I come to educational technologies and faculty development from the discipline of English, where over time I discovered not only a fascination with why and how people choose to learn, but also a delight in helping my faculty colleagues to use technology more effectively and ethically in their own teaching. I loved teaching writing and literature, but what I loved most about that role was helping learners to solve the riddle of the text: to make meaning where they may have imagined there was none. To choose a good technology, to use it well, to implement it with care: these too are riddles to solve, but the stakes matter even more to me now. The right answer isn’t just about deeper understanding of an argument or experiencing a piece of art more fully; in this role, the wrong answer might risk privacy or cause real harm. I now apply a sharp critical eye trained to analyze text to the promise of edtech vendors and the cultures of academia. I find myself well-trained to do this work, despite a circuitous path to it.
I hold a PhD [A.3.1.2] in Canadian Literature from University of New Brunswick, where I worked with Jennifer Andrews. My dissertation was a single-author study on the visual art, writing, and cultural contributions of Douglas Coupland. I completed comprehensive examinations in Canadian Literature, American Literature, and a specialty topic in visual culture, pop culture, and 9/11 studies. I completed my language requirement in French. My coursework included work in digital humanities, film theory, post-colonial literatures, and gender studies. I defended my doctoral dissertation in June 2010.
While a doctoral student at UNB, I taught courses in Academic Writing, Canadian Literature, and Atlantic Canadian Literature. I was a teaching assistant for courses in contemporary literature and a research assistant on In the Belly of a Laughing God: Humour and Irony in Native Women’s Poetry and Tracing the Black Presence in Westmoreland, New Brunswick. I also taught in the English as a Second Language program at St. Thomas University.
I hold an MA [A.3.1.3] in English Literature from Carleton University. My master’s research paper was a single-author study of Dave Eggers from the perspective of masculinity studies. I completed my language requirement in French. My coursework included work in Indigenous literatures and teaching and learning theory. I completed my MA in August 2006.
While a master’s student at Carleton, I was trained in education at the Centre for Initiatives in Education and facilitated workshops in English. I also served as a team leader and facilitator trainer for CIE. I was also a teaching assistant for courses in contemporary literature.
I hold a BA (Hons) [A.3.1.4] from Carleton University. My undergraduate research paper was an examination of Oscar Wilde’s time as a periodical editor for The Women’s World (1887-9). Instead of pursuing a minor, I took a broadly generalist series of courses in social work, psychology, history, art history, and political science. I completed my BA (Hons) in April 2005.
While an undergraduate at Carleton, I was trained in education at the Centre for Initiatives in Education and facilitated workshops in English and psychology. I also served as a team leader and facilitator trainer for CIE.
