We are excited to host the UBC Faculty of Education’s inaugural Research Showcase and Celebration, an event designed to foster connection, innovation, and dialogue across our community
Research Showcase
This event will feature faculty members’ research posters, providing a dynamic and social platform for researches to share insights and discuss innovative ideas. This gathering offers a unique opportunity for faculty to share their expertise, learn from each other, and engage in thought-provoking discussions that impact the future of education. Additionally, it aims to fosters cross-unit connections, encouraging interactions that bridge diverse disciplines and drive collective advancement.
All faculty members in the UBC Faculty of Education are invited to participate. If you are interested in either i) attending or ii) having your research poster displayed at the event, please register.
Faculty members may also invite one graduate student or one post-doctoral fellow to collaboratively discuss the faculty members’ research.
Celebration
We are delighted to elevate this gathering into an extraordinary celebration, paying tribute to distinguished awardees who have made exceptional contributions to education, each committed to advancing knowledge, innovation, and excellence, and serving as pillars in their fields.
Catering
Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be circulated around the room.
Music
An enchanting atmosphere will be complimented by a live performance.
DEADLINE EXTENDED:
The Faculty of Education will print all posters for the event. A PDF copy of all 36- by 48-inch posters must be submitted by December 6, 2024Monday, January 13, 2025.
Dr. Patricia Duff has been inducted as a Fellow into the Royal Society of Canada in the Academy of Social Sciences
Dr. Patricia (Patsy) Duff, FRSC, has been elected by her peers in recognition of her outstanding scholarly achievements. Dr. Duff is a Distinguished University Scholar and an internationally recognised leader in applied linguistics and multilingual education. Her award-winning scholarship, which includes case study research methods, Chinese language learning and academic English discourse socialisation, has catalysed new lines of research in diverse geopolitical, disciplinary, and ethnolinguistic contexts. Her foundational work on the complex experiences of transnational learners has transformed both the theoretical frameworks and methodologies used in multilingualism research worldwide.
Fellowship in the Society is one of the most prestigious academic accolades awarded to a scholar, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts, humanities, sciences, and Canadian public life. This prestigious accolade is awarded to those distinguished in their fields, underscoring Dr. Duff’s exceptional impact and leadership in academia.
In addition to her research, she serves on numerous prestigious national and international adjudication committees, including SSHRC, the Spencer Foundation/National Academy of Education (USA), and the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. Her passion for interdisciplinary research employing diverse methods contributed to her role as Associate Dean of Research for the UBC Faculty of Education from 2019 to 2023.
Dr. Duff’s publications have been cited more than 20,000 times, with over 9,000 citations since 2018. Her articles are among the most frequently cited in leading journals such as the Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, Modern Language Journal, and TESOL Quarterly. The 2023 Stanford List recognised her as one of the world’s top 2% most-cited linguists.
2024 Fellows and Members will be welcomed into the RSC in November at the RSC Celebration of Excellence and Engagement.
Other Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada in the Faculty of Education
Dr. Jean Barman, FRSC
Academy of the Arts and Humanities
Elected 2002
Dr. Bonny Norton, FRSC
Academy of Social Sciences
Elected 2016
Dr. Peter Seixas, FRSC
Academy of Social Sciences
Elected 2004
Dr. Veronica Strong-Boag, CM, FRSC
Academy of Social Sciences
Elected 2001
Dr. John Willinsky, FRSC
Academy of Social Sciences
Elected 2000
Members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists in the Faculty of Education
Dr. Eli Puterman
Elected 2023
Dr. George Belliveau
Elected 2017
Dr. Janice Forsyth
Elected 2019
Dr. Margaret Kovach
Elected 2015
To view the full list of 2024 elected Fellows and Members, read the Royal Society of Canada’s official announcement.
Welcome to all members of the UBC Faculty of Education as we embark on another exciting academic year.
I hope your summer was filled with inspiration and relaxation, shared with friends, family, and loved ones. As we step into September, let us channel our renewed energy into the vast opportunities ahead.
This month marks a beginning filled with fresh explorations in learning, teaching, research, and community engagement. Our dynamic community—comprising students, faculty, instructors, staff, alumni, donors, emeriti, and both local and global partners—creates a nurturing ground for innovative and transformative learning. Your commitment fuels our mission to educate future leaders and advance societal good.
