March 2025 | published once each term

Message from Dean Hare

Dear community members,

As spring approaches, it is a meaningful time to reflect on our shared progress and welcome the new opportunities this season of renewal brings. The strength of our Faculty lies in the connections we build, the community we foster, and the innovations that inspire our growth.

Building on this foundation, the Faculty of Education has launched a new strategic planning process to guide its future. Grounded in collaboration, inclusivity, and diverse community perspectives, this pathway forward begins with a Listening Phase. Throughout March and early April, we invite all community members to join an in-person or virtual focus group to share your insights. You can also add your voice by completing our strategic planning survey. Your valuable input will help shape our Faculty’s aspirations, goals, and strategic priorities.

We are deeply proud of the impact of our work and its ongoing national and global recognition for excellence. In the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, our Faculty again placed second in Canada. In Maclean’s Education 2025 University Rankings, we are tied for first place in Canada. These accolades highlight our leadership in research, teaching, and community engagement, and we celebrate these achievements as shared successes.

Our School of Kinesiology’s recent appointment to the Global Sport University Network (GSUN) Leadership Council further spotlights our Faculty’s global impact. This esteemed position places our scholars at the forefront of research and innovation, shaping the future of sport, public health and well-being.

As we celebrate these milestones, we also honour the remarkable contributions of our community. One way we do this is by recognizing the outstanding achievements of our alumni. The UBC Faculty of Education is now accepting nominations for two prestigious awards.

• The Alumni Educator of the Year Award honours alumni who are making exceptional impacts in the lives of their students and learning communities.
• The Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award recognizes alumni who are leading efforts to advance reconciliation and decolonization in education or who have inspired others to do so.

We encourage you to submit a nomination by March 31, 2025, to celebrate inspiring educators and acknowledge their dedication, innovation, and lasting impact on both the field of education and the lives of learners.

Our Faculty continues to foster meaningful dialogue and learning. We recently hosted the 2024–25 Global Speaker Series on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Inclusion, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Dennis Francis from South Africa and remarks from Dr. Julia Sinclair-Palm, the inaugural Director of the forthcoming Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI Excellence in Education. The event reaffirmed our community’s commitment to SOGI-inclusive learning spaces. If you missed it, you can watch the video.

I also had the privilege of hosting the second session of our 2024–25 Community Engagement Speaker Series, “Learning to Unlearn: Challenging Our Thinking, Changing Our Practice.” Cultivating Black Flourishing in K-12 Education featured an esteemed panel, including Drs. Marika Kunnas and Glory Ovie, alum Nikitha Fester, and student Nola Charles, who shared valuable insights on fostering affirming and inclusive learning environments. I invite you to watch the video recording and engage in this important conversation.

Together, we will continue strengthening our community, championing transformative education, and driving meaningful change. As always, I welcome your feedback and encourage you to share this Community Update with friends and colleagues who may be interested.

Miigwech – thank you,
Jan

Teaching and Learning

Introducing Studio B – Discovery Lab: Innovating Teaching with VR, AI, and More
The Learning Design & Digital Innovation (LDDI) team has launched this innovative space where Faculty of Education instructors can bring their classes to explore advanced teaching and learning tools, including virtual reality, podcasting, and artificial intelligence. Through these interactive experiences, educators can expand their skills and explore innovative ways to engage learners.

Creativity Meets Technology in Education
Building on Studio B’s hands-on approach, LDDI’s “In-Focus” initiative deepens this exploration through curated online resources, expert panel discussions, exhibitions, and events. The first panel discussion, “Creative Writing in a Connected World,” is now available for viewing.

Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing: Free Online MOOC
Registration is ongoing for this free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that offers practical strategies for integrating Indigenous perspectives into early learning. Educators, service providers, and families are invited to enroll in this transformative course that weaves Indigenous worldviews with diverse pedagogical approaches to create richer, more inclusive learning environments.

Awards and Accolades

2024-25 UBC Alumni Builder Awards RecipientsThese awards honour alumni whose exceptional contributions have positively impacted the university and enriched the lives of others for an exceptional UBC and a better world. This year’s Faculty of Education recipients include:

• Joseph Alexis, BHK’05, acknowledged for being a model mentor and valued volunteer with the Faculty of Education’s School of Kinesiology mentorship program.
• Rob Bennett, BEd’19, celebrated for his outstanding work with the Indigenous Academy at Kelowna Secondary School and his steadfast commitment to justice, inclusivity, and equity.
• Bradley Menard, MEd’20, recognized for his support of CampOUT! and exceptional dedication to the educational community.

Their dedication and leadership embody the values of this award, demonstrating the lasting impact of the UBC Faculty of Education’s alumni.

2024-25 UBC Okanagan’s Outstanding Instructor Award Recipients
Drs. Peter Arthur and Michael Landry have received this award in recognition of their exceptional commitment to student success, mentorship, and innovative teaching. Nominated by their Faculty peers, these educators exemplify excellence in creating impactful student learning experiences.

Greater Good Magazine’s Top Books for Educators in 2024
Drs. Shannon Leddy and Lorrie Miller have been recognized for their book Teaching Where You Are: Weaving Indigenous and Slow Principles and Pedagogies, which was named one of Greater Good Magazine’s Favorite Books for Educators of 2024. This distinction, awarded by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, highlights their work as among the year’s most thought-provoking, practical, and inspiring education books.

Community Events and Engagements

Faculty of Education’s School of Kinesiology Collaborates on World-First Exercise and Depression Specialization Credential
A research team led by Dr. Guy Faulkner has helped develop a groundbreaking certification program in partnership with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. This program equips personal trainers and exercise physiologists with the skills to integrate exercise with behavioural change techniques to combat depression, providing evidence-based strategies to improve mental health outcomes.

Empowering Black Leaders: Advancing Anti-Racism and Resilience in Education
The Faculty of Education, in collaboration with UBC Connects and the BC Black Educational Leaders Association (BCBELA) recently co-hosted “Advancing Anti-Racism and Resilience through Mentorship and Leadership: A BCBELA Black Leaders Symposium.” Black educators, community leaders and allies gathered for essential educational equity and inclusion discussions, providing participants with valuable tools to advance equity and create meaningful change.

WKTEP Career Fair & Professional Development Day
The West Kootenay Rural Teacher Education Program (WKTEP) recently held this annual event at the Nelson Learning Centre, fostering connections between teacher candidates and representatives from school districts across local, rural, and northern communities. Attendees explored early career mentorship, health and wellbeing programs, community recreation, and professional development sessions led by the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, the Sn̓ʕaýckstx (Sinixt) Confederacy, and the Inclusive Education department of School District No. 20.

Latest Faculty of Education News
Visit our news and events page for an in-depth exploration of the latest developments within our Faculty, including new leadership appointments, groundbreaking research initiatives, recent funding successes, and prestigious recognitions.

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