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Teaching Experience

I have been a post-secondary teacher for over a decade. From teaching scene study at the college level to developing my own graduate seminar, I have had the opportunity to teach an extensive range of classes, courses, and students. In my previous career, I was a freelance theatre instructor. 

 

Course Development/Course Instructor

PT 5234  “Self, Story and Theology” 

Faculty of Theology, Huron University College, 

University of Western 2014

  • Responsibilities: Create and execute the course, design and grade the assignments, provide student support and mentorship, coordinate with administrative staff for overall execution of the course and credit. 

  • Description: This course provides an introduction to narrative theory and cultural stories through a series of historical and contemporary lenses. The purpose is to equip students with the tools and theory to identify, utilize, and deconstruct captivating and persuasive narrative and story-telling technique. It is an interdisciplinary study of narrative theory and practice, as it relates to theological thought, socially engaged outreach, and contemporary understandings of self, community, and story.

  • A graduate seminar of 4 students for one semester. Classes are part lecture, part discussion, part student-led. Assignments included weekly responses, seminar presentation, final paper.

 

Course Instructor

THET 13314 “Principles of Contemporary Acting: Text Analysis” Sheridan College, Oakville

2011, 2009

  • Responsibilities: adapt syllabus for current class, teach three separate units, grade the assignments, provide student support. 

  • Description: This course is a mandatory credit for all fist year, second semester acting students. It is an introduction to scene study with a focus on script work and Stanislavsky method. It is a studio/practical course.

  • An undergraduate studio class of 45 students split into three units of 15. Classes are once a week, and include a combination of lecture, in-class exercises, and scene rehearsal.

 

Guest Lecturer

  •  I am a regular guest lecturer for both undergraduate and graduate courses. In many cases, I am the TA on the course, and I am invited to lecture for a class. In other cases, the instructor includes me in the syllabus because of my research. Lectures are one hour long, and often include class participation in the form of short exercises or exploratory questions.

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Lecture titles 

  •     Script Analysis

  •     History of Directing –20th Century 

  •     Verbatim Theatre

  •     Participatory/Community Performed Ethnography and Research-Informed Theatre

  •     The Rise of Canadian “Alternative” theatre, 1960-1985

  •     Narrative and Theology: How story shapes identity

 

Drama Education

Freelance drama instructor from 2006-2012

  • Before beginning the Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, I was a freelance drama instructor. I worked at high schools, community centres, camps, adult education sites, and for several professional theatre companies.

  • I developed classes in theatre games, improvisation, Shakespeare, mask, clown, contemporary scene study, directing, producing, stage combat, poetry, and playwriting.

  • Assignments included directing large cast performances, mentoring students through to their own written or devised performances, teaching one or two specific skills in support of a larger program, or maintaining my own workshop for 2-3 hours a day for 2-3 weeks.

  • I continue to maintain my training in physical and vocal skills for performance, as well as ensemble and devising curriculum.

 

Curriculum Development Officer and Associate Editor

Trailblazing: an online educational formation tool, Huron University College, University of Western

  • Trailblazing is an online series of courses for continuing education in theology. Through my position, I wrote my own course based on my graduate seminar Self, Story, Theology, I edited the 5 other core courses on the site, and I helped develop the programs pedagogy and online tools.

  • Unfortunately, all the courses are behind a paywall. However, you can explore the site at           http://trailblazing.anglican.ca

  • Trailblazing and the Department of Theology are LGBTQ positive spaces who welcome a diverse group of students from many backgrounds, religions, and beliefs. We work to ensure our curricula are accessible to students from all backgrounds and faiths or no faith.

 

Program Coordinator for Ask & Imagine

Huron University College, University of Western Ontario, 2006-2016

  • Ask & Imagine is an experiential University-based leadership and education program. It gathers students from across the country for a one-two week education intensive that includes university lecture, seminar, small-group reflection, and experiential learning including outdoor education.

  • As program coordinator, I lectured, led seminar and reflection groups, set assignments, hired teaching and administrative staff, ran the registrars’ office, oversaw the budget, wrote grants and maintained reporting with granting body, and lived onsite during the program.

  •  I worked closely with a small team of faculty who produced this program annually.

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