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Directors

Ben Tait

Ben Tait, PhD (he/him)
Executive Director

As the Executive Director of the Centre, I represent our team across the University’s strategic and decision-making bodies.

This connects the Centre with the full breadth of Dalhousie’s educational mission and is key to the pedagogical leadership we provide within the University. My position also facilitates regular contact with those who lead Dalhousie’s Faculties and Units, helping us tailor our services to the diverse needs of the community we serve. Furthermore, it is my pleasure to represent ϳԹin national and international organizations dedicated to advancing teaching and learning in Higher Education.

I come to this work from an interdisciplinary background rooted in the intersections of pedagogy, the philosophy of art, and the anthropology of performance, with degrees from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Royal Holloway, University of London. My career has incorporated teaching the history and practice of European and World Theatres; moderating national research qualifications; developing nationwide Science Education programs; teacher training, and accrediting Health Administration programs across North America. I founded the UK’s Write the Girl playwrighting program for young women, and I am a Founding Member of the Chartered College of Teaching.

If you have any questions or comments about the work of the Centre and how we can better fulfill our mandate to serve the ϳԹcommunity, please do not hesitate to reach out using the contact button.


Suzanne Le-May Sheffield, PhD(she/her)
Director
Tel: (902) 494-1894

As Director of the Centre, I work closely with the Executive Director to support the Centre’s strategic plan and to align it with the university’s priorities and the goals of the Centre. Leading the on-going development, planning, and execution of the Centre’s various programming, projects, and events to enhance teaching and learning at Dalhousie, I also work closely with the CLT team to ensure our work is in alignment with current trends in higher education and that we are responsive to faculty and student needs for their professional development of teaching to enhance student learning.

I have been instrumental in policy creation at ϳԹrelated to teaching and learning and in supporting faculty applications for regional and national teaching awards. I have also beenactive on a variety of national level committees through the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and the Educational Developers Caucus (EDC).My research, presentations, and publications in the context of the scholarship of teaching and learning and the scholarship of educational development, have included investigations on the teaching development of graduate students, women in academe, the development of educational developers, the impact of informal faculty conversations on their teaching, and educational developers well-being. I am currently an Associate Editor for theInternational Journal for Academic Development.

After graduating with a Phd in history from York University,I taught Modern British History and the History of Science forseven years at York University and at ϳԹ and during that time published two books and two book chapters in my areaof speciality, women in science.

Ihaveworked at CLT since 2002 and I am a recipient of the 2016 ϳԹProfessional and Managerial Group’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Transformative Pedagogies Team

Tereigh Ewert

Tereigh Ewert(she/her)
Senior Educational Developer
(Anti-oppressive and Transformative Education)
Tel: (902) 494-3808

As the Senior Educational Developer (Anti-Oppressive and Transformative Education), I collaborate with faculty and staff to create equitable, socially just, and anti-oppressive relationships, curricula, inclusive relationships, content, assessment, activities, and environments. I work in partnership with individuals and groups to best situate transformative pedagogies within their disciplinary context(s), within the ϳԹculture, and within the far broader social context where we live, play, and learn.

Within our team, I am always learning and growing from my colleagues’ knowledges, skills, experiences, and gifts.On this team are Shazia Nawaz Awan, Educational Developer (Internationalization and Intercultural Competency) and Rachelle McKay, Educational Developer (Indigenous Knowledges and Ways of Knowing). With a co-created vision of facilitating systemic change in ϳԹteaching and learning, the team coordinates its efforts at the intersections of anti-racism, anti-oppression, decolonization, and accessibility.

I am grateful for the many opportunities to review programs, courses, policies, documents, and admissions processes through various equity lenses, as am I be part of the Dal Disability Caucus and the IDEIA Education Collective, numerous ϳԹaccessibility initiatives, and to be a member of an external, provincial, Social Equity Working Group.

Rachelle McKay

Rachelle McKay, MA(she/her)
Educational Developer (Indigenous Knowledges and Ways of Knowing)
Tel: (902)431-0181 (Teams phone)

As the Educational Developer (Indigenous Knowledges and Ways of Knowing) at the CLT, I’m interested in building relationships with faculty and instructional staff, to support curriculum Indigenization and decolonization efforts.

I’m an Anishinaabe woman from Sas-ka-chew-wa-niiz (Little Saskatchewan First Nation), treaty 2 territory in Manitoba. After graduating from Dal/King’s, I completed a Master of Arts degree in Indigenous Governance at the University of Victoria, BC. I have extensive experience in both classroom teaching and discipline-specific Indigenization efforts, having consulted with faculty on anti-colonial teaching strategies across Mi’kma’ki and Turtle Island.

I believe that decolonization needs to be an ongoing process. As scholars and residents within a settler-colonial state, decolonization cannot be achieved in full. What can be achieved however, is the unlearning of colonial ideologies alongside the integration of Indigenous pedagogies, knowledges, and ways of being, into classroom discourse.