As your new Dean, a role I’ve stepped into after serving as Dean pro tem since 2021, I am deeply committed to our core values of equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, anti-racism, and sustainability. These values guide our actions and partnerships, both locally and globally.
Looking ahead, I am thrilled to engage with you in shaping a collective vision for our new strategic plan. This road will direct our efforts to remain leaders in educational innovation and community development across a broad range of sectors in our society. Our work on the new strategic plan will begin in September 2024. Let’s dive into some of the exciting updates and key initiatives that are shaping the future of our Faculty.
Beginning with Advancing Black Flourishing, I am proud to announce the appointment of a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Black Experiences in and through Education and two new tenure-stream faculty members as part of UBC’s Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative. These critical roles will help combat anti-Black racism and foster Black excellence within our communities.
Moving on to inclusivity, we are excited to appoint the inaugural director for our forthcoming Centre for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Inclusive Education. This Centre will complement our robust SOGI initiatives, providing pivotal resources and fostering inclusivity through education, networking, and community events.
Our work to support the integration of immigrant youth and youth with refugee experiences continues through dedicated research and community engagement initiatives, anchored by our Professorship in Counselling for Refugee and Immigrant Youth and Families.
Acknowledging the outstanding achievements of our School of Kinesiology, which, once again, has ranked 1st in North America and 3rd globally, this School recently celebrated its largest graduating class in history. These distinguished graduates are equipped to make significant contributions to the fields of health, wellness, and sports.
Out in the Okanagan, our School is not just growing—it’s leading the way with the recent launch of the new Doctor of Education program, focusing on a practitioner model and place-based learning on Syilx Okanagan Nation territory.
And in the realm of technology, we are creating new pathways to understanding and integrating generative AI in education. Our newly launched AI Corner is designed to help you navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI, and this year’s Dean’s Distinguished Lecture will explore the profound implications of AI advancements in education and beyond.
From launching groundbreaking programs such as Canada’s first early childhood education certificate for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and our Rural and Remote Education Teacher Education Program, to paving the way for a brighter future with initiatives like our upcoming MOOC, Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing, our Faculty stands as a beacon of progressive and inclusive education.
I am immensely proud of our collective achievements and am excited about the further success that we will achieve together.
As we move forward, I encourage you to engage deeply, collaborate boldly, and embrace the myriad of opportunities to foster a culture of curiosity and innovation. Let’s make this academic year one of inspiration, discovery, and transformation.
Marny Point, BEd’92, MET’04, is from the Musqueam Indian Band and is a NITEP Program Coordinator & Instructor from the Vancouver field centre
What inspired you to get involved in Indigenous teacher education?
I encountered a disheartened high school student and realized there needed to be a change in the school system. I found NITEP and enrolled immediately. We need more Indigenous instructors to advance decolonization and promote change in schools today.
How does NITEP contribute to the broader aims of decolonization and reconciliation in education?
NITEP nurtures each student’s personal vision, platform and determination of decolonization, reconciliation, and ways of sharing and teaching for incorporation into their own careers.
How has your involvement with NITEP impacted you personally?
Initially, NITEP allowed me to find my voice and empowered me to heal, convert weakness and stand up and challenge not only the stereotypical compartmentalization of the institution, but society’s box for Indigenous women as a whole. I didn’t have to be radical or aggressive; I just had to nurture the gift within every student I taught – instill in them that they have every right to aspire to reach every goal and dream they had for their lives and even their children’s lives. I still get excited every September, realising we have more teacher candidates who will soon be in the field, making a difference and creating change.
What guidance would you offer educators aiming to cultivate inclusive learning environments?
The first objective is to understand they are establishing a relationship; walk in a good way and have an open mind. Educators must acknowledge the history of this country and give honour to the learning journey.
What are your thoughts on the future of Indigenous education?
Indigenous education is on the rise. I always share with my students a passage from Chief Dan George’s 1967 speech, A Lament for Confederation: “Oh Great Spirit! Like the Thunderbird of old I shall rise again out of the sea; I shall grab the instruments of the White man’s success – his education, his skills, and with these new tools I shall build my race into the proudest segment of your society.” It is with this education that our Indigenous students can grow past the horrors of our past and move forward, creating a brighter future for our Indigenous youth as they work to Indigenize curriculum.
