plan, and constant review.
“It’s a dynamic and evolving library environment. I’m enjoying the new digital environment where decisions are often precedent-setting.”
Victoria says that the exciting changes and evolution in media, technology, and information management will keep her at the CBC. As a content manager, not only will she be given an opportunity to experience this evolution first-hand, but she will also be an active contributor to the strategic evolution of the CBC Libraries & Archives.
