Nina Johnson

Passionate educator who thrives on student interaction. Possesses academic advising experience working with individual students to plan for graduation. ESL and EML teaching experience mentoring and supporting international students. Training in Intercultural Education and competencies. Familiar with recruitment and retention issues for international students and students-at-risk. Varied experience consulting, collaborating, and researching with departments, units, and committees across the TRU campus. Skilled public speaker and facilitator who has planned, promoted, and delivered many workshops and orientations for faculty, staff, and students.

2019 DegreeWorks Training, TRU

• Completed software training with DegreeWorks in anticipation of improvements to the advising process intended to help students track their progress towards graduation

2010-2019 Student Advisor, EML Department, TRU English Majors and Minors

• Assisted students with the development of graduation pathways
• Evaluated transfer credits from other institutions, nationally and internationally

Possess an intimate knowledge of TRU's commitment to academic accountability to students, their academic success, and pathways to graduation.

2019-2020 TRU General Education Taskforce

• Acted as an elected representative for the Faculty of Arts.
• Participated on many of the working groups to craft the language for the new TRU Institutional Learning Outcomes.

*Communication and Citizenship

*Connection and Engagement

*Citizenship and Lifelong Learning

*Knowledge

*High-Impact Practices and Capstone

• Facilitated a curriculum mapping exercise, using three TRU degree programs to test the effectiveness of the model.
• Co-facilitated the Communications ILO Focus Group which solicited feedback from students, staff, and faculty.
• Crafted the language for the Communications ILO course designation tool.
• Acted as lead for the Communications ILO course designation vetting team.
• Personally evaluated over 400 courses for the Communications and HIPS ILO course designations.

2018-2020 TRU Teaching Fellow, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

• The CELT Teaching Fellows offered workshops to facilitate the development of program learning outcomes and curriculum maps across disciplines at TRU.
• Personally facilitated multi-stage workshops for PLO and curriculum map development in the departments of English, Modern Languages, Sociology, Anthropology, MBA, and the MA in Human Rights and Social Justice.

2019-2020 Learning Outcomes and Assessment Taskforce (LOATF)

• Collaborated to create TRU principles and procedures to guide institutional program level learning outcomes assessment.
• As part of the NWCCU Accreditation, we were tasked by the Office of the Provost to delineate in a clear, and accessible manner using a research-informed and broadly consultative approach, a process by which learning outcomes and assessment of learning is documented using a continuous improvement model.

2019-2020 Senate Student Success Committee

The responsibilities of the SSCS included:

1. To review and report to Senate on studies and research initiatives associated with student success that can assist the University in achieving the goals outlined in the University Strategic Priorities and the Academic Plan.

2. To recommend activities that will foster and promote student success across the University.

3. To develop working groups to explore specific aspects of student success

4. To advise Senate on policies related to student support and services.

5. To advise Faculties, Schools and the Senate on opportunities to foster and enhance linkages between student support activities, academic programs and learning outcomes.

6. To advise the Accreditation Steering Committee and report on mission fulfillment in relation to the core theme of Student Success.

* I formed the subcommittee which made recommendations to the Provost (June 2020) for TRU student orientation training for alternate delivery in the Fall 2020 semester.

* This initiative became the Learning Without Walls Platform.

2019-2020 Focus on First Year (FoFY)

• FoFY set goals for improving first-year student success and students' sense of belonging to our institution.
• My working group studied the 2018-2019 data from the Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC), and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
• We studied patterns of student enrolment and retention in the TRU Factbook: Fiscal Year 2018-2019.
• I met with the Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) committee to establish definitions of student success.

1997-2022 Associate Teaching Professor, English and Modern Languages, TRU

• Designed and delivered 12 courses over a period of 25 years
• Demonstrated a passion for student engagement and academic success as revealed by excellent teaching evaluations
• Continuously updated course materials, assignments, and assessments to best serve an increasingly international student demographic

2019-2020 TRU First-Year Success Working Group

• In response to high first-year attrition rates at TRU, the working group was formed to assess the first-year experience and develop a plan to apply best practices and create program opportunities.

2013-2017 Principal Researcher, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Project

(an intervention for at-risk students)

• Conducted 4 iterations of the classroom-based experiment which examined the ways in which contemplative practice using a finger labyrinth may reduce student anxiety, improve concentration, and enhance creativity
• Created a TRU Labyrinth and Wisdom Garden proposal as a student recruitment and retention initiative
• Contributed the TRU Labyrinth and Wisdom Garden plan to Earth and Sky: The TRU Outdoor Classrooms Project as part of the 2020 SIF proposal, led by Airini, Dean of Education and Social Work

2011 Interculturalizing the Curriculum Training

• Completed an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as an assessment of intercultural competence
• The IDI helped us to reflect on experiences of cultural differences and similarities in the context of of teacher-student relations, classroom management, course design, and educational policy.
• We became acquainted with recent scholarship in Intercultural Education and the changing demographics of university populations.