Is there anything else you would like to share about NITEP?
NITEP is celebrating 50 years this year. I think it is successful is because its founders embraced the pedagogical values of respect, reverence, reciprocity and reconciliation, and the program still ensures that it nurtures the talents and gifts of each of its students. It is important that our program establishes a family ‘home away from home’ environment that allows each student to weave in Indigenous ways of knowing as they learn their teaching requirements.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Jennifer Anaquod, BEd’12, Dip Ed’13, MEd’15, of the Muscowpetung First Nation, is a NITEP alum and current faculty member from the Vancouver field centre
What attracted you to NITEP?
The culture and a search for a sense of belonging
How has NITEP impacted Indigenous communities in British Columbia?
NITEP has created an incredible family of educators who are creating change across British Columbia. As a NITEPer, we know that once a NITEPer, always a NITEPer. I love seeing the good work being done by alums in all sectors of education across BC.
How has your involvement with the NITEP program influenced you, or what are you currently engaged in?
As an alum and current faculty member, NITEP taught me the importance of wrap-around services for students. This continues to influence the work I do as I strive to work collaboratively as opposed to in the silos that can exist in educational institutions.
What advice would you give individuals contemplating participation in NITEP?
To just go for it. Whether you want to be a teacher or not, it opens so many doors.
How do you envision the future of Indigenous education?
When I re-imagine education, I envision institutions where Indigenous education is part of the foundation; I envision Indigenous ways of knowing and being woven in as tightly as systemic racism has been.
Please share a favourite memory from your time in the program.
There are so many memories that it’s hard to pick one. NITEP has celebrated my successes long after I graduated. In my second year, I had my son, Jonathan. Every one of my cohort members stepped up to be aunties and uncles. I left Jonathan with one of my cohort members when he was about three months old to take a test and came back to a whole circle of aunties and uncles sitting around him and watching him sleep. Knowing I can still count on these people today is my favourite part of NITEP.
Shannon Leddy, MA’97, BEd’05, is a member of the Métis nation and a faculty member who worked in the Vancouver field centre from 2018-2022
What inspired you to get involved in Indigenous teacher education?
I am an Indigenous educator who has worked in the Vancouver School District. I know what Indigenous teachers can face in the field, and I wanted to help prepare them well for it.
How does NITEP contribute to the broader aims of decolonization and reconciliation in education?
NITEP is one of the most beautiful programs I have ever had the pleasure of working with! Having a strong Indigenous presence in the office, on the Faculty, and in our classrooms makes such a huge difference in how we consider teaching and learning from Indigenous perspectives. Our voices matter, and NITEP helps strengthen them.
How has your involvement with NITEP impacted you personally?
I loved teaching in the NITEP program because it was one of the few parts of my job that didn’t require a lot of decolonizing work up front – we could just get down to teaching and learning, which was always a relief. I also adore my NITEP colleagues, and knowing them continues to enrich my life and gives me a safe-space feeling on campus.
What guidance would you offer educators aiming to cultivate inclusive learning environments?
You have to do the work of decolonizing in order to engage in Indigenous education practices effectively and meaningfully. Keep an open stance, and remember that it’s okay to make mistakes, but we also have to learn from them.
What are your thoughts on the future of Indigenous education?
The future is so bright! There are so many wonderful educators coming out of the NITEP program and taking up spaces in classrooms throughout the province – this fills me with hope! There are also an increasing number of excellent teaching resources out there developed by Indigenous educators, showing others that the ways we think about the world are really important and highly accessible.
Is there anything else you would like to share about NITEP?
I love it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Dean Jan Hare warmly invites all Faculty of Education staff to our community gathering to celebrate the start of the 2024-25 academic year. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, welcome our new team members, and share in the excitement of our collective journey ahead.
Enjoy a delightful spread of bannock, smoked salmon pâté, freshly brewed coffee, and a selection of teas.
Date and Time
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location
Room 2414 (fourth floor lounge), Neville Scarfe Building
2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4
Special Accommodations
We strive to make our events accessible to everyone. Please contact us at info.educ@ubc.ca for any special accommodations or questions.
