Nationally and internationally respected multi-platform, multi-discipline education program developer, researcher, writer, educator, and administrator. A strong background in strategic planning and program development, having worked on long-term plans in research and funding strategies and 5-year plans.
Significant experience in successful Tri-Council Research Ethics approval processes for projects at several institutions; co-authored REB-approved publications. Successful SSRHC-funded project with international partners. Significant collaboration and support for faculty and graduate students in completing research projects, theses, research proposals, and statements of intent.
Extensive experience in leading in the creation, development, and delivery of complex, multi-layered higher education programming, in union and non-union environments. Involved in education instruction, programming, development, and management for several decades in education fields such as museums, publishing, television and media, and higher education. A reputation as a collaborative and transparent decision-maker and supportive colleague. I have developed and delivered several HE national conferences, as well as co-chair several others.
I work with a professionalism based in social justice, inclusion, and equality, hiring, mentoring, and supervising large, diverse teams. My natural tendency is to towards an open and collaborative operation, with transparent decision-making processes. I am a problem solver who listens first and acts second. I enjoy teaching and the education field because I am also a learner.
Keynote and invited speaker, presenter, workshop director, and professional artist.
Working life
A short narrative of my work.
Higher education
I’ve ten+ years experience in teaching and learning educational programming planning, development, and delivery in higher education, specifically providing academic supports for faculty and learners at Saint Mary’s University (SMU), Halifax. A big part of this was mentoring and motivating diverse teams to high standards for university-level outcomes. Inherent to work in universities is collaboration and multi-disciplinarity, working with faculty in many fields to produce resources for academic achievement. Also, annual and multi-year planning and reporting, including financial, was a key part of this experience. I’ve received national and international recognition for my work from my peers.
A successful program, Jump Start, provided training and support for all in-coming, first-year SMU learners transitioning to a virtual learning environment during COVID. This 5-day program was reported to have significantly impacted increased enrolment 2020. Feedback from SMU Board of Directors was that the program “saved the school year.”
Educational television & media
I worked as a director, producer, and writer for TVOntario, mainly for TVOKids, producing programming with a viewership of 700,000+ and which were nominated for national and international awards for television and the web. These programs were geared to children ages 6-12 and met Ontario’s Ministry of Education’s curriculum outcomes.
The programs I produced educated children and young teens directly in the classroom and focused on inspiring community involvement and social justice. They were fun and playful ways to support learners achievement (here’s an example). I’m quite proud and humbled at the response we received from young learners who watched these shows.
Educational publishing
As a project manager, writer, and digital media producer, I worked in both large and small teams to develop, create, and publish textbook packages for provincial education ministries. Much of my work here was in digital media production, working on over 35 titles, making compendium elements for textbooks, including video and embedded audio in many fields of education, including Math, Biology, Chemistry, History, and Social Studies for Nelson Education and Pearson Education. The teams of authors I managed were were scattered across the country, their work I connected and developed into unified themes and topics.
While I wrote traditional texts, I also wrote, directed, and produced short compendium videos (here’s an example). These were designed to be played in the classroom as well as used to support online learning for students.
