I grew up in small-town Southern Manitoba (Steinbach & Stony Mountain) before making my way to “the big city” – Winnipeg. After high school I attended University of Toronto, acquiring a mostly useless degree in Sociology of Medicine and English Language & Literature, which uniquely qualified me to work in a metal cutting factory. In 2009 I completed a Master of Science in Information and Library Studies in Aberdeen, Scotland which culminated with my dissertation on the use of virtual libraries (a descriptor very much of its time) to serve disparate, chronically under served Aboriginal and circumpolar health needs. I have made my living as an academic health sciences librarian ever since, working for University of Manitoba, University of Toronto, and now University of British Columbia.
This semester I’m taking my 7 & 8th MET courses, and am now used to being the non-teacher in the room. While I do lecture, I do so with minimal pedagogical training (like most faculty members at Canadian universities!), and focus on my area of expertise: evidence-based practice and information literacy. I’m particularly interested in adult education, with a focus on professional/second degree learners, since that’s the cohort with whom I most frequently interact.
Finally, I have a puggle (pug x beagle) named Gus [pictured] and love to travel.
