About Me
I am a community-engaged scholar with over 20 years of experience working across non-profit, public, and community-based sectors. My work focuses on participatory research, program development, and developmental evaluation aimed at driving systems change. By integrating diversity, equity, decolonization, and inclusion, I help organizations reflect, learn, and grow.
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As a self-described 'pracademic,' I balance theory with practice—ensuring that research informs real-world solutions, and practice shapes evidence-based strategies. My approach is rooted in lived experience, grassroots priorities, and continuous dialogue with the communities I serve.
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Inspired by intersectional feminism, partnerism, Indigenous methodologies, and emergent strategy, I strive to transform "power-over" systems into "power-with" collaborations that nurture equity and shared leadership. I also teach at the School of Leadership Studies at the University of New Brunswick, guiding students in leadership and personal development.
You are not a drop in the ocean.
You are the entire ocean, in a drop.
- Rumi
Education
​PhD, Environmental Studies, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada. December 2019. Dissertation: “Common Health: the role of non-profit organizations in supporting community action for health equity and justice”. Dissertation committee: Dr. Liette Gilbert (supervisor), Dr. Dennis Raphael, Dr. Ranu Basu.
M. Adult Education St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada. June 2013. Thesis: “A Critical Analysis of Learning Experiences among Immigrant Women: assessing transformative learning in community-based education programs”. Supervisor: Dr. Maureen Coady.
Certificate in Community Development and Leadership Skills. National University of Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland, 2007.
Certificate in Promoting Health: Skills, Perspectives and Practice. Open University, London, UK, 2003.
BSc., MPH (international) Public Health and Epidemiology. University of Medicine, Kazan, Russian Federation, June 1999.
Values That Shape My Approach
Diversity
A pursuit of a culture that celebrates difference, and engages with different identities in a way that promotes shared power and begets abundance.
Decolonization
An undoing of the culture of colonialism, imperialism and domination where one nation seeks control over the resources, lands and cultures of other nations.
Empowerment
The sharing of power and resources in a way that shifts power and resources towards more marginalized members of the group.
Social Justice
As a pursuit of a culture where every member of society can safely reach their utmost potential regardless of their social location and positionality and where full human potential is not hindered by the expectations and judgments based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, social class, immigration, dis/ability and Indigeneity (informed by Dr. Julie-Ann Scott-Pollock).
Inclusion
Meaningful participation of different positionalities from a range of social locations produced by various combinations of intersecting identity factors, such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, social class, immigration, dis/ability and Indigeneity.