Michele Irwin PhD
Toronto,ON
Summary
Talented educator and program coordinator driving initiatives independently and fostering relationships with a range of stakeholders. Excels in crafting engaging curriculum and programs, building resilient teams, offering personalized feedback, and staying on the pulse of academic success trends for international students.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream (part-time)
Centre For Teaching And Learning
2022.01 - Current
- Inspiring writing skill development and critical thinking skills among students across disciplines by developing and facilitating 40+ writing in-course or special event workshops and retreats per year
- Developing course-based and departmental embedded writing programming by coordinating teams of writing instructors, faculty, TAs and other campus partners to enrich students' educational experiences and promote inclusivity
- Evaluating and assessing efficacy of embedded writing program outcomes with Writing Support Coordinator while integrating current research and best practices
- Creating inclusive, anti-racist, and accessible programming in collaboration with Access Pathways, AccessAbility Services, International Student Centre, Library, Academic Advising partners etc.
- Serving departmental and program committees and Collaborating with faculty, staff and stakeholders from across the campus to foster productive partnerships.
Faculty Member (full-time)
International Foundation Program, New College
2017.09 - 2022.04
- Developed innovative English language curriculum materials, for conditionally accepted International student engagement resulting in increased engagement and understanding of complex topics.
- Contributed to the development of course learning objectives, aligning instructional efforts across the team with wider program priorities.
- Evaluated and supervised student deliverables and performance levels to meet learning objectives and provide reports on academic progress to program stakeholders.
- Promoted cultural awareness and inclusivity within the classroom and the wider university by integrating diverse perspectives into course content, assignments, and discussions.
- Collaborated with and mentored colleagues to create units, assignments, and lesson plans to enrich students' educational experiences through best pedagogical practices.
Head of English Department, English Teacher
Hawthorn School For Girls
2006.09 - 2013.06
- Enhanced curriculum by implementing innovative teaching methods and incorporating relevant literary works.
- Promoted a culture of excellence within the department through high expectations for both students and faculty members alike.
- Oversaw successful accreditation reviews by Ontario Ministry of Education and led program improvements based on evaluation outcomes.
- Developed a comprehensive assessment system to track student progress and provide feedback for improvement.
- Scheduled educational activities, faculty lectures and departmental events to drive mission and values of institution.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - Curriculum, Teaching And Learning
OISE/University of Toronto
Master of Education - Language And Literacy Education
OISE/ University of Toronto
Master of Fine Arts in Writing -
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Science - Psychology And Sociology
University of Toronto
Master of Pastoral Studies - Certificate in Psychotherapy
Emmanuel College/University of Toronto
06.2025
Skills
- Team-Building and Leadership
- Administrative Competence
- Program Development and Coordination
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Communication Skills
- Diplomacy and Tactfulness
Additional Course Instructor Positions
CTLA02 - Exploring Inter-Cultural Perspectives in Academic Contexts – Green Path Program, University of Toronto Scarborough
Summer 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
CTLA20 - Writing for Change: Foundational Academic Skills to Make a Difference in your Community - Transitional Year Program (TYP), University of Toronto Scarborough
Fall 2023
TEP445 - The Power of Story: Writing Your Leadership Narrative – Troost Institute for Leadership in Engineering, University of Toronto
Winter 2023, 2024
ACMB02 - Methods of Investigation and Inquiry for Arts, Culture and Media - University of Toronto Scarborough
Winter 2018, 2021, 2022
ENGB12 - Life Writing – English Department – University of Toronto Scarborough
Summer 2017, 2019, 2020
ACMB01 - Critical Reading, Thinking, and Writing – Department of Arts, Culture, and Media, University of Toronto Scarborough
Fall 2013-2018, Winter 2014-2019
ACMB02 - Methods of Investigation and Inquiry for Arts, Culture and Media - University of Toronto Scarborough
Winter 2018, 2021, 2022
