We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Julia Sinclair-Palm as the inaugural Director of the forthcoming Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI-Inclusive Excellence in Education (RQCSIEE). They began their five-year term on January 1, 2025.
An Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Dr. Julia Sinclair-Palm’s role as Director will enhance collaboration with other equity programs and initiatives in the UBC Faculty of Education, including the Robert Quartermain Professorship of Gender and Sexuality Research in Education, CampOUT!, the annual global speaker series on SOGI inclusion, and more. Their leadership is set to further our Faculty’s and UBC’s goals of fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment.
Prior to joining UBC, Dr. Sinclair-Palm was an Associate Professor in Childhood and Youth Studies at Carleton University’s Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies. They earned a doctorate in Education from York University in 2016, following an MA in Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University and a BS in Psychology.
Their research is deeply interdisciplinary, exploring how young people develop new identities and envision futures while navigating the structural inequalities embedded in societal narratives about childhood and youth. Dr. Sinclair-Palm is also leading three SSHRC-funded research initiatives: Drawing Queer and Trans Family, From Surviving to Thriving: Trans Youths’ Lives Across National Borders, and Triggering Education: Relational Readings of Trigger Warnings in the Canadian Post-Secondary Classroom.
We look forward to Dr. Sinclair-Palm’s contributions and leadership in advancing SOGI-inclusive excellence.
*Please note that the location of this event has been shifted to take place in Neville Scarfe Room 313, not Room 1007
How to Write a Compelling Research Grant Proposal
Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or new to grant writing, we invite you to participate in this interactive workshop on crafting a compelling research grant proposal. Learn how to define your research objectives, structure your narrative, and present your ideas clearly and persuasively. Get tips and hear about lessons learned from a panel of colleagues.
You might be wondering: How do I align my proposal with the sponsor’s mission and priorities? How do I demonstrate the significance and impact of my research? How do I put together a realistic budget and timeline? These are just some of the questions we’ll explore through a set of panel presentations, round table discussions, and general Q&A.
Workshop Details
This hybrid workshop is intended for faculty members and postdoctoral fellows in the Faculty of Education. The workshop consists of brief presentations by panelists followed by round table discussions, and an opportunity to ask questions. We invite attendees to submit their questions to the panelists beforehand or raise them during the Q&A.
Registration
Please register for the session format that suits you best. Please contact educ.ore@ubc.ca should you have any questions.
Date
February 11, 2025, Tuesday
Time
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
Format
Hybrid session (join in-person or on Zoom)
*Light refreshments will be provided for in-person attendees
In-Person Location
Neville Scarfe Building, Room 313
Attending Online?
A zoom link will be sent to registrants closer to the date.
RSVP
Meet your Panelists
Dr. Sabre Cherkowski, Associate Professor (OSE)
Dr. Sabre Cherkowski is Professor and Academic Lead of the Doctor of Education in the Okanagan School of Education. She holds a UBC Okanagan’s Principal’s Research Chair Tier 1 in Leadership, Learning and Wellbeing. Her research on flourishing in schools is located within a positive organisational perspective, drawing mainly on qualitative approaches that encourage appreciative and creative research experiences. Additional areas of research include leadership and school effectiveness and professional learning.
Dr. Nicola Hodges, Associate Professor (KIN)
Dr. Nicola Hodges is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology who studies motor control and skill acquisition. She is an inter-disciplinary scholar who has received successive funds as a PI from NSERC and SSHRC since joining the School in 2004 (with a few failed attempts thrown in!) and a CIHR New Investigator award. She has also been involved in some collaborative SSHRC and Peter Wall grants. Her NSERC funded research is mostly concerned with action observation (experimental psychology) and her last two SSHRC grants have been to do with sport skill development, particularly in girls’ and women’s sports.
Dr. Anusha Kassan, Associate Professor (ECPS)
Dr. Kassan joined the School and Applied Child Psychology Program at The University of British Columbia in 2020. She is an Associate Professor with a High Impact Position in Child and Youth Mental Health. Her scholarly interests are informed by her own bi-cultural identity, and include presently includes two major foci. First, she is studying immigration experiences across different groups (i.e., newcomer youth, women, 2SLBGTQ+ peoples). Second, she is researching cultural and social justice responsiveness among in psychology training.
