Our Presenters
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Presenter Bios
- Lesley Beckett Balcom
Associate Director of Libraries for Public Services
UNB Libraries
University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) - Lesley has recently been appointed the first Associate Director of Libraries for Learning and Research Services at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. She has helped steer the development and implementation of UNB's Harriet Irving Library Learning Commons as its Coordinator, and has been Head of Reference at Harriet Irving Library for the past five years. She has been involved in the provision of public service for many years, and has a longstanding interest in staff training and development.
[Session: Building Bridges: Collaborations at the Heart of the Learning Commons] - Jill Davies
Academic Support Coordinator
Acadia University - Jill has been an educator since 1970 and a counselor since 2000. For the past 9 years she has worked in the Counseling Centre at Acadia where she wears several hats, one of which is as co-coordinator of Disability/Access Services. Currently there are 120 students registered with Disability/Access, most of whom have invisible disabilities and are successful students.
[Session: Adversity, Advocacy, Accessibility] - Keith Dewar
Professor, Tourism and Hospitality
University of New Brunswick – Saint John - Professor Dewar started his career with the Canadian Park Service where he managed information programs then moved to academics particularly tourism and communications in New Zealand and then tourism management in Canada. He has maintained his interest in libraries and knowledge dissemination throughout his career.
[Session: Learning Commons Views Across Culture: Common to Whom?] - Janice G. El-Bayoumi
Director of Client Services, Integrated Technology Services
University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) - Janice has been delivering technology customer support services at UNB for almost 20 years. Working with a wonderful team, Janice strives for excellence in the delivery of those services required by faculty, staff and students for the effective use of information, communication and technologies needed for work and study.
[Session: Recipe for Success: ITS/Library Collaboration in the Learning Commons] - Elaine Fairey
Associate University Librarian, Public Services
Director, Student Learning Commons
Simon Fraser University - Elaine Fairey, Associate University Librarian, Bennett Public Services, has held a variety of reference and management positions during her 15 years at the SFU Library. Building on this experience, she has recently assumed the role of Director, Student Learning Commons and is thoroughly enjoying the unique opportunity to work with an excellent team in establishing and expanding programs and services integral to student learning and academic success.
[Session: Building Bridges: Collaborations at the Heart of the Learning Commons] - Edward Hayden
Help Desk Student Consultant, Integrated Technology Services
University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) - Edward is Computer Science student at the University of New Brunswick since 2004. He has worked for the IT Help Desk for nearly 3 years. Ed is an exceptional consultant with a real drive to serve the public.
[Session: Recipe for Success: ITS/Library Collaboration in the Learning Commons] - Bryan Irwin
Principal
Sasaki Associates - Bryan Irwin is an architect whose work focuses on designing libraries and learning environments for colleges and universities, and includes such projects as Morgan State University Library in Baltimore, Maryland, University of Balamand Library & Learning Center in Tripoli, Lebanon, the Lorain County Community College Community Resource Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and the University Commons at the University of New Brunswick at Saint John.
[Session: Space Planning and Design] - David Kilfoil
Educational Analyst
Centre for Enhanced Teaching & Learning, University of New Brunswick - An actively engaged student when he obtained a BBA at UNB, David Kilfoil has now come full circle after five years as an entrepreneur and instructor and ten years in I.T. management in the newspaper industry. His focus is now on student engagement, particularly as measured by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
[Session: Student Engagement: Our Key to Success?] - Patricia Kirby
Director, Student Accessibility Centre
University of New Brunswick - Patricia Kirby is the Director of the Student Accessibility Centre at the University of New Brunswick. She holds a doctoral degree in Education from Boston University. Patricia advocates for over 300 students with disabilities, teaches graduate courses in educational exceptionalities, and serves as a member of Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons.
[Session: Adversity, Advocacy, Accessibility] - Mark Leggott
University Librarian
University of Prince Edward Island - Mark Leggott is the University Librarian at the University of PEI, an IBC (Islander By Choice). Before moving to the Island Mark was University Librarian and Associate Dean of Education at the University of Winnipeg. Mark is a strong open source proponent and an avid blogger (LoomWare.ca).
[Session: A VLC in Your Future?] - David Matthias
Assistant Coordinator
Dalhousie Writing Centre - David Matthias is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Dalhousie University, and also Assistant Coordinator of the Writing Centre on campus.
[Session: The Writing Centre in the Commons] - Bill Mitchell
Assistant Director, York Library Region
New Brunswick Public Library Service - Bill Mitchell is both a librarian and an architect who has experience overseeing library construction projects. He is Assistant Director for York Region, New Brunswick Public Library Service and has an MLS from Dalhousie and a Master of Architecture degree from TUNS (now Daltech). While working in public libraries in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Washington State and Ontario, he has been involved in numerous library renovation and planning projects. He believes quite strongly that a functional and aesthetically pleasing library facility supports and enhances good public service.
[Session: Space Planning and Design] - Shawn Pendergast
IT Supervisor, The Commons
Memorial University of Newfoundland - Shawn has worked as the IT Supervisor of The Commons for the past 4 years. Before working at Memorial, Shawn worked in the high tech sector in Victoria, BC for 7 years. Shawn completed a BScF from UNB in 1997 and a business diploma from MUN in 2005.
[Session: Adversity, Advocacy, Accessibility] - Richard Spacek
College of Extended Learning
University of New Brunswick (Fredericton) - After early work in the computer-assisted analysis of 16th-century dramatic texts, Richard joined UNB’s College of Extended Learning for which he has run the Writing Centre since 1995, helping to develop and deliver a number of educational programs. Richard is currently working on feedback and record-keeping systems for outcomes-based education.
[Session: The Writing Centre in the Commons] - MaryAnn Stevens
Senior Designer/President
MA Stevens, Inc. - Mary Ann Stevens is a Registered Interior Designer whose work focuses on the design of public and private spaces, in particular Universities, Healthcare Facilities, Corporate Offices and Hospitality interiors.
[Session: Space Planning and Design]