Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership | St. Francis Xavier University

McKenna Scholars Program: A Transformative Investment

On May 2, 2026, StFX announced a historic $20 million dollar commitment to StFX from the Honorable Frank McKenna ('70), Julie McKenna ('72), and their family.

Watch the announcement:

The McKenna Centre supports and champions all those whose ideas, research, and actions lead the way to developing bold and creative solutions to the most pressing problems of our time.

A student studying

The Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership champions courageous ideas, fosters pioneering solutions, and supports socially engaged, transformative research and education.

/mckenna-leadership/about-us

Group of graduating students

Student Funding

The Frank McKenna Centre maintains a number of grants and other funding to support students in their academic journey.

/mckenna-leadership/student-funding

Xaverian Leaders

At the Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership, we help students develop crucial skills so that they can achieve their own professional and academic goals.

/mckenna-leadership/xaverian-leaders

Inside view of a conference room

McKenna Scholar in Residence

Each year the McKenna Centre offers an intensive residency to a noted scholar whose work models innovative scholarship that is aimed at social change and that is committed to social justice.

/mckenna-leadership/mckenna-scholar-residence

Contact

Frank McKenna Centre for Leadership

@email

3090 Martha Dr
Antigonish NS B2G 2W5
Canada

Latest Events

1 Jun

Jun 1, 2026 | 1 - 3pm

Jeffery Murray Award for Accessible and Inclusive Communities Presentation

2 Jun

Jun 2, 2026 | 1:15 - 2:45pm

Pride Flag Raising

6 Jun

Jun 6, 2026 | 10:30am - 2pm

World Oceans Day

6 Jun

Jun 6, 2026 | 1:30 - 2:30pm

Taking On Water (A World Oceans Day Performance)

View all Events

Latest News

McKenna Funding Annoucement - Spring 2026

St. Francis Xavier University receives the largest single private philanthropic gift in its 173-year history from The Honourable Frank McKenna and his family

The L'nu symbol. L’nu is a Mi'kmaw word meaning 'human being' or 'the people.'

StFX espi-kina’matno’kuom etek Mi’kma’ki, wejkwa’taqanik Mi’kmaq maqamikewmuew mna’q iknmuetu’tik. Nalikitquniejk na Mi’kmawey wisun wjit Antigonish teluek Aklasie’w-iktuk, ‘place where branches are torn off.’

StFX is located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi'kmaw people. The Mi'kmaw name for Antigonish is Nalikitquniejk, meaning ‘place where branches are torn off.’

Join our community of esteemed alumni

Across the globe, StFX graduates are recognized by the enduring symbol of the X-Ring and the uniquely Xaverian spirit of social justice and community mindedness.