Graduate Thesis Supervision

Recent Program completion

DOCTORAL
Amanda Brazil (PhD).
Brittany A. E. Jakubiec (PhD)
Charlene VanLeuwen (PhD. Co-supervisors: Dr. Linyuan Guo and Dr. Lori Weeks)

MASTER OF EDUCATION (with thesis)
Yuanyuan (Teresa) Zhang
Hsaio-Yu (Kathren) Liu (co-supervisor with Dr. Linyuan Guo)
Mahdi Albishi (Supervisor: Dr. Jane Preston)
Darcy McCardle (Supervisor: Dr. Linyuan Guo)
Lily Liu (Supervisor: Dr. Carolyn Thorne)

I have directly supervised 45 students (5 PhD, 1 EdD, 7 MA, 1 MEd with thesis and 31 course-based MEd) and co-supervised 3 MEd (with thesis) student to completion of their graduate degrees. At the doctoral level I have also been a member of 6 supervisory and examination committees and have served on 8 examination committees as an internal examiner. I have been the external examiner for 5 PhD, 1 EdD, and 2 MEd (with thesis) students from other universities.

Supervisor (completed)
Doctoral – University of Calgary
Amy Burns [PhD]. Feminist educational leadership in the Alberta school system: The possibilities and challenges of leading from the nexus. Date of oral examination: 10 April 2008. Pass.
Note: Dr. Burns’ dissertation was nominated for the 2009 Thomas Barr Greenfield award from the Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration (CASEA).
Dr. Burns is now Field Experience Director (Undergraduate Programs in Education) at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary.

Sarah Eaton [PhD]. Marketing of revenue generating ESL programs at the University of Calgary. Date of oral examination: 21 April 2009. Pass.
Dr. Eaton is Adjunct Assistant Professor (Linguistics, Languages and Cultures) and Sessional Instructor (Graduate Programs in Education, Werklund School of Education) at the University of Calgary. She is also an author, consultant and international professional speaker.

Lyle Hamm [PhD]. “I’m just glad I’m here: Stakeholder perceptions from one school in a community undergoing demographic changes on the Alberta grasslands. Date of oral examination: 2 October 2009. Pass.
Note: Dr. Hamm’s dissertation was nominated for the 2010 Thomas Barr Greenfield award from the Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration (CASEA).
Dr. Hamm is now Assistant Professor of Education at the University of New Brunswick.

Jacqueline Prowse [EdD]. The influence of culture on pedagogy: A case study comparing pedagogical practices in a transnational business program in Qatar with its Canadian home institution. Date of oral examination: 27 November 2007. Pass.
Dr. Prowse is Director, Division of Continuing Studies, University of Victoria

Thesis based MA – Royal Roads University
Tracy Hardy (Major Research Project Supervisor. Area: Police reform in Guatemala: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police experience. Date of acceptance by Royal Roads University – July 2014. Pass.

Thesis based MA – University of Calgary
Heike Bronson [MA]. Thesis: Appreciating the pulse of a school: An investigation of the role of internal influences on the development and maintenance of collaborative cultures in selected Calgary high schools. Date of final oral examination: 28 August 2000. Pass.

Osman Buleshkaj [MA] Building capacity for effective leadership in post-conflict Kosova: A single case study. Date of final examination: 17 July 2009. Pass.

Amy Burns [MA]. Thesis: Constituent group perceptions of effective female leadership in an urban elementary school: A case study. Date of final oral examination: 28 August 2001. Pass.
Note: Ms. Burns’ thesis won the 2001 Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration (CASEA) Master’s Thesis Award, presented at the CASEA Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario: May 2002.

Jill A. Koch [MA]. The efficacy of Asset-Based Community Development in the Educational Context. Date of final oral examination: 14 July 2005. Pass.
Note: Ms. Koch’s thesis won the 2005 Canadian Association for the Study of Educational Administration (CASEA) Master’s Thesis Award, presented at the CASEA Annual Meeting, Toronto, Ontario: May 2006.

Christine Y. Martineau [MA]. Dancing to a different drummer: School leadership in a First Nations environment. Date of final oral examination: 24 August 2005. Pass.

Candace Saar. [MA]. Raise your fist in anger: Re-forming the work of secondary schools. Date of oral defence: 7 July 2004. Pass.

Thesis based MEd – University of Calgary
Jennifer Connell (MEd). The implementation of the IB programme on Prince Edward Island: A case study (Co-supervisor with Dr. Carla DiGiorgio). Date of oral defence: 6 April 2010. Pass.

