Gerry is the TA Coordinator in the Division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation at the University of Victoria (UVic). In this role, she mentors over 750 graduate TAs each term through TA-specific programming and professional development initiatives to ensure that TAs are supporting undergraduate learning. Gerry holds a PhD in biology from UVic and has completed in tandem with an accredited graduate certificate for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LATHE) (2017, UVic). In 2019, she was the recipient of the TAGSA award for best session led by a graduate student at the STLHE annual conference.

Cristina D’Amico is the Curriculum Developer at the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP), where she provides pedagogical support to TAs and graduate student Course Instructors who want to integrate effective educational approaches into their teaching. She works with the team of TATP graduate student peer trainers to design, develop and assess curriculum and training materials for workshops and e-learning related to teaching at the University of Toronto. Supporting faculty advancement, Cristina also works with the CTSI team to support course design, teaching dossier reviews for promotion, and various e-learning initiatives. Cristina has taught at the University of Toronto and Seneca College, and has an expertise in writing development and the effective support of English Language Learners. She completed her PhD in English at the University of Toronto.

Brandon is an educational developer in the Centre for Learning and Program Excellence at Red River College. In this role, he supports curriculum and program development, provides instructional design consultation, and facilitates college-wide faculty development opportunities. Brandon is currently a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor. His research—supported by an Educational Developer’s Caucus Grant—is exploring the educational development needs of sessional and contract instructors in connection to their approaches to teaching and conceptions of teaching. Brandon is also the co-chair of STLHE’s Contingent Faculty Teaching and Learning Network.

Georges-Philippe is studying mathematics and psychology at Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, Quebec, where he’s entering his first term as Vice-President Academic Affairs of our Student Representative Council. He is very excited to develop TAGSA’s outreach to the francophones of Canada. He will also be serving as Chair of Student Advocacy on the STLHE board of directors, and is passionate about building bigger and stronger communities.

Jenia has been a Sr. Lab Instructor in Biology at UNBC in Prince George, BC for 20+ years mainly coordinating and teaching first year biology labs and  second year microbiology labs. She has also been actively involved with allocating TA positions and training and supervising TAs during her time at UNBC.

Alex is an Educational Developer at the Centre for Learning and Program Excellence at Red River College (RRC) in Winnipeg. In her current role, she supports Faculty and Instructors with Curriculum and Program Development, Instructional Design, and Faculty Development to support teaching and learning at RRC. In her previous role at the Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at the University of Manitoba (2015-2020), Alex supported teaching development for graduate students and teaching assistants through a variety of initiatives. She led the delivery of the Centre’s Level 1: Novice Graduate Teaching Program. Alex is a trained Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) facilitator and completed her Facilitator Development Workshop (FDW) in 2018. Alex has been a member of the TAGSA Executive since 2018. Alex holds a Master of Arts in Political Science and is currently pursuing a second Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies. She hopes to complete her research in 2021. Alex is passionate about education, social justice, and all things Ukrainian!

Laura is the University of Windsor’s GATA Network Coordinator within the Centre for Teaching and Learning where she is responsible for supporting graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants in their roles, through facilitating their access to various resources, workshops, and mentorship designed for their professional development. She is also completing a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Science. Laura earned her PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Windsor where she also worked as a sessional instructor teaching research design. Laura is currently working on research related to graduate student development and student partnerships.

Samantha Chang is a Ph.D. Candidate from the Department of Art History at the University of Toronto, where she holds a Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) Doctoral Award, a Faculty of Arts and Science Top (FAST) Doctoral Fellowship, and a Mary H. Beatty Fellowship. A professional flutist and conductor, Samantha graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London (England), and she is a fellow of the Trinity College London and the London College of Music. Samantha is the Microteaching Coordinator and a Humanities Trainer at the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) at the University of Toronto.

Karen will start studying immigration and settlement studies (MA) at Ryerson University with a Canada Graduate Scholarship. She was named a 3M National Student Fellow for her work in starting one of Canada’s longest-lasting TEDx events and Canada’s first by-student for-student mental health magazine focused on interdisciplinary, intersectional, and intergenerational storytelling. She is a proud graduate of the University of Toronto Scarborough, completing a degree in social psychology & health policy. She is passionate about organizing, advocating, and learning for migrant, health, and intergenerational justice.