Jessi's (they/them) role at TII focuses on the Accessible Education project, where they are supporting, facilitating, and collaborating with the Accessible Education leadership team and its three committees. The work spans across campus and aims to address and take actionable steps to increase awareness, innovate, and re-envision the accessibility of our campuses through teaching and learning. Jessi is also working closely with the library team to support the accessibility of library resources and repositories in accordance with the AODA Post-Secondary Education recommendations.
Jessi has a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature and a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Guelph. They also have a Master of Science in Integrative Biology, with a focus on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning from the University of Guelph. Their master's research used national data from Statistics Canada, as well as survey and interview data collected from current PhD's and PhD graduates across Canada. Their research explored the pathways PhD's took through the academic system into their PhD programs, including what socioeconomic and relational factors influenced their pathways, and how this translated to experiences and entry into the labour market.
Jessi is humbled and ever inspired to learn how different people and cultures live and experience the world. They are grateful to have learned from Indigenous Elders and community members about some of their traditions and ways of knowing. They are grateful for the conversations they had with PhD students and graduates, and from dear mentors, friends, and colleagues who have shared lived experiences with oppression, discrimination, and trauma. Jessi enjoys collaborating on research and projects centered on teaching and learning in post-secondary settings that work to increase diversity, accessibility, and inclusion, with the goal of creating meaningful and lasting educational experiences.
In their spare time, Jessi can be found spending time outside, singing to their favourite songs, swimming, and relaxing with friends, family, and their two kiddos and spouse.