Shazia Nawaz Awan, Ed.D.

Shazia Nawaz Awan, Ed.D.
Educational Developer (Internationalization & Intercultural Competency)

My role as the Educational Developer (Internationalization & Intercultural Competency) at the CLT involves working closely with the Senior Educational Developer (Diversity & Inclusivity) and the Educational Developer (Indigenization). The focus of my role is to work with faculty and departments to support the process of internationalization of curriculum and provide support to enhance intercultural communication through curriculum and classroom discourse.

I come with extensive experience in classroom teaching and professional development. I have worked with international faculty and students both at ϳԹ and internationally, outside Canada.

I believe that internationalization is not just a goal to achieve; it is an integrated process to enhance the quality of higher education in the changing contexts of teaching and learning across the world.

Online and Blended Pedagogies Team

Les T. Johnson

Les T. Johnson, PhD(he/him)
Senior Educational Developer (Online Pedagogies)

In my role as Senior Educational Developer, I work across the university to promote instructional design best practices, the principles of Universal Design for Learning, and the responsible integration of generative A.I. in education, championing the University’s strategic initiatives through relevant committee, policy, and survey work.

My focus is on supporting the creation of courses that are learner-centered, accessible, and that integrate educational technologies in ways that promote student learning. I contribute to faculty development by facilitating workshops, teaching courses and developing resources on online and blended learning design. I consult with and guide individual faculty members, programs, departments, and Faculties in navigating the ever-evolving landscape in online, blended, and hyflex pedagogies.

In the past, I have taught university-level courses in social foundations of education, integration of technology into classroom practice, and 2SLGBTQIA+ studies. My research interests include various aspects of online pedagogy (e.g., instructor presence), qualitative research methods, and the experiences and identity development of trans/non-binary people. Outside of academia, I am a part-time Zumba instructor and I’m also currently working on a graphic novel that explores my family relationships. In my free time, you might find me making art, sewing, reading, or playing video games.

Kate Crane

Kate Crane, MA (she/her)
Educational Developer (Online Pedagogy)
Tel: (902)431-0251 (Teams phone)

Alongside my colleague Les Tyler Johnson, I consult with faculty around the online, digital and virtual aspects of courses and programs, and the unique pedagogical challenges and opportunities these present. I help faculty make appropriate choices between available educational technology and virtual facilitation techniques that are in line with their pedagogical goals and values.

My teaching and learning interests include the “students as partners” research and pedagogical paradigm; and “post-digital” or, more broadly, socio-material perspectives on teaching and learning. These perspectives helps us think the “online” and the “face-to-face” through one another, rather than as distinct arenas of teaching & learning, opening up avenues toward pedagogical expressions that can creatively respond to a reality in which the “online,” “digital” and “physical” are intertwined—or even, inseparable.

I have a master’s degree in social anthropology from Dalhousie. My research interests include the experiences of internet/digital workers, and questions of time, space, and materiality in labour and community struggles.

Jake Nissen

Jake Nissen(he/him)
Video Producer

I am the Centre's videographer and my job is to assist programs within the university with all their video needs that may arise throughout the year with regard to communicating lessons and labs with students and faculty.

I am a graduate of the Radio and Television Arts program at NSCC, I have spent the last 5 years doing freelance video work in the areas of sports, corporate story telling, end event livestreaming.

Programs Team

Betsy Keating

Betsy Keating, PhD(on leave)
Educational Developer (Faculty)
Faculty Certificate Program Coordinator

I support faculty members’ professional development in teaching and learning. Whether you’re an experienced instructor exploring alternate teaching methods, you’re designing or refining a course, or you’re new to post-secondary instruction, I’m available for individual consultations and resources. I also offer group consultations, presentations, workshops, or retreats tailored to your Faculty/Department/School/Group’s needs.

Prior to joining Dalhousie, I taught composition and academic writing, and worked in educational development at the University of Windsor. I have an MA in English literature and a PhD in Cognition and Learning in Higher Education. My research interests include cognition in learning, course design, communities of practice, writing across the curriculum, and the effects of instructor approach on student learning.

Elizabeth Gillis

Elizabeth Gillis, PhD(she/her)
Senior Educational Developer(Curriculum)

I work in collaboration with individuals, programs, and departments on curriculum renewal and development projects, including assisting in the development of course and program outcomes, guiding curriculum mapping, and providing support through MPHEC proposal processes. I also offer support to instructors as they develop, design, and review their courses and assessments.

Bruno Roy

Bruno Roy, BA (he/him)
Student Feedback and Evaluation Coordinator
Tel: (902) 494-2706 (Teams phone)

Bruno Roy began his career at ϳԹ in 1999, after graduating from ϳԹwith a Bachelor Degree in Sociology and Anthropology. Throughout this time, he has supported faculty with technical troubleshooting and computer-based projects.Currently, Brunoleadsthe institution'sStudent Learning Experience Questionnaireteam,and leads the implementation, processing and dissemination of the SRI evaluations and reports. He also supports the Centre with technical troubleshooting, as well as advise on and support equipment and technology. In 2019, Bruno received the Blue Expert certification.

