Jeff Baker, Faculty Development Specialist - Aboriginal Programs

Jeff Baker joined the Gwenna Moss Centre in April 2011. A graduate of the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Program at the U of S, Jeff is a person of mixed ancestry (Métis, Chinese, and Norwegian) and has extensive experience teaching internationally (New Zealand, Taiwan, Turkey). Jeff obtained his MEd in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta and is presently completing his PhD in Indigenous Science Education at the University of British Columbia.

In his role as Faculty Development Specialist in Aboriginal Programs, Jeff has been building relationships with the local community and offering workshops in Indigenous education (with Sheryl Mills and Tereigh Ewert-Bauer). He is presently working closely with the College of Education to establish and pilot professional development programming in Aboriginal education for their faculty and staff, with the goal of expanding this programming to the broader University community in the near future.

Contact him by E-mail or by phone (966-6280).

Sheryl Mills, Program and Curriculum Development Specialist

Sheryl Mills (PhD, University of Saskatchewan) has three guiding professional commitments: (1) to appreciate connections among people, ideas and initiatives; (2) to appreciate innovation, scholarship and intellectual craftsmanship; and (3) to appreciate diversity and creativity. Her role at GMCTE is to support program and curriculum innovation and revitalization from first steps through to approval and implementation. Sheryl’s research interests include Indigenous, holistic and right-brain ways of knowing and learning and personal, professional and organizational change. Her dissertation research was on instructional renovation at the post-secondary level.

Contact her by E-mail or by phone (966-5867).

Susan Bens, Program and Curriculum Development Specialist

Susan has worked at the University of Saskatchewan since 1997 in student affairs roles ranging from direct service to students to senior leadership.  Susan holds a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of Saskatchewan and in December 2011 joined the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness.   As a member of the Program and Curriculum Development team dedicated to the support of program and curriculum innovation and revitalization, Susan's expertise lies in student transitions to university-level study, inclusion and accommodation of students with diverse needs and interests, retention outcomes in higher education, and the administrative and governance systems of our university.  Susan's research interests centre on methods of bringing students' experiences and voices forward in effective and authentic ways in higher education environments.  Susan has served as a sessional lecturer for an elective course on leadership in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and also serves as a Professional Affiliate in the Department of Educational Administration. 

 Susan, who works in the Centre on a half-time basis, is most available Monday to Wednesday and can be contacted by E-mail or by phone (966-5465).

Leslie Martin, Program and Curriculum Development Specialist

Leslie is a Program and Curriculum Development Specialist with the Gwenna Moss Centre.  She completed her MBA from the U of S and her M.Ed in instructional design and distance education from Athabasca University. She is currently working towards a PhD in Educational Administration. As a member of the Program and Curriculum Development team, Leslie’s expertise lies in the areas of culturally responsive programming, community engagement and distance education. Her research interests include organizational change in post-secondary institutions with a focus on culturally responsive program initiatives. 

Previously, Leslie was the Manager of Curriculum and Instructional Support at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT). As well, she has many years of instructional experience at various post-secondary institutions throughout Saskatchewan including the University of Saskatchewan.

Contact her by E-mail or by phone (966-2245).

Carolyn Hoessler, Program and Curriculum Development Specialist

Carolyn Hoessler joined the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness in June 2012 as a Program and Curriculum Development Specialist. She contributes to the Program and Curriculum Development team with a focus on teaching and learning in higher education, assessment, program evaluation, graduate student development, mentorship, and teaching strategies. In supporting individuals, programs, and departments, she draws on her background in quantitative statistical and mixed-method research in both education and psychology. Her research interests encompass contextual, social, interpersonal, and motivational influences shaping educational and professional development experiences. Her doctoral research examines support for graduate students’ teaching across the multi-layered context in which they learn and teach.

Prior to coming to the University of Saskatchewan, Carolyn worked as an Educational Development Associate at the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Queen’s University, while working on a PhD in Education, and as a Teaching Assistant Associate at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Educational Development Office, while completing a Master’s degree in Psychology.

 Contact her by E-mail or by phone (966-5371).

Roxanne Martine, Curriculum Assistant

Roxanne Martine, Curriculum Assistant

 Roxanne is a Curriculum Assistant. She works half-time atThe Gwenna Moss Centre, and also works half-time for the Office of the AVP (Financial Services).  She’s been on campus since 2007 and will be supporting the team at Gwenna Moss with “curriculum innovation” projects.

 Contact her by E-mail or by phone (966-4832).

Heather Ross, Instructional Design Specialist

Heather received B.A. (Journalism) from California State University Northridge, her B.Ed. (Secondary Education) from the University of Toronto and her M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies - Educational Communications and Technology) from the University of Saskatchewan. She worked as an instructional designer at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) for six years before joining the team at the Gwennna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness in November 2011. While completing her M.Ed. she worked as a research assistant for Richard Schwier on studies related to instructional design and virtual learning communities. Her other areas of interest include personal learning networks, social capital and blended learning. She also has a strong background in helping educators make use of social media for professional development and teaching.

Heather can be contacted by E-mail or by phone (966-5327).

Barbara Schindelka, Instructional Design Specialist

Barbara has spent approximately 90% of her adult life on the U of S campus, as Student, Staff and Contractual Employee (she likes to think she looks younger than she is, so do not be deceived: Barbara has over 11 years of experience as an Instructional Designer). Prior to joining the Gwenna Moss Centre, she applied her Instructional Design expertise to a wide variety of projects at EMAP and Extension Division. Barbara obtained both her B.Ed. and M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies, Educational Communications & Technologies) from the U of S.  Her academic interests include teaching effectiveness, leadership and personal effectiveness, educational technology, epistemology of instruction, and media ecology. She is passionate about teaching and is dedicated to being service to the U of S teaching and learning community through her work at the GMCTE.

Barbara can be contacted by E-mail or by phone (966-5905).

Ryan Banow, Instructional Design Assistant

Ryan joined the Gwenna Moss Centre after five years as a secondary mathematics and physics teacher in rural Saskatchewan. He grew up in Esterhazy, SK and attended the University of Saskatchewan where he completed a B.Ed. and a B.Sc. in Math. He is currently working on a M.Ed. in Educational Technology and Design at the U of S. His interests include blended learning and flipped teaching, educational technology, social media tools and virtual learning communities. He is very excited to be working with faculty to transform teaching and learning on campus and in online environments.

Ryan can be contacted by E-mail or by phone (966-5508)

Stan Yu, Research and Program Evaluation Specialist

Stan comes from an eclectic mixed methods research background, having previously been involved with research projects in diverse fields, from healthcare management, to International Nongovernmental Organizations. His role at the GMCTE aims to provide support on program evaluation and assessment on various ongoing programs and initiatives related to teaching and learning at the Gwenna Moss Centre and the University Learning Centre. He is currently in the midst of completing his M.A. in Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan.

Stan can be contact by E-Mail or by phone (966-5065).