UTP082 - Strategies for Cross-Discipline Success – UT Preparation Program - New College, University of Toronto
Summer 2018
Oral Presentation Skills for Non-Native Speakers of English - Graduate Centre for Academic Communication - University of Toronto
2016-2018
Professional Experience
Gender-Inclusive Language Consultant, Government of Canada
April, 2022
Academic Editor, Freelance
2021, 2022
Academic Consultant, BeMo Academic Consulting
2018, 2019
Associate Editor, The Palgrave Handbook for Race and Arts in Education
2016, 2017
Contributing Editor, Teaching from the Thinking Heart: The Practice of Holistic Education
2015, 2016 ·
Certification
- Strategy Execution for Public Leadership, Harvard Business School Online - 25 Hours
- TESOL Certificate, University of Toronto - 1 year, full-time
- Novel Writing Certificate, Stanford University Online - 2 years, part-time
,
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Professional Working
Spanish
Elementary
Chinese (Mandarin)
Elementary
Scholarships and Awards
UTSC Teaching Award Nomination (decision May 2024)
New College Senior Doctoral Fellowship, 2019-20
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Scholarship, 2019
University of Toronto Doctoral Fellowship
Doctoral Completion Award, 2017-18
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship, 2015-16
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), 2016 (declined)
Wilfred Rusk Wees Fellowship, 2015
Teaching Enhancement Grant, Centre for Teaching and Learning, 2015
McCuaig-Throop Bursary, School of Graduate Studies, 2015
OISE Academic Excellence Award, 2014, 2015
Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), 2014-15
The James Appel Scholarship, International Festival of Authors, Toronto, 2014
University Service
2022-2024 CTL Student Success Committee (SSC)
2024 Teaching Enhancement Grant (TEG) Adjudication Committee
2024 Equity, Inclusion & Wellness Committee
2023 Transitional Year Program Visiting Author Committee
2023, 2024 CTL Celebration of Teaching and Faculty Showcase Committee
2022 Tri-Campus Anti-Racist Writing Across the Curriculum Committee
2022 UTSC Teaching Award Adjudication Committee
2022 New College Joint Curriculum Review Committee
2022 University of Toronto Teaching and Learning Symposium Reviewer
2018 Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE) Conference Submission Reviewer
2016 Editorial Board of Critical Intersections Journal
2015 and 2016 AERA Annual Meeting Holistic SIG and Writing SIG Submission Reviewer
2015/2016 OISE Graduate Student Research Conference (GSRC) Finance Coordinator
2016 OISE Graduate Student Association (GSA) Elections Committee Chair
2015 Researching Elite Education Volunteer Researcher, OISE/University of Toronto
Publications
Khoo, E., & Irwin, M. (2023). Academic integrity socialization and language competency Training for Canadian undergraduate students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In S. Bjelobaba, T. Foltýnek, I. Glendinning, V. Krásničan, & D. H. Dlabolová (Eds.), Academic Integrity: Broadening Practices, Technologies, and the Role of Students: Proceedings from the European Conference on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism 2021 (Vol. 4, pp. 217–236). Springer International Publishing.
Irwin, M. & Kraehe, A. (2017). “Lived Practices: Schools, Communities, and other Spaces.” Palgrave Handbook for Race and Arts in Education. London, UK: Palgrave MacMillan Publishing Co.
Irwin, M. & Miller, J. (2016). “Presence of Mind: A qualitative study of meditating teachers.” Journal of Transformative Education, (14) 86-97.
Miller, J., Irwin, M. & Nigh, K. (eds) (2014). Teaching from the Thinking Heart: The practice of holistic education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Irwin, M. (2014). Me, Myself and I: The paradox of the authentic self. Teaching from the Thinking Heart: The practice of holistic education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Conference Presentations
Irwin, M. (June, 2024). Student engagement for the win: Fostering equitable and inclusive student investment in learning through gamification and ungrading. Paper submitted to the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STHLE) Conference.
Irwin, M. & King, S. (June, 2024). Transforming writing support: Embedded writing for student success and writing centre resilience. Paper accepted at the European Writing Centre Association (EWCA) Conference.
Irwin, M & King, S. (May, 2024). CWCA. Transforming writing support: Embedded writing for student success and writing centre resilience. Paper submitted to the Canadian Writing Centre Association (CWCA) Conference.
Irwin, M. (April, 2024). Student engagement for the win: Fostering equitable and inclusive student investment in learning through gamification and ungrading. Paper accepted for the CTL Celebration of Teaching and Faculty Showcase.
