Teaching and Learning Conestoga is a group of committed educators, consultants, technologists, and support staff dedicated to developing teaching among the Conestoga community.
Executive Director
Kathryn Brillinger, M.Ed (TESL), diploma in Intercultural Studies, has over 30 years of teaching experience in English as a Second Language learning, diversity and intercultural skills. Internationally, she has presented on the impact of nonverbal cues on communication endeavours, and solving teaching and intercultural dilemmas.
Director, Teaching Innovation
Nancy Nelson, Ph.D., FEC, P. Eng, is a 3M Scholar and has over 35 years teaching experience at the college in Engineering. In 2017, she received the Gold Award in Leadership Excellence for Faculty. Nancy specializes in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and women in engineering initiatives.
Director, Faculty Development
Laura Stoutenburg, M.A., OCELT, has over 20 years of teaching experience in languages and TESL training. She has served as Chair of the Conestoga Language Institute and coordinated several Conestoga programs. Laura specializes in intercultural teaching, language acquisition and serves as lead for the full-time faculty mentoring program.
Director, Scholarship of Teaching and Assessment
Sherri Steele, Ph.D. (Medical Science), has has been an educator and leader in the Ontario College system for her entire career. She completed a PhD in Medical Science from the University of Toronto. Sherri specializes in coordinating our micro credentials and assessment topics among different schools.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Nasreen Sultana, Ph.D. (Education), has worked and taught in post-secondary education for a decade, previously at Queen’s University. She leads part time faculty mentoring, and supports diversity and inclusion among faculty and students. Nasreen specializes in intercultural communication and active learning strategies and techniques to support internationalized classrooms.
Teaching Innovation Consultant
Elan Paulson, Ph.D., has served as an educator in Ontario’s higher education system since 2004. Before joining Conestoga in 2020, Elan led community engagement at eCampusOntario and hybrid and online professional education program delivery at Western University’s Faculty of Education. Elan specializes in research, collaboration, and practice with technology innovations in teaching, including asynchronous online course delivery.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Sara Kafashan, Ph.D. (Applied Social Psychology), has worked in post-secondary education since 2009, teaching in various provinces across Canada. She has developed curriculum and completed research on topics such as homelessness, mental health, and disabilities. Sara specializes in bringing a lens of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, as well as a focus on student well-being to teaching and learning.
Educational Technology Consultant
Jesslyn Wilkinson, M.Ed, OCT, connects her 10 years of teaching experience to her role in researching and promoting appropriate technologies to enhance pedagogical practices. She is a Google and Microsoft certified trainer with specialty in assistive learning technologies. Jesslyn specializes in collaborations and research related to emergent technologies and tech-enabled learning experiences.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Lauren Spring, Ph.D. (Adult Education and Community Development), has over 15 years of teaching experience with several different Ontario universities and as an Art Educator with the AGO. She has researched and published on such subjects as: critical disability and mad studies, trauma work, research-based theatre, role-play simulations, and arts-based approaches to adult education and community engagement.
Assessment of Learning Consultant
Ada Sharpe, Ph.D. (English and Film Studies), has worked in faculty and support staff roles in the post-secondary sector for over a decade. She has taught and researched in literary studies and writing studies and co-led a university writing centre. Ada specializes in understanding how assessment shapes the teaching and learning experience for faculty and students.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Adrienne Vanthuyne, Ph.D. (Education, Applied Linguistics), OCT, has been an educator for over 20 years. Her research areas focus on language and literacy development, and intercultural communication and teaching. She has previously taught at Western University, Fanshawe College, and The USQ (Australia). Adrienne specializes in teaching and learning for international students and faculty development.
Assessment of Learning Consultant
Monsurat Omobola Raji, Ph.D. (Educational Assessment and Teaching Pedagogies) has facilitated teaching, learning, and assessment workshops for both new and experienced faculty. She brings her international education background and career experience from studying, teaching, and consulting in different education systems and levels to work at Conestoga’s Teaching and Learning Department.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Lauren Spring, Ph.D. (Adult Education and Community Development), has over 15 years of teaching experience with several different Ontario universities and as an Art Educator with the AGO. She has researched and published on such subjects as: critical disability and mad studies, trauma work, research-based theatre, role-play simulations, and arts-based approaches to adult education and community engagement.
Assessment of Learning Consultant
Ada Sharpe, Ph.D. (English and Film Studies), has worked in faculty and support staff roles in the post-secondary sector for over a decade. She has taught and researched in literary studies and writing studies and co-led a university writing centre. Ada specializes in understanding how assessment shapes the teaching and learning experience for faculty and students.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Marcia Chaudet, Ph.D. (Biological Sciences), has worked in post-secondary education since 2010. She has experience teaching and supporting teaching development with her work at the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. Before joining Teaching & Learning, Marcia worked in the Online Learning Centre at Conestoga, leading a team of Instructional Designers.
Teaching and Learning Consultant
Glenn Wagner Ph.D. (Education & Knowledge Building) brings several decades of experience from the secondary school system as a science educator, Program Leader in STEM, and workshop developer for teaching faculty. Glenn works within the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework bringing his wealth of instructional experience to promote inclusive and collaborative learning.
Educational Technology Officer
Adam Wilson, Hons B.A.A., diploma in Media, is a web specialist and educator. Having administrated high-impact websites and digital properties for large organizations, their objective within technology is to connect audiences and improve user experience. As Educational Technology Officer at Conestoga, their focus is to assist faculty with technology solutions and facilitate innovative course delivery methods in a digital era.
Teaching and Learning Coordinator
Wesley Butler, B.PR, B.A. Comm and Cert. Post-Sec Teaching, brings a breadth of experience as a communications specialist to Teaching and Learning. In his time with T&L, he has launched multimedia outreach initiatives to promote educator development opportunities, including a weekly e-newsletter and a feature-length success story series on accomplishments from Conestoga faculty.
