Research-Based Solutions…Real-World Results

My strength is my ability to bridge research and practice to match innovative thinking with impactful outcomes. Over the course of my career I have impacted the education of over 90,000 people through a variety of teaching assignments, speaking engagements, management positions and consulting opportunities.

Consulting

I have designed and/or delivered custom programs for a wide range of high profile organizations, including:

  • Ontario Ministry of Transportation

  • Business Development Bank

  • Business Education Council

  • International Atomic Energy Agency

  • Canadian Tire Financial

  • Sodexo Canada

  • Convergys

  • Niagara Catholic District School Board

  • District School Board of Niagara

  • New Brunswick Public School Board

  • Brock University

  • Ridley College

Management Positions

As the Director of Continuing Education, Community Learning, Youth University, & Community Adventure Training Initiatives at Brock University from 2002 – 2017, I was responsible for the educational programs of thousands of learners and pioneered a number of innovative programs (including Community Conversation Cafes, the OneWorld Presentation Series, and Post-Secondary 101).

Research Projects

I currently serve as a Research Associate with the Niagara Community Observatory. Over the years I have received funding for a variety of projects including:

  • a Niagara Prosperity Initiative Grant to support community development through a program focused on the development of soft skills in over 100 youth from priority neighbourhoods.

  • a Research Grant from the Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement funded by Health Canada to study program effectiveness.

Academic Assignments

I currently serve as a lecturer with Brock University’s Faculty of Social Sciences. I also hold the position of adjunct advisor and lecturer for the Faculty of Education.

For many years I was a reviewer for the Journal of Experiential Education and sat as committee member for the Research Ethics Board of Brock University.

Presentations and Publications

While not an exhaustive list of my work, the selections below represent a broad overview of my presentations and publications.

Soft Skills

Is there a skills gap? Understanding what Niagara employers are looking for in recent graduates. Niagara Community Observatory, Policy Brief #27. (2017, February)

The skills and dispositions employers seek in co-op students. Report for Co-op, Career and Experiential Education, Brock University. (2016, September)

Skills, experience, or credentials…what are employers looking for today? SHIFT Graduate Student Conference, Brock University. (2016, April)

Generic skills for the 21st century: UNESCO’s four pillars as an organizing framework. Canadian Society for the Study of Education Annual Conference. St. Catharines, ON. with D. Bright. (2014, May) 

The "skinny" on "soft" skills. Career Corner Series, Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Brock University. (2014, May)

Education Policy & Experiential Learning Methods

Exploring the potential for community where diverse individuals belong. In G. Stahl, S. Habib, & M. Ward, Identities, Youth and Belonging: International Perspectives. Palgrave McMillan. (forthcoming)

An alternative to Tuckman: Three factors in group development. In R. H. Stremba & C. Bisson, (Eds.), Teaching adventure education theory: Best practices: 267-268. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. (2009)

Higher education and strategic change in the wake of a new era. Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education Conference. Ottawa, ON. (2009, May)

A contemporary model of experiential education. In K. Warren, T. A. Loeffler, & D. Mitten (Eds.), The theory of experiential education (4th ed.). 282-296.  Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt. (2008)

Youth on campus: The scholarship of engagement and increasing access to postsecondary attainment. Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education. Vancouver, BC. (2008, June)

Enhancing your experiential program with narrative theory. The Journal of Experiential Education, 24 (1), 22-26. (2001)

Real-time/real-world training: A new team training model for business. 28th Annual Conference of the Association for Experiential Education. Tucson, AZ. (2000, November).

Back to the basics: Designing group learning experiences. Taproot, 11 (4), 10-13. (1999)

Significant learning: An experiential learning facilitation model. 26th Annual Conference of the Association for Experiential Education, Lake Tahoe, NV. (1998, November)

Experiential learning to create positive learning environments. New Brunswick Department of Education’s 6th Annual Middle School Institute, Sackville. (1998, August)

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