King, S. & Irwin, M. (May, 2023). Workshop on online course-based writing retreats. Paper presented at the Canadian Writing Centre Association (CWCA) Conference.
King, S. & Irwin, M. (April, 2023). Partnerships that empower: The opportunities of embedded writing instruction. Paper presented at the CTL Celebration of Teaching and Faculty Showcase.
Irwin, M. (May 2021). Creative expressive writing as new literacy practice in a middle school classroom. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE).
Irwin, M. (April, 2021). Creative expressive writing as EAP writing practice in support of the affective turn in second language writing studies. Paper presented at the 2021 American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Irwin, M. (November 2019). L. Ramon Veal Research Seminar, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Baltimore, MD.
Irwin, M. (October 2019), A New Grammar: Narrative methods in an ELL classroom. Paper presented at the Academic Writing and English Language Learners (AWELL) Conference, Halifax, NS.
Irwin, M. (May 2018). (Re)visioning expressive writing: A critical writing pedagogy for confidence, skill, and negotiated meaning. Paper presented at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE), Regina, SASK.
Irwin, M. & Irwin, S. (2017). Light Up Write: Using the Power of Neuroplasticity through Writing to Build the Habits of Peace and Positivity.Paper presented at the 23rd Annual Summer Conference of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives of Learning, Estes Park, CO.
Irwin, M. (February 2017). Charged Spaces: Using Expressive Writing to Catalyze Consciousness. Paper presented at the 2017 Provoking Curriculum Conference at McGill University, Montreal, PQ
Irwin, M. (April 2016). Expressive Writing: A Gateway to Creative Composing. Paper presented at the 2016 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC), Houston, TX.
Irwin, M. (June 2015). Two Sides of the Same Coin: Using “transpersonal” writing for holistic teaching and learning. Paper presented at the 21st Annual Summer Conference of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives of Learning, Estes Park, CO.
Irwin, M., & Miller, J. (April 2015). Presence of Mind: A qualitative study of meditating teachers. Paper presented at the 2015 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Miller, J., Irwin, M., & Nigh, K. (April 2015). Teaching from the Thinking Heart: The Practice of Holistic Education. Paper presented at the 2015 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Irwin, M. (March 2015). Teaching and Teacher Effects of Meditation Practice. Paper presented at the 15th Annual Dean’s Graduate Student Research Conference, OISE/University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Irwin, M. (June 2014). Forcing a Crisis: An anti-oppression writing workshop. Paper presented at the Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference, Omaha, NE.
Irwin, M. (May 2014). A Happy Talent: Writers at play. Paper presented at the Canadian Creative Writers and Writing Program (CCWWP) Conference, Vancouver, BC.
Irwin, M. (October 2013). Writing will set you free: An anti-oppression expressive writing pedagogy. Paper presented at the Holistic Education Conference, Orillia, ON.
Irwin, M. (November 2012). Workshopping the Workshop. Paper presented at the NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education) Conference, York, UK.
Affiliations
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- Assembly for Expanded Perspectives of Learning (AEPL)
- Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE)
- Canadian Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
- Canadian Writing Centre Association (CWCA)
- Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC)
- National Conference for Teacher of English (NCTE)
- Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STHLE)
- TESOL Canada
Timeline
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream (part-time)
Centre For Teaching And Learning
2022.01 - Current
Faculty Member (full-time)
International Foundation Program, New College
2017.09 - 2022.04
Head of English Department, English Teacher
Hawthorn School For Girls
2006.09 - 2013.06
Doctor of Philosophy - Curriculum, Teaching And Learning
OISE/University of Toronto
Master of Education - Language And Literacy Education
OISE/ University of Toronto
Master of Fine Arts in Writing -
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Science - Psychology And Sociology
University of Toronto
Master of Pastoral Studies - Certificate in Psychotherapy
Emmanuel College/University of Toronto
- Strategy Execution for Public Leadership, Harvard Business School Online - 25 Hours
- TESOL Certificate, University of Toronto - 1 year, full-time
- Novel Writing Certificate, Stanford University Online - 2 years, part-time
,
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