Undergraduate Student Mentorship

2016-2020 Global Competency Credential

• Provided student feedback and assessment semi-annually on the Reflective Essay required for the Global Competency Credential.

2018 Service Learning Mentorship , Sarah Miller, Teaching Assistant in ENGL 1100

• Collaborated with Jenna Goddard (Writing Centre Coordinator) and Elizabeth Templeman (Supplemental Learning) to provide a TRU student with workshop tutoring experience.

2012, 2018 TRU Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference

• Evaluated student posters

2017 TRU Undergraduate Research Conference, Research Assistant

• Payton Comazzetto presented a poster based on the findings of the Mindfulness Collective research project at the TRU Undergraduate Research Conference.

2016 Reviewer, TRU Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference

Proceedings

• Provided writing feedback on an article titled "Raising an Infant in a Jumpsuit: Prison Nurseries" by Kelsey Marie Arnouse.

2014-2015 Research Assistant Mentorship

• Over the Fall 2014 and Winter 2015 semesters (90 hours), Ms. Chretien facilitated with surveys, organized focus groups, completed data transcription, and invigilated exams for my research project.

2014 TRU Undergraduate Research and Innovation Conference

• Supervised Olga Fomicheva, a Russian international student, in my Fall 2013 ENGL 1100 class, who presented a paper at the 2014 TRU Undergraduate Research Conference.

Supervision of Students to Academic Conferences

2014 Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP),

Seattle WA, Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2014

• Acted as the faculty sponsor for the TRU Fiction Club, and helped to organize the CUEF grant to pay for five TRU Creative Writing students to attend.
• Chaperoned the students to the AWP conference, which is the largest creative writing conference in North America hosting 10,700 attendees, 600 exhibitors, and 430 events.

2014 Canadian Creative Writers and Writing Programs (CCWWP) Conference,

Vancouver, BC, UBC, May 15-18, 2014

• Acted as the faculty sponsor/chaperone for the TRU Fiction Club, and helped to organize the CUEF grant to pay for two first-year Creative Writing students to attend the 2014 CCWWP Conference.

2012 Canadian Creative Writers and Writing Programs (CCWWP) Conference,

Toronto, May 10-13, 2012

• Initiated a CUEF grant for a group of five TRU Creative Writing students to attend the CCWWP Conference

2012 Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP),

Chicago, Feb. 29-Mar. 3, 2012

• Acted as the faculty sponsor/chaperone for the TRU Fiction Club, and helped to organize the CUEF grant to pay for five TRU Creative Writing students to attend.

2008 Faculty Supervisor of TRU Students at AWP Conference,

New York, Jan. 30 - Feb. 2, 2008

• Acted as the faculty sponsor/chaperone for the TRU Fiction Club, and helped to organize the CUEF grant to pay for five TRU Creative Writing students to attend.

Student Advocacy: Letters of Reference

2023 Vittorio Carpino, Letter of Recommendation for the Ken Lepin Graduate Student

Award

2021 Julye-Anne McKenny, Letter of Reference for position as Junior Policy Analyst

2019 Breann Hodges, Letter of Reference for CUPE Local 401 Bursary

2017 Kailee Duncan, Letter of Reference for TRU Study Abroad, Southern Cross

University, Australia

2016 Megan Cairns, Letter of Reference for Study Abroad, Johannes Gutenberg

University, Germany

2016 Moira Laidlaw, Letter of Reference for Study Abroad, University of Chichester,

England

2014 Mariah Peters, Letter of Reference for MLAN Field school to Japan

2014 Moriah Smith, Letter of Reference for TRU Graduate Studies, MEd, Counseling

2013 Tia Kooner, Letter of Reference for Study Abroad, University of Chichester,

England

2012 Jillian Freiburghaus, Letter of Reference for Study Abroad, South Korea

2012 Christina Schrottner, Letter of Reference for Study Abroad, Austria

2012 Shalyn Pigeon, Letter of Reference in support of a TRU Bursary Application

2009 Daniel Geldart, Letter of Reference in support of a TRU Bursary Application

Marisa Azad, Advised in her Medical School and Rhodes Scholar applications

• All workshop and orientation organization, promotion, and presentations reflect professional experience liaising and collaborating with diverse groups of TRU departments, administration, staff, and students.
• All workshops and orientations demonstrate public speaking and group facilitation skills .

