Soodeen, Claudius

Soodeen, Claudius

Job Title

Faculty Development Consultant, Red River College & Instructor, University of Winnipeg

Workplace

Red River College & University of Winnipeg

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

EdD, 2018

Concentration

Educational Studies – General – Educational Leadership and Policy

Residence

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

I have been in the post-secondary education sector for many years and am currently the Faculty Development Consultant in the Centre for Learning and Program Excellence. I’ve been at Red River College since 2010, first as an Instructional Designer, then as an Educational Developer. I also practice what I preach (or try to) as an instructor at the University of Winnipeg, teaching face-to-face and recently, online! Prior to RRC, I worked at the University of Winnipeg in the Centre for Distributed/Distance Learning and ran my own Media Services Company. I am a lifelong learner with a B.A. Administrative Studies/ Justice & Law Enforcement (UWinnipeg), an M.A. Educational Studies (Athabasca), an EdD (University of British Columbia), a Graduate Diploma in Instructional Design (Athabasca), and a Certificate in Law (Queen’s). My dissertation was titled “Educational Leaders’ Understandings of Internationalization: A Case Study”. Areas of interest: Internationalization of higher education, academic integrity, effective teaching in face-to-face, online, and blended modes, teaching teachers how to teach (aka Faculty Development), professionalism, law and education, leadership of higher education, teaching atypical learners (e.g. neuro-divergent and otherwise challenged students), and educational technology.

Cory, David

Pronouns

He/ Him/ His

Job Title

Leadership Development Specialist

Workplace

The Emotional Intelligence Training Company Inc.

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

MA, 1995

Concentration

Educational Studies – General – Adult Education

Residence

North Saanich, BC, Canada

David Cory, B.Ed., M.A. (Adult Ed) is a leadership development coach, trainer, and consultant known for his expertise in applying the concept of emotional intelligence to individual and organizational performance improvement. Following his M.A. in Adult Ed, David went to work at the Open Learning Agency where he created and managed several provincial welfare to workforce programs and was also involved in leadership development as part of the workplace training division of the OLA. When the OLA reorganized and teaching leadership courses was no longer an option, David founded one of the first companies in North America to focus on the development of leadership based on emotional intelligence in 1998. As interest in emotional intelligence as the basis for leadership and organizational effectiveness grew around the world, David began traveling the world and would not have stopped if it had not been for the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions to travel. David’s company is the global leader in teaching executive coaches, counsellors, and Human Resource professionals to use the world’s first scientifically validated online assessment for emotional intelligence, the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i 2.0) and is the first choice of orgnaizations looking to integrate the concept of emotional intelligence into their leadership development programs. A few career highlights so far include developing a leadership course based on emotional intelligence for the citizens of the Republic of Botswana and training 36 trainers to deliver the course. Also, being an invited key-note speaker at an international EQ conference at the Harvard Medical School and the closing key-note speaker at the World HRD Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But even more than the incredible places and world travel experiences has been the wonderful, dedicated and committed people that David has had the pleasure to work with.

Email: david@eitrainingcompany.com
Website: https://www.eitrainingcompany.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emotionalintelligence/

Montes, Claudine

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Job Title

Rincon Education Department Manager

Workplace

Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

PhD, 2006

Concentration

Ts”Kel Program

Residence

Escondido, California, USA

Dr. Claudine Montes is of Southern Ute Tribe and Mexican descent but she grew up in the San Diego area. Claudine attended San Francisco State University where she got her Bachelor’s in Broadcast Communication Arts and then continued on to get her Master’s degree in American Indian Education. From there she took a job at the University of New Mexico as the Tribal for the Native American Studies Department. After working at UNM for several years she decided to go back to school to get her PhD at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada where she got a very unique opportunity to study in a First Nations Higher Education program called the Ts’’kel Program. There she had the great luck to meet and work with Indigenous people from around the world and live on the traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nations Band. Dr. Montes has worked in Native Education for over 25 years with a brief time away to work for the Southern California Tribal Chairman’s Association in government relations. Although she enjoyed her time working in government relations she was overjoyed to be able to get back into education with the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians. Currently she works as the Manager of the Rincon Education Department. There she runs the after-school tutorial program, the summer education program, summer internship program, scholarship program and is working on expanding the program to include independent studies students, GED program and college study nights.

Fernandez, Darran

Pronouns

He/ Him/ His

Job Title

University Registrar

Workplace

York University

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

MEd, 2010

Concentration

Higher Education (HIED)

Residence

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Darran’s career in education spans three different Canadian post-secondary institutions and is currently the University Registrar at York University in Toronto, ON. He is a professional coach (ICF Certified) and educator who spent the last 11 years in Vancouver in various roles at the University of British Columbia. Most recently, he has dedicated his career to enhancing the experience for students in the core administrative areas of the institution – the Registrar’s Office – believing that building a strong and positive foundation allows co-curricular services and academic development to build from a place of positivism. His work in the sector ranges from service on the boards of UBC, the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT) and the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services. He’s currently pursuing his Educational Doctorate from Western University. When he has free time he curls, runs and is busy exploring his new city with his lab-mix dog, Lex, in Toronto.