Daniella Sieukraran

Daniella Sieukaran, MA (she/her)
Senior Educational Developer (Curriculum)

I provide leadership for curriculum and educational developmental projects, as well as support the development of program outcomes, curriculum mapping processes, and implementation of curriculum and program evaluation plans for new and existing academic programs. I also support faculty in a variety of ways, such as conducting one-on-one consultations for improving teaching and learning, and facilitating professional development opportunities focused on curriculum and instructional design.

I have 24 years of volunteer and work experience supporting and teaching students across the lifespan, of which the past 18 years have been at six post-secondary institutions in Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax. In addition, I have taught at the post-secondary level for the past 13 years. Currently, I teach in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, which helps me stay on the pulse of what works best for today’s educators and learners.

I have earned a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Arts from York University (2010), as well as a Master of Arts and Certificate in University Teaching and Learning, both from Simon Fraser University (2014). In a previous career path, I trained to be a psychologist, which included conducting 10 years of internationally renowned research. This background influences my evidence-based, humanistic, student-centered approach to teaching and learning. My ultimate goal is through our collective work, our students will feel more seen, valued, and empowered in their learning environments.

Nasim Tavassoli

Nasim Tavassoli, PhD(she/her)
Educational Developer (Student Development)

As an Educational Developer (Student Development), my role is to enhance students’ teaching development. I am responsible for developing, and facilitating university-wide as well as discipline-specific educational development workshops and professional development programs for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and teaching assistants. This includes, but it is not limited to, theMicro-teaching program, theCNLT5000 course, theCertificate in University Teaching and Learning (CUTL), thegraduate teaching dossier retreat, etc. I also provide one-on-one consultations with graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to improve the quality of teaching and learning in their classroom.

I have a PhD in Education from Concordia University in Montreal. I have experience teaching in higher education, mentoring, and supervising undergraduate and graduate students. I believe that learners play an active role in their own learning by constructing knowledge through engaging with materials.

Kate Thompson

Kate Thompson, PhD(she/her)
Educational Developer (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning)

As the Educational Developer (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning), I support and promote the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) at ϳԹby working with instructors, academic departments, and faculties. This work includes delivering professional development opportunities like theCentre’s SoTL Scholars Program, as well as workshops and consultations surrounding SoTL topics. I sit on Dalhousie’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Ethics Board (SSHREB), and am available to support faculty in preparing REB applications for their SoTL projects. I also administer and support theCentre’s university-wide teaching and learninggrants.

In addition to my SoTL work, I have a passion for all kinds of innovative and emerging pedagogies. I consult with faculty about implementing gamification or game-based learning activities, and am interested in discussing and learning about other emerging trends such as the use of XR (extended reality) in educational settings.

My graduate work in cognitive psychology focused on memory, attention, and learning. I also have several years of instructional design experience. My educational philosophy centers around creating interactive and engaging learning experiences, as well as tailoring teaching and assessment strategies to the type of learning that needs to occur.

Ben Wagar

Ben Wagar(they/them)
Student Learning Experience QuestionnairesTechnician

As the SLEQ Technician, I am the first point of contact for those who email SLEQ. I assist faculty, staff, and students with their questions; prepare end of semester evaluations and reports; and update the SLEQ website with relative information and resources.

I am a graduate of the Library and Information Technology program at NSCC and have worked in document management field (primarily faculty evaluations) since 2022.

Administration

Poondarig (Poon) Juntawong

Poondarig (Poon) Juntawong (She/Her/Hers)
Manager, Administration & Operations
Telephone: 902-494-1622

I manage administration and operational activities for theCentre for Learning and Teaching. This involves CLT budget management and financial administration, awards and grants administration, human resources management, communications, as well as project management and oversight for CLT projects, committee, or working groups.

I obtained my Master of Business Administration degree from Aston University (UK, full scholarship) and gathered my experience in global management/ HR consulting firms and multinational companies. Prior to joining Dalhousie, I designed operating models and organization structures to drive business strategy and delivered HR and IT transformation programs for companies across Asia, Europe, and North Americas.

Michelle Soucy Rankin

Michelle Soucy Rankin(she/her)
Communications and Event Planning Coordinator
Telephone: 902-494-1622

As the Communications and Event Planning Coordinator, I provide project management oversight of all CLT events. I am responsible formaintaining and managing the Centre' s online presence; working in partnership with ϳԹLibraries in producing the monthly eNewsletter-Connected Classrooms; and developing communications for Centre focused events, programs, awards, and grants.

In this role,I support the department’sadministration- assisting with financial reconciliation and other administrative duties. I am also responsible for also managing CLT email,coordination of teaching and learning grants and university-wide teaching awardsas well as the administration of CLT programming.