Course based MEd – University of Calgary
Su-Ann Anderson [MEd] Critical paper: Leadership. Date of final review: 21 August 2004. Pass.

Dave Banderk [MEd]. Course work completed. Convocated in June 2008. [Note: After May 2008 no final review or presentation was required for MEd (course based) programs.]

Debbie Barkman [MEd]. Critical paper: Relationships ->Trust ->Collaboration. Date of final review: 28 April 2006. Pass.

Jacqueline Béland [MEd]. Critical paper: Planning an integrative thematic unit: Celebrating cultural diversity in the NWT. Date of final review: 26 July 2002. Pass.

Karen Campbell [MEd]. Critical paper: Anti-violence programs in elementary schools: What difference do they make? Date of final oral examination: 31 May 2002. Pass.

Eleanor Creasey [MEd]. Developing a leadership framework for change. Date of final oral examination: 25 July 2002. Pass.

Mark Davidson [MEd]. Critical paper: An examination of formal mentoring programs to address the needs of new teachers. Date of final oral examination: 25 August 2000. Pass.

Sanaa El-Hassany [MEd]. Exit paper. Leadership. Date of final review: April 2007. Pass.

Michelle Doran Howell [MEd]. Exit paper. An evaluation of French as a Second Language in Alberta. Date of final review: April 2007. Pass.

Darrin Fisher [MEd]. Exit paper. Moving toward a middle school report card. Date of final review: 15 July 2005. Pass.

Jennifer Godfrey [MEd]. Exit paper. The effect of autocratic leadership on school culture and student academic success: An example from England. Date of final review: September 2007. Pass.

Julia Grant [MEd – course based]. Course work completed. Convocated in June 2008.

Elizabeth Greenwood [MEd – course based]. Course work completed. Convocated in June 2008.

Heather Hill [MEd]. Exit paper. Professional development in the Palliser District Teachers’ Convention area: Examining the need. Date of final review: 30 June 2005. Pass.

Kim Hodgson [MEd – course based]. Course work completed. Convocated in June 2008.

Len Holland [MEd]. Business leadership and the principalship of schools. Date of final oral examination: 20 September 2002. Pass.

Elliot K. Johnson [MEd]. Critical paper: Changing the view: An alternative school model for Nunavut. Date of final review: 29 April 2002. Pass.

Joan Kollewyn [MEd] Portfolio: Leadership. Date of final review: 30 June 2005. Pass.

Kathy Meidinger Kostiuk [MEd]. What preventative and reactive strategies can schools employ to more successfully deal with the contemporary phenomenon of student aggression and bullying? Date of final oral examination: 28 March 2002. Pass.

Faith Mackay [MEd]. Exit paper. Spirituality and soul in educational leadership and organizations. Date of final review: April 2007. Pass.

Scott MacNeill [MEd]. To what extent might elementary students be engaged in school-based decision making? Date of final oral examination: 17 September 2002. Pass.

Tim Michayluk [MEd] Portfolio: Leadership. Date of final review: 31 July 2004. Pass.

Nathan Ngieng [MEd]. Exit paper. The role of school administrators in cultivating a culture that promotes responsible change. Date of final review: April 2007. Pass.

Dean Pasiuk [MEd]. Exit paper. The Accountability pillar…Dangers of a one dimensional view. Date of final review: August 2006. Pass.

Laurie Riedl [MEd]. Exit paper. The impact of mentoring and coaching on leadership. Date of final review: 30 June 2005. Pass.

James Robinson [MEd]. Exit paper. Administrator’s experiences of working in the Tlicho region of the Northwest Territories. Date of final review: April 2006. Pass.

Naile Selimaj [MEd]. Exit paper. Development of learning organizations in post-conflict Kosovo. Date of final review: September 2007. Pass.

Bonnie Spooner. [MEd] Critical paper: Leadership. Date of final review: 18 June 2004. Pass.

Kathryn Steber [MEd]. Exit paper. A historical perspective and philosophy of problem based learning and assessment. Date of final review: September 2007. Pass.

Iliriana Tahiri [MEd]. Exit paper. School reforms: Shared decision making and post-conflict societies. Date of final review: April 2007. Pass.

Tracy Trieber [MEd]. Exit paper. Partnerships in the educational setting. Date of final review: August 2006. Pass.

Colleen Turner. [MEd]. Critical paper. Challenges faced by women in the workplace. Date of final review: 8 April 2005. Pass.

External Examiner
Guy Aucoin [MEd with thesis]. Leaders in training: An exploration of how prospective administrators learn leadership. St. Francis Xavier University. September 2000. Pass.