Advancing Anti-Racism and Resilience through Mentorship and Leadership: A BCBELA Black Leaders Symposium
This one-day symposium in partnership with UBC Connects and the BC Black Educational Leaders Association , will bring together racialized leaders, community advocates, and allies from diverse sectors and communities to engage in impactful conversations about equity and inclusion.
Through keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, we will:
Empower racialized leaders to share their experiences, insights, and strategies for success.
Build a supportive network that fosters collaboration and resource sharing across sectors.
Advocate for change by addressing systemic challenges faced by racialized professionals and communities and promoting equitable policies and practices
Event Information
Date Saturday, February 15, 2025
Time 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Location UBC Robson Square
800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2E7 View on map
Many racialized folks who enter the workforce do not prioritize mentorship because it can be interpreted as ‘not knowing how to do your job.’ However, mentorship plays a vital role in skill development, building confidence, establishing community, and achieving personal and professional goals. Seeking out a mentor can be intimidating, and many folks do not know where to start. This session will explain the value of mentorship, especially for racialized professionals, the role of the mentor and the mentee, and provide strategies on how to find a mentor that is the right fit.
Stress and moments of increased tension disproportionally affect racialized professionals in the workplace. Understanding what healthy stress is and feels like for you, in addition to learning self-resourcing strategies, can support healthier relationships and a healthier you. This session will explore how many racialized people experience increased stress due to their identity. We will explore how stress affects the body and we will explore strategies to set healthy boundaries. Participants can expect discussions, time for self-reflection.
Power dynamics exist in every relationship; however, they are most acutely noticed by racialized professionals in the workplace. Understanding how power manifests can empower those to take action. For those who are holding the power, it can help to dismantle power structures and create spaces of increased access. This session will explain power dynamics. Participants can anticipate time for discussion and application through lived experiences and other examples.
A living library offers learners the opportunity to listen to and ask questions of people who have a unique expertise or set of experiences. The living library will have a cross-section of various fields, including: Education, Healthcare and Law, Entertainment and Business. Each of the three spaces will have three to four “books” who will share their knowledge with participants. After the “books” have shared with the larger group, participants will have the opportunity to break off into smaller groups and ask questions. We respectfully ask that participants stay in the room they have selected for the duration of the Living Library session to avoid disrupting the learning and sharing of others.
Registration
Please register for this event by clicking this link.
Welcome back. I hope your holiday break was restful and rejuvenating, filled with moments of joy among family, friends, community and land. As we step into 2025, I am excited to re-engage with the dynamic spirit of our Faculty of Education and look forward to the opportunities ahead.
The Faculty is advancing a strategic planning process guided by UBC’s vision, emphasizing extensive community consultation and a decolonial approach. Led by Drs. Margaret Early and Lynne Tomlinson, and supported by Dr. Surita Jhangiani and Paula Sabti, we are seeking members for an Internal Community Consultative Team. Interested faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to apply by Wednesday, January 15, 2025, to help shape our inclusive and strategic direction.
Join us on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, for our inaugural Research Showcase and Celebration. This event will feature research posters from across our Faculty, showcasing groundbreaking research and innovative projects that are shaping the future of education. We will also honour distinguished awardees from the past year, celebrating their contributions to the field of education and our community. This gathering presents a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues, exchange ideas, explore potential collaborations, and immerse in the latest educational advancements.
I am delighted to share that Dr. Julia Sinclair-Palm has assumed the debut role of Director for the forthcoming Robert Quartermain Centre for SOGI-Inclusive Excellence in Education (RQCSIEE). Dr. Sinclair-Palm brings deep expertise and fresh perspectives to this pivotal role, and her leadership will be instrumental in advancing the Centre’s mission to promote equity in education.
I am also pleased to present the second annual Global Speaker Series on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Inclusion, featuring Dr. Dennis Francis, a distinguished scholar from the University of Glasgow and a renowned advocate for equity and inclusion. Join us on Thursday, February 13, 2025, as we explore the power of global storytelling to challenge stereotypes, foster meaningful dialogue, and strengthen community understanding.
Our School of Kinesiology has been appointed to the Global Sport University Network (GSUN) Leadership Council, an international consortium tackling complex global challenges through sport-related research and innovation. This recognition places our school at the forefront of global collaboration, where it will contribute to groundbreaking research and influence the future of sport worldwide.
This year marks the half-century anniversary of NITEP and the graduation of its 500th student. In commemoration, NITEP will host a special celebratory event in March, as well as a visioning and strategic planning Think-In session, where NITEP students will play a central role in shaping the program’s future while honouring its impactful legacy and commitment to Indigenous education.
Preparations are underway for the Friday, January 24, 2025, TEO Education Career Fair, British Columbia’s premier teacher recruitment event. This dynamic gathering connects our talented teacher candidates with over 40 school districts, offering a unique chance to network with potential employers, explore emerging hiring trends, and take meaningful steps toward their professional futures.
These events and initiatives highlight just some of the exceptional talent, dedication, and innovation within our Faculty. I encourage you to seize the opportunities presented, join in the celebrations, and contribute to our shared goals as we strive for an exceptional year in advancing education together.
Dr. Jeff Reading, CM, Affiliate Professor at UBC School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for his groundbreaking contributions to Indigenous health research and for his leadership in bringing Indigenous perspectives to scientific and health institutions.
A leader in cardiovascular research
Dr. Reading is the inaugural First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health and Wellness at St. Paul’s Hospital, a leading international expert in Indigenous health, and a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga First Nation in Ontario. As Chair, he is leading research to develop health promotion strategies that incorporate First Nations history, culture, and spirit and producing health knowledge for policies and programs.
Indigenous people in Canada are up to two times more likely to develop heart disease than the general population. Although 80 percent of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people face many barriers to the elements of prevention, such as access to healthy food.
Dr. Reading is working to narrow the gap in heart and brain health for Indigenous peoples by working to create conditions where the future generations of First Nations peoples will have equal opportunities as do other Canadians, to experience optimal physical, emotional and spiritual health.
Open date: December 13, 2024 Deadline to apply: While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are asked to submit their complete application package by February 14, 2025.
The Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, within UBC’s Faculty of Education, one of the world’s leading faculties of its kind, invites internal nominations for the position of Assistant Professor of Teaching (tenure-track) in Indigenous Teacher Education in Human Development, Learning, and Culture.
Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the xwmə0kwəy’əm (Musqueam) people in Vancouver, Canada, the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS) in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Teaching in Indigenous Teacher Education in Human Development, Learning, and Culture (HDLC). This appointment is expected to begin on July, 1, 2025, or as mutually agreed upon by the University and the successful candidate. In accordance with UBC’s equity plan, and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants who identify as Indigenous. Indigenous applicants are requested to self-identify in their application.
Promoting Indigenous knowledges and Indigenous engagement are signature strengths of the UBC Faculty of Education and critical components of our strategic plan. Indigenous teacher education is advanced through NITEP – the Faculty of Education’s Indigenous Teacher Education Program – which is a five-year concurrent Bachelor of Education, as well as a 11-month Teacher Education Program. We recognize that educational leadership, knowledge creativity and mobilization, and mentoring capacity in Indigenous education extends beyond schools to consider both (1) Indigeneity at the intersections of social, ecological, cultural/linguistic, and political justice at local, national, and international levels, and (2) reimagining and rebuilding teaching practices through decolonization at each of these levels.
The successful candidate for this position must hold a PhD or EdD in Developmental, Educational, or Cultural Psychology, or the Learning Sciences, with demonstrated experience weaving Indigenous and decolonizing knowledges, histories, and pedagogies into teaching and learning in teacher education. The successful applicant must contribute to on-going commitments to and relationships with Indigenous communities and school districts, along with liaising with Indigenous organizations, particularly as they concern teacher education delivery in rural, urban, and First Nations communities. Teaching and knowledge in human development and learning, especially social and emotional learning and/or mental health, is a requirement. Experience in K-12 school systems is a significant asset, as well as advancing Indigenous education community-based aspirations through lived experience with Indigenous communities, cultures, and traditions.
The successful candidate will be expected to: (1) teach in Indigenous community-based settings drawing on Indigenous knowledges, perspectives, and pedagogies and approaches to decolonization; (2) utilize innovative, inclusive, and accessible teaching methods for community-based and on-campus delivery of teacher education; (3) engage in educational leadership that advances Indigenous teacher education and community-based priorities within NITEP and the Faculty’s Teacher Education Program; (4) attend to educational policies and practices of decolonization, reconciliation, and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in programmatic and curricular design; (5) support academic, cultural, linguistic, and leadership needs of Indigenous students, educators, and communities; and (6) have knowledge of the BC and Canadian Indigenous education landscape. Culturally-grounded educators with a promising or an established record of educational leadership accomplishments in Indigenous teacher education with a focus on community-based and/or innovative approaches to Indigenous teacher education and decolonization are encouraged to apply.
The annual teaching load for this position is 18 credits (equivalent to six courses), which may include teaching at the undergraduate, masters, and/or doctoral levels, and significant educational leadership responsibilities as assigned by the Head, such as curriculum development, evaluation, innovation, course/program coordination, and other leadership roles.
This is a tenure-track position in the Educational Leadership Stream. The successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment, promotion, and tenure in subsequent years in accordance with the Collective Agreement. For information on the review process and criteria for promotion in this stream, please visit this link. This position is subject to final budgetary approval. The expected pay range for this position is $140,000 – $160,000 per annum. Starting salary is determined both by the candidate’s qualifications and experience and by their placement on the career progress scale within the Faculty of Education.
ECPS, the Faculty of Education and UBC are dedicated to the goal of building a diverse and inclusive academic community. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to and expertise in decolonizing, reconciliation, anti-racist, and social justice approaches to educational leadership, teaching, and service, and have a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and teaching effectively in a welcoming environment. For more information about the Faculty of Education’s commitments and work related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, please visit this link.
UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. The UBC Faculty of Education is one of the leading Faculties of its kind in the world, tied first in Canadian rankings and ranked 10th globally. Our work advances educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that affirms diversity, equity, and innovation, and takes part in international collaboration in an interdependent globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. As a global leader in Indigenous Education, we offer graduate Indigenous specializations, an Indigenous Teacher Education Program, and has new graduate programs and concentrations in Indigenous Education. We have two Canada Research Chairs whose research focuses in Indigeneity and thirteen Indigenous tenure stream faculty. For more information on the Faculty of Education, please visit this website.
Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package that includes:
a cover letter with a description of a program of educational leadership and potential contributions to the area through community-based and/or innovative approaches and a listing of the undergraduate and graduate courses in ECPS and NITEP you can or would like to teach and why (please also indicate whether or not you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident);
curriculum vitae;
evidence of teaching effectiveness and excellence (including course outlines and student evaluations, if available);
a statement of educational leadership philosophy and achievements/interests; an equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) statement that describes and documents your contributions to EDID through your teaching, educational leadership, service, and community engagement, addressing the following three areas: (1) understanding of and knowledge about EDID, (2) track record in advancing EDID, and (3) future plans for EDID; and
names and contact information for three references, one of which should be from an Indigenous leader, community, or organization. Letters of reference will only be requested for candidates who are advancing to the next stage in the search process.
Complete applications must be provided in the format of one bookmarked PDF file addressed to Dr. Jennifer Shapka, Department Head and Professor, ECPS, and sent electronically to Kay Mun (Assistant to the Head) at kay.mun@ubc.ca. Following the submission of the application, the applicant will receive an Equity Survey link via email. Completion of the Equity Survey is required as part of the application process. Accommodations are available on request for all applicants with disabilities at all stages of the search process. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact educ.hr@ubc.ca.
While the search remains open until the position is filled, interested applicants are encouraged to submit their complete application package by February 14, 2025. Questions regarding the position and the application deadline should be directed to Dr. Jennifer Shapka, Department Head, at jennifer.shapka@ubc.ca.
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Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
