Degrees:

Ph.D., Sociology, University of Manitoba, 1997

M.A., Sociology, University of Manitoba, 1988

B.A. (Honours), University of Winnipeg, 1986

Courses Taught:

Introduction to Sociology- SOC 1200

Sociology of the Family- SOC 2460

Courtship and Marriage- SOC 2470

Selected Social Problems- SOC 2310

Theories in Social Psychology- SOC 3360

Teaching Philosophy:

I believe it equally important to impart both an enthusiasm to want to learn more about the subject matter of sociology as well as the contextual information for the course itself. I aspire to develop an appreciation for learning about what we all so commonly take for granted in our daily lives yet rarely discuss, let alone critically examine. My aim is to provide students with the desire to use the tools of sociological inquiry to draw a connection between their social experience and those of others both nationally and internationally. Further, it’s important for students to recognize the patterns of these individualized experiences in terms of the broader social, political, and economic context within which they developed. Last, to the extent that we are capable of recognizing patterns of social injustice, students need exposure to the historical impact of social activism on so much of what we now accept as a given reality.

Areas of Specialization:

Much of my academic career has involved the application of sociological analysis toward both understanding and improving the quality of the lives of families and their members living here in Manitoba. I am interested in examining the impact that growing up within various types of families has on so much of what each of us come to take for granted later in life. This unquestioned belief is what later so often shapes our relationship with others, including our future partnering choices. The social psychological significance of these relationships is central to many of my endeavors. I have continued to “do” family with community organizations, child welfare organizations, Klinic Community Health and collectives within a number of Manitoba’s First Nation communities.