International Researcher • Educational Technologist • Learning Facilitator

Summary

I’m an experienced and innovative international researcher, educational technologist and digital business leader. With thirteen years of senior professional experience in digital business development, I returned to academia in 2013, shifting from the humanities to social sciences to pursue a second Masters degree (Educational Technology, UOIT). Now at the thesis stage, my research explores digital engagement and dimensions of culture among university students in Eastern Europe. I possess a strong set of academic and digital abilities across technical, informational, collaborative, communicational and creative dimensions.  

Goal

I’m passionate about returning to a doctoral program that pursues social-scientific research focused on life-long learning, creative use of digital technology, empirically derived dimensions of culture, and psychosocial development. Alternatively, I’m also interested in professional opportunities in contexts of higher education related to my research interests.

Key Competency Areas

·  Critical thinking, research strategies, academic writing and editing

·  Social, psychological and cultural dynamics related to learning

·  Constructivism, collaboration and knowledge building

·  Digital technologies for processes of research and learning

·  Theories of learning, human-computer interaction and well-being

·  Motivational psychology and gamification

·  Online publishing, marketing, and (international) recruitment

·  Computer platforms, mobile devices, cloud computing, and apps

·  Mentoring, challenging, encouraging and co-learning

Professional Experience

Online Learning Facilitator at Faculty of Education, UOIT                                                         09/2013-Present

·       AEDT 4200 Thesis Development: Fall and Winter 2013, Fall and Winter 2014

·       EDUC4703 Problem and Inquiry Based Learning: Fall 2014, Spring 2015

·       AEDT 4120U Serious Games and Simulations: Winter 2015   

Researcher, Technologist & Online Communications Consultant at Faculty of Education, UOIT    07/2013-Present

·       EILAB hardware and software, installation, configuration, support and documentation

·       Project development (REB), literature review, methodology development/documentation and technical support:

·       EILAB.ca site development, instructional video development and technical support

·       Observational data collection in EILAB and survey data collection in Ukraine

Online Marketing Strategist, Recruitment Office, UOIT                                                             10/2013-08/2014

·       Developed and prototyped a content-marketing and lead-development strategy

·       Consulted with UOIT recruitment and marketing team as strategy was adopted and implemented

Blogger at quest2engage.com                                                                                                  12/2011-10/2012

·       Published blog dedicated to content marketing and engagement psychology

Senior Strategist, Digital Marketing at Nelson Education                                                            11/2010 – 1/2012

·       Researched and documented strategy in a number of key areas (SEO, analytics, marketing automation, workflow, content development, audience engagement and innovation)

·       Managed development of Geni, a “gamified” site for the digital marketing department focused on task management, internal collaboration and results tracking 

·       Authored white papers, blog posts and functioned as senior consultant to team members

Online Entrepreneur at l33Interactive                                                                                     1/2009 – 10/2010

·       Implemented a network of hyper-local directory sites.

Director, Online Publishing, Marketing and Sales at Metroland Media Group                             1/2001 – 11/2008

·       Led company in online audience and advertising growth over 8 years

·       Recruited and coached team of web designers, programmers and online sales specialists

·       Founding manager for major public sites, e.g., flyerland.com and durhamregion.com

Senior Specialist, Web Communications atSciTech                                                                  1/2000 – 8/2000

·       Provided online publishing, web design and marketing consulting to digital start-up

Instructor, Web Publishing and Design at Durham Business and Computer College                      6/1998 – 9/1999

·       Founded and taught Web Designer for mature students

Lecturer, T.A. and Faculty Technology Consultant at McGill University                                    1/1992 – 4/1996

·       Taught undergraduate courses and supported/promoted computer-assisted research

Founding Editor at Chorus, Academic and Educational Computing in the Humanities                          1992 – 1997

·       Founded award-winning, web resource sponsored by University of California, Berkeley

Formal Education

MA in Education and Digital Technologies at University of Ontario Institute of Technology                    2013-Present

·       Primary research areas are digital engagement and dimensions of culture of university students in Eastern Europe

PhD in Religion and Digital Culture at McGill University                                            (Leave of absence) 1990-1997

·       Completed coursework and comprehensive exams in the areas of early Christian literature, critical theory, educational technology and humanities computing

·       Defended thesis proposal on a framework for conceptualizing Christian tradition in digital culture

MA in Religion at University of Toronto                                                                                     Graduated 1990

·       Thesis: An examination of the origins and literary character of the Gospel of Thomas

BA in Ancient Near Eastern Studies at University of Toronto                                                          Graduated 1986

·       Major area of study: languages, history and archeology of ancient Near East

BA in General Arts at University of Waterloo                                                                     (Transferred) 1983-1984

Leadership Development Programs

Next Generation Leadership (Full Year) Development Program, Toronto, Ontario – Certificate                                                     2008

Discovery Leadership Training, Niagara Falls, ON – Certificate                                                                                                               2006

Humanities Computing Summer Seminar, Princeton University – Certificate                                                                                        1994

References

Available upon request.