CELT WORKSHOPS

As Coordinator for the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), I organized, promoted, and presented three types of workshops:

1. CELT hosted teaching and learning sessions which were presented by TRU experts , external to CELT. I facilitated the planning, advertising, registration, and hosting of the events.

CELTalks, Faculty Engagement Series

• I created the 2019-2020 CELTalk Series. I coordinated 24 presenters, managed all scheduling, provided advertising copy, and hosted all the CELTalk events throughout the 2019-2020 year.

Tenure and Promotion Series

• In the transition to virtual spaces amid the CoVID-19 crisis, I planned and hosted the online facilitation of the entire June 2-5, 2020 Tenure and Promotion Workshop Series.

New Faculty Orientation

• August 19-20, 2019, I collaborated with the CELT team to organize a 2-day in-person event for new and returning faculty to prepare for a successful year of teaching.

*I created a new “speed dating” table rotation activity for faculty to meet all campus resource people and to build meaningful connections for future support.

*I coordinated all 18 campus resource groups.

*I created a participant worksheet to highlight resources, guide questions, and provide contact information for future reference.

• January 2, 2020, we offered a one-day condensed version of the August 2-day New Faculty Orientation.
• August 24-28, 2020, I organized and facilitated the entire week-long series of New Faculty Orientation Workshops.

*I hosted 15 sessions across the week, coordinating 32 presenters, and personally led 5 pedagogy workshops.

New Faculty Monthly Workshops (3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

• These monthly 2-hour workshops provided timely pedagogical support for faculty across the cycle of the semester.

Sept. 19 Academic Integrity with Elizabeth Rennie

Oct. 16 Classroom Assessment Techniques with Carolyn Ives and Nina Johnson

Nov. 21 Indigenization and Indigenous Education with Tina Matthew and Vernie Clement

Jan. 29 Campus Communications with Lucille Gnanasihamany

Feb. 12 Interculturalization with Amie McLean

May 5 Tenure and Promotion with Donna Petri

June 16 Student Evaluation Dashboard with Stephanie Klassenand Dana Prymak

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Faculty Workshops

• These 1-hour workshops provided SoTL support to faculty with their teaching and learning research projects.

Oct. 3 Ethics in SoTL with Debbie Krebs

Nov. 8 Undergraduate Student Research Journey Mapping with Sukh Matonovich and Will Garrett-Petts

Jan. 9 Participant project updates

2. The CELT Teaching and Learning workshops/series are co-planned and co-presented by myself and another CELT member.

You Got This! Create an Inspired First Day of Class (Aug. 28, 2019 and Jan. 3 2020—9am – 12 pm)

• This 3-hour workshop provided tools for student engagement including ice-breaker activities, syllabus tips, TRIZ exercise, and prior-knowledge assessment strategies.

Teaching Assistants' Orientation (Sept. 3, 2019 and Jan. 8, 2020—4:30 pm - 7:30 pm)

• This 3-hour workshop offered support for payroll, professional codes of conduct, and intercultural competencies for student teaching assistants.

Mini New Faculty Orientation (Sept. 12, 2019—11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

• This 3-hour workshop offered a condensed version of the August 2-day New Faculty Orientation.

Collaborative Learning Techniques, Faculty Workshops (Aug. 27-Sept. 24, 2019)

• These three 1-hour lunchtime workshops were based on the 2014 book Collaborative Learning Techniques: A handbook for college faculty by Barkley, Major, and Cross.

Student Engagement Techniques Series, Faculty Workshops (Jan. 9-Feb. 6, 2020)

• These three 1-hour workshops were based on the 2010 book Student Engagement Techniques by Elizabeth Barkley.
• Participants explored student engagement strategies, tried techniques in their classes and reported to the group.
• I created a 2-page TRU faculty resource for online student engagement techniques based on the principles and activities in Barkley's book.

CELT Workshops for Faculty, Williams Lake (Oct. 9-10, 2019)

• I traveled to the Williams Lake campus with Carolyn Ives and Brenna Clarke Gray to offer a series of pedagogical workshops for faculty.

Strategies for Engaging Students

• This 2-hour workshop was based on the 2010 book Student Engagement Techniques by Elizabeth Barkley.
• Participants experimented with a range of strategies including 1-2-4-All, Analytic Teams, Artifacts, Contemporary Issues Journals, Hearing the Subject, and Circular Response.

To Learn Well, You Need to Be Well: Mindfulness & Contemplative Education

• This 2.5-hour workshop introduced participants to the principles and benefits of contemplative pedagogy.
• Mindfulness practices which quiet the mind may reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and cultivate resilience thereby supporting pