What Drives Me

I am a values-driven professional with a diverse skill set who thrives within “in-between” spaces.

I see myself as a connector of ideas, concepts, and people. I utilize strategies to connect theory to practice, academic capabilities and rigour with community needs, and the messages of the marginalized to those who have historically and presently benefited through inequity. My heart is driven by a desire to replace ignorance with understanding.

I consider myself a community-based academic who makes thoughtful connections based on “big picture” outcomes. I blend storytelling and scientific/theoretical/quantitative data with stories and qualitative methodologies to help communicate concepts, needs, and strategies to move things forward.

My Education and Professional Callings

Storytelling and effectively communicating concepts has been part of all the work I have done through my academic and professional pursuits, a Combined Honours Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature and History from Wilfrid Laurier University first made me ponder who gets to create and disseminate knowledge and decide what the “truth” is while closely examining the complexities of language.

My Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from Lambton College of Applied Arts & Technology followed by an early career in Labour Relations, Recruitment, and Learning & Development helped me understand people and how to effectively engage with them with respect and understanding, and meeting everyone where they’re at without judgment.

After moving into student success within one of the world’s largest research-intensive universities focused on Community Engaged Learning (CEL), I obtained a Master of Education in Curriculum Studies, in which I studied Community Engagement, Scholarship and Research, and finding ways to make research activities more applicable to real-world issues rather than creating knowledge for knowledge’s sake.

Through 7.5 years working in the regulated medical and adult use cannabis industry as it began to legalize in parts of the world, including Canada, going through one of the most historic moments in human rights and drug policy helped refine my skills and values around CBR, Knowledge Mobilization (KM), and Knowledge Translation (KT).

Throughout my educational and career pursuits, I have always looked to elevate the voices of the marginalized, while thoughtfully helping those who have always been heard start to listen. It’s always been important for me to learn from my mistakes so I can help others make some of the same, just because they didn’t know better, or didn’t know what they didn’t know.

Specific Issues of Focus & Values

Since 2021, I have been engaged as an ally in various research, data analysis, report writing, and educational writing regarding Indigenous peoples in Canada. I embrace a community based research orientation while always seeking ways to help those who are ignorant to Canada’s history and systemic inequities come to a compassionate, non-defensive, and non-divisive understanding.  

I have a keen interest in understanding how we can decolonize, dismantle, deconstruct, and democratize systems of knowledge, information, research, data, and education while developing my own Indigenous Relations skills and knowledge. I continuously explore how we can embrace different “ways of knowing” into the fabric of how things have always been done, communicated, or understood in my efforts.

In addition, health equity, anti-racism, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, food security, and poverty reduction are specific areas of focus. I always challenge myself and those around me to question their assumptions and dive deep into biases and perceptions before making conclusions. If you have a good heart, a good idea, a good message, a good reason to bring attention to what you offer, and good intention, I will gladly stand beside you and be your biggest advocate in your efforts.