Simon C. Blakesley [PhD]. Remote and unresearched: A contextualized study of non-Indigenous educational leaders working in Yukon indigenous communities. Supervisor: Dr. André Mazawi, University of British Columbia. 23 April 2010. Pass.

Gordon Breen [PhD]. Academic school performance of Native reserve students. Supervisor: Dr. Frank Peters. University of Alberta. 19 June 2003. Pass.

Willow Brown [PhD]. Building a learning community through restitution: A case study. Supervisor: Dr. Larry Sackney, University of Saskatchewan. May 2004. Pass.

Michael Paul Diachuk [EdD]. Teachers engaged in school improvement: A case study. Supervisor: Dr. George Richardson. University of Alberta. 8 November 2005. Pass.

Daphne Maistona-Eagle Speaker [EdD]. Current Administration of Indian Control of Indian Education in Alberta: Implications and Challenges. Supervisor: Dr. Ian Winchester, University of Calgary. 23 October 2015. Pass.

William Gowans [PhD]. The integration of students with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders into northern schools: An ill-structured problem. Supervisor: Dr. Sheila Carr-Stewart. University of Saskatchewan. 6 December 2007. Pass.

Gillian Kerr-Sheppard [MEd with thesis]. How Palestinian refugee families living in refugee camps within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip deal with their engagement with formal education at primary and secondary school levels. Supervisor: Dr Simon Clark, University of Western Australia. 24 January 2011. Pass.

Beverly Anne LeMoine [PhD]. National governance in education: A Foucaldian analysis of policy power, and practice. Supervisor: Dr. Frank Peters. University of Alberta. 5 September 2006. Pass.

Susanne Pottie [MEd with thesis]. Fighting the fires: Stress in the principalship. University of Prince Edward Island. November 2000. Pass.

Gregory Wilson [EdD]. Oh Canada: Citizenship on First Nations’ land. Supervisor: Dr. Sharon Friesen. University of Calgary. 31 August 2015. Pass.

Examining Committees
Ernie Z. Alama [PhD]. Adult education. I was a member of the examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Hughson. January 17, 2006. Pass.

Scott F. O. Benwell [PhD]. Toward an understanding of community in schools. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this final oral examination. Supervisor: Dr. Tom Gougeon. 23 March 2005. Pass.

Stan Bird [PhD]. Leadership in Band managed schools. I was a member of the examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Division of Applied Psychology. Supervisor: Dr. A. McKeough. 17 December 2008. Pass.

Judie Bopp [PhD]. Participatory development: Mapping the terrain for effective practice. I was a member of the examining committee for this final oral examination. Supervisor: Dr. B. Lynn Bossetti. 9 December, 2002. Pass.

Anita Bortnik [MA]. Children’s family and social capital: Effects on mathematics achievement in Canada. I was the external member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Department of Sociology. Supervisor: Dr. A. Gauthier. 20 April 2004. Pass.

James K. Broadhead [MEd]. I was the external member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Division of Applied Psychology. Supervisor: Dr. L. Harpur. July 31, 2003. Pass.

Margaret I. Carter [PhD]. Experiences of parental advocates in self-help groups for children with autism. I was a member of the examining committee for this final oral examination in the Faculty of Social Work. Supervisor: Dr. John Graham. 19 December, 2006. Pass.

Timothy M. Chute [MEd]. Portfolio. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. D. Yee. 19 September 2001. Pass.

Leslie May Crawford [MEd]. From acquisition to integration: The story of the Mecca Glen Community Learning Center project. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. M. Jacobsen. 13 December 2002. Pass.

Nancy Doetzel [PhD]. Values and spirituality in educational leadership.
I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this final oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. Elisabeth Donaldson. 26 August 2004. Pass.

Ellen Elliott [MEd]. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Boberg. April 18, 2001. Pass.

Catherine J. Erickson [MEd]. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. M. Hunsberger. 31 July 2002. Pass.

Linda Flanagan [MEd]. The principal as technology leader: New competencies and responsibilities for effective technology integration. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. M. Jacobsen. June 27, 2001. Pass.

Darren Forrester [MEd]. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. September 15, 1999. Pass.

Sharon Habermann [PhD] I was a member of the examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Division of Applied Psychology. Supervisor: Dr. W. Zwirner. December 13, 2002. Pass.

Sharon Habermann [PhD]. Psychologist and client spirituality in psychotherapy: An exploratory study. I was a member of the examining committee for this final oral examination. Supervisor: Dr. W. Zwirner. 10 September 2004. Pass.