 

Email: darranfernandez@gmail.com

Pearmain, Mark

Job Title

Superintendent / CEO

Workplace

North Vancouver School District

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

MEd, 2002

Concentration

Educational Administration and Leadership (EDAL)

Residence

North Vancouver, BC, Canada

As Superintendent/CEO for the North Vancouver School District, Mark oversees 34 schools, including 25 elementary schools, 7 secondary schools, the Distributed / Online Learning School and K to 12 Outdoor School at Cheakamus Centre. Over 18,000 students and staff comprise this diverse and highly successful school district focused on inspiring success for every student and bringing communities together to learn, share and grow. Mark’s core values of respect, integrity, collaboration and communication manifest themselves through a transparent leadership style that empowers others to lead, innovate and attain their full potential. His strong belief in the concept of “challenge up – empower down” has allowed him to work successfully with all stakeholder groups and create a positive organizational culture. His 26-year career in public education has seen him progress from secondary school history teacher, vice-principal, principal, district principal and director of instruction roles with the Vancouver School Board to assistant superintendent and now, Superintendent/CEO at the North Vancouver School District, a position he has held since 2016. Mark currently serves as Chair of the Board for Focused Education Resources and is a board member on the BC Digital Services Board.

Cougler Blom, Beth

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Job Title

Facilitator and Learning Designer

Workplace

BCB Learning Inc.

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

MEd, 2005

Concentration

Adult Learning and Education (ALE)

Residence

Sooke, BC, Canada

Beth Cougler Blom is a facilitator and learning designer who, along with her team at BCB Learning Inc., crafts impactful learning experiences for organizations dedicated to making a difference. Her first book, Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilitate a Great Learning Experience For Any Group, was published in 2021. Beth leads the Victoria Facilitators Group community of practice, and contributes to stewarding the Vancouver Island Liberating Structures User Group. She teaches in the Advanced Facilitation Practices professional certificate program at Royal Roads University. Beth also hosts the Facilitating on Purpose podcast, a podcast about designing and facilitating learning. She can be reached via https://bcblearning.com

Website: https://bcblearning.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethcouglerblom

Beth’s Story

What are some accomplishments or highlights that you are most proud of?

I’ve had the good fortune to work on a wide variety of interesting design and facilitation-related projects but particularly my involvement with the Instructional Skills Workshop and the Facilitating Learning Online (FLO) courses – including being a co-author of an open textbook about how to implement the FLO courses – have been impactful. Writing a book in the field – Design to Engage: How to Create and Facilitate a Great Learning Experience For Any Group – has probably been my biggest accomplishment to date.

What is something that you needed to learn (beyond your degree) or unlearn to be able to work in your sector?

Beyond the time I spent doing my degree I had to educate myself about the practical aspects of learning design and facilitation while on the job and while working with different clients across all sectors. One example of something I had to really go out and teach myself is why learning outcomes are such a foundational part of a learning design process, how to write them and how to design participatory, active sessions that align with outcomes. Learning about adult learning theories is great, but it has to be then followed up by real life practical on the job experience, to see how things work and don’t in real life. Because I balance both work as a learning designer and a facilitator, I don’t rely on just theories to get me through, I can see what works and what doesn’t with real learners – either in person or online.

What does meaningful contribution mean to you?

Meaningful contribution means not only accumulating knowledge for myself as I go throughout my career, and sharing that with my clients, but giving back to the community as much as I can. Because of this, I lead/co-lead two different communities of practice for people who are facilitators/learning designers, and highly value both the learning that I get from being a part of these groups and leading them, and also what I’m able to bring to others…a place to learn, connect, and grow with each other. I’ve always held an abundant mindset about doing this kind of work as an entrepreneur. There are many of us out there in the same position, so why would we view each other as competitors? I’ve always viewed colleagues as collaborators, and this has been a way for us all to meaningfully contribute to each other, and to the field. Similarly, I spend a lot of time on social media sharing tips and strategies around learning design and facilitation, to help the entire field grow and learn.

Gu, Lily

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Job Title

Career and Professional Development Coach

Workplace

LGU Journey Co.

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

MEd, 2006

Concentration

Society, Culture and Politics in Education (SCPE)

Residence

Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

My career path took me from a technology consultant delivering IT products and solutions for an international IT company in Beijing, to a program leader managing educational programs serving diverse learners at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, to an inspiring coach partnering with individuals and groups to explore, discover and design paths towards success, whatever success means to them. As a career and professional development coach, I am committed to offer a trusting and caring space for my clients to explore with openness on matters that are important to them, whether for work, home, or anything in between. Based in Vancouver Canada, I am humbly excited to serve diverse clients around the world. I have a passion for life-long learning and serving others. I hold a master’s degree in computer engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in adult education from the University of British Columbia (UBC). During my 15-year experience working at UBC, I continued my learning journey and completed multiple certificate programs, including certificates in Intercultural Studies, Translation and Interpretation for Business (Chinese / English), Organizational Coaching, and certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies, and Procedures. Outside work, I love to be active and try new things, whether it means skydiving, balancing on my standup paddle board, or experimenting in my garden. As a mother of two, I am thoroughly enjoying the journey to learn and grow with my children.

 

Email: lily.gu@alumni.ubc.ca

Website: http://lgujourney.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lily-gu

Anderson, Starla

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Job Title

Retired as English Department Head, Churchill Secondary, Vancouver School Board

Workplace

Self-employed

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

MEd, 1977; EdD, 1987

Concentration

Society, Culture and Politics in Education (SCPE)

Residence

Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

 

My year of study with Jane Gaskell enhanced my understanding of the role of public education in capitalist society. After five years of teaching in public schools, and observing discrepancies in outcomes for students from different social and cultural backgrounds, I wanted to gain more insight as to how I might bring innovations to classrooms to confront these discrepancies. As a teacher in a Vancouver alternate program, Total Education, I interviewed grade 12 students who told me that this more personalized learning experience motivated them to complete secondary school whereas mainstream schools had not. These students were from diverse backgrounds—socially and culturally—and had individual motivations; “one size fits all” learning experiences did not keep them motivated. Continued interest in alternate education took me as a teacher-researcher to Outreach, a program for Indigenous students. My work with these students became the focus of doctoral studies with Bernie Mohan in UBC’s Dept. of Language and Literacy Education. Many doors opened so that I was able to contribute to designing better learning environments and more relevant curriculum for Indigenous students in B.C. schools. During the last decade of my teaching and consulting work, as Head of Churchill’s English Department, teachers were easily persuaded of the efficacy of developing English courses for grades 8 – 10 students who would benefit from adapted methods of instruction. This school is known for its students’ academic achievements but a small number of students were not being served well; twenty-five years later, these courses remain intact.

 

Email: starla4409@gmail.com

Nabavi, Maryam

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Job Title

Director, Academic Leadership Development Program

Workplace

UBC

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

PhD, 2012

Concentration

Society, Culture and Politics in Education (SCPE)

Residence

British Columbia, Canada

Maryam lives within the borders of Coast Salish lands and in the borderlands of race and migration. After completing her PhD in Educational Studies in 2012, which was a Cultural Studies look at identities and identifications of young immigrants and its impacts on notions of citizenship, she worked as a Post-doctoral Teaching and Learning Fellow at UBC and later at a national social policy research organization to advance policies for Canadians to whom social structures offer least. Her work centrally focuses on strategic, leadership-driven engagement in service of advancing equity, inclusion and anti-racism. Presently, as Director of the Academic Leadership Development program at UBC, Maryam guides the overall development of a cohort-based program that enhances and contributes to leadership for new academic leaders. Maryam is trained and holds certificates a variety of approaches for advancing organizational change processes, including a Certificate of Leadership Coaching, conflict engagement, and a variety of facilitation tools and frameworks. Outside of her professional life, she is actively engaged in the project of motherhood and enjoys climbing mountains in the summers and coming down them in the winters!

 

Email: maryam.nabavi@gmail.com

Orchard, Carole

Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

Job Title

Previously full professor and now professor emerita and adjunct research professor in nursing

EDST Degree/s and graduation year/s

EdD, 1998; MEd, 1991

Concentration

Educational Studies – General

Residence

London, Ontario, Canada

Dr. Orchard is currently Professor Emerita and Adjunct Research Professor in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing and the former Coordinator of Interprofessional Health Education & Research at the University of Western Ontario. Her research focuses on interprofessional client-centred collaborative practice. Dr. Orchard and her colleagues have developed several measurement instruments: Interprofessional Socialization & Valuing Scale (ISVS) and the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale-II (AITCS-II for practitioners), AITCS-II for students, Interprofessional Collaborative Leadership Scale (AICLS), and Patients with Diabetes Ownership of their Self-Care Scale (PD-SCOS). The AITCS-II (students) is specifically for assessing collaboration in IP students during group learning. Dr. Orchard co-chaired the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative’s IP Competency Working Group who developed the CIHC National IP Competency Framework and an international working group is now working on audit tools to measure the process of collaboration in teams. Dr. Orchard has also created an online program TEAMc (Toolkit for Enhancing and Maintaining Collaboration) to assist in the development of Interprofessional Collaborative Teams. This program is licensable for agency use through WorldDiscoveries at Western University. Dr. Orchard also co-chairs the CIHC Interprofessional Competency Working Group. In 2015 she published a book with colleagues on Interprofessional Client-Centered Collaborative Practice: What does it look like? How can it be achieved? Dr. Orchard has also published articles on the role of nurses within collaborative teams. Her research currently focuses on the role of patients both in their own self-care and in collaborative teams. Currently she and colleagues are developing a Training Program in Interprofessional Team Conflict Resolution. Her work is frequently cited in the field of IPC.

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corchardcollaborator

Website: http://www.collaborativeprac.ca

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