Nazim Habibov [PhD]. Economic inequity in Azerbaijan. I was a member of the examining committee for this final oral examination in the Faculty of Social Work. Supervisor: Dr. John Graham. 12 October, 2007. Pass.

Craig Hart [EdD]. The role of distance learning in school leadership. I was a member of the examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. D. Jenson. 14 January 2008. Pass.

Michele M. R. Hayden. [MEd]. Critical paper: Library connections – a case study. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. C. Webber. 20 September 2004. Pass.

Ginger K. Hughes [MSc]. The relationship between bullying and achievement: A study of related family and school factors. I was the external member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Division of Applied Psychology. Supervisor: Dr. T. Beran. April 27, 2005. Pass.

Deborah Johnson [MEd]. I was the external member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Division of Applied Psychology. Supervisor: Dr. J. Lupart. March 21, 2001. Pass.

Ben Karmel [MEd]. Exit document: Approaches to school security: The case of a Jewish day school. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Schwartz. 27 June 2002. Pass.

Werner Kopp [MEd]. Breaking down the walls of isolation: The joys and challenges of team teaching. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. D. Yee. April 23, 2001. Pass.

Lori Kowaliuk [MSc]. A qualitative inquiry into the experience of Chinese immigrant children in Canada: Adult reflections on childhood experiences. I was the external member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Division of Applied Psychology. Supervisor: Dr. K. Alderson. July 24, 2003. Pass.

Rexjep Krasniqi [MEd]. Exit document: Leaders’ role in building learning communities. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. C. Webber. May 2007. Pass.

Christopher Lacy [MEd]. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral retake examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Boberg. June 28, 2000. Pass.

Susan MacDonald [PhD]. Building international work experience into career development. I was a member of the examining committee for this final oral examination. Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Arthur. 18 July 2005. Pass.

Stephen J. McNiven [MEd]. Exit document: Academic and professional growth based upon the common threads of communication, constructivism, research, reform and community as experienced in the leadership development specialization. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. C. Webber. 3 September 2002. Pass.

Morris A. Manyfingers [PhD]. Jurisdiction, resources, and accountability in basic education programs: An analysis of the issues, challenges, and current realities facing First Nations students in Alberta. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this final oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. J. Friesen. December 10, 2009. Pass.

Morris A. Manyfingers [PhD]. I was a member of the examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. J. Friesen. January 11, 2006. Pass.

Thomas Mortlock [MEd]. Exit document: Trying to understand standardized testing. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. C. Webber. September 2007. Pass.

Craig Munroe [MEd]. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. K. Donlevy. 12 September 2005. Pass.

John Anthony Myers [PhD]. Influences on major donor decisions. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this final oral examination in the Faculty of Graduate Studies (Interdisciplinary program). Supervisor: Dr. I. Winchester. November 26, 2010. Pass.

Janice O’Neill [MEd]. Leading with decency and caring: Creating a school culture that brings out the best in people. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. V. Bohac-Clark. July 3, 2001. Pass.

James Parsons [MEd]. The utility of the Nunavut High School Project as a culturally pluralistic curriculum for secondary general level Inuit science students]. I was a member of the examining committee for this M.Ed. exit assessment in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. C. Webber. 19 September 2005. Pass.

Karen A. Rempel [PhD]. Social capital and its relational networks in rural communities. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Marini. July 19, 2005. Pass.

Karen A. Rempel [PhD]. The reality of lifelong learning in a rural community. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this final oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Marini. June 10, 2010. Pass.

Larry Rosia [PhD]. Social, cultural, political and economic factors influencing the development of colleges and institutes of higher education in Canada. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. T. Gougeon. November 2, 2004. Pass.

Larry Rosia [PhD]. The successful college president: Strategies for leading in a complex environment. I was a member of the supervisory and examining committee for this final oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. T. Gougeon. May 3, 2006. Pass.

Michelle Sandquist [MSW]. Family group conferencing. I was a member of the examining committee for this final comprehensive oral examination in the Faculty of Social Work. Supervisor: Dr. Jackie Sieppert. April 28, 2006. Pass.

Carol Suddards [PhD]. Experiencing and understanding inter-organizational collaboration. I was a member of the examining committee for this final oral examination. Supervisor: Dr. Veronika Bohac-Clarke. 3 September 2004. Pass.

Brian Szumlas [PhD]. I was a member of the examining committee for this doctoral candidacy examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. A. Boberg. September 17, 1999. Pass.

Judy Walker [MEd]. The principal as spiritual leader. I was a member of the examining committee for this comprehensive oral examination in the Graduate Division of Educational Research. Supervisor: Dr. E. Donaldson. June 28, 2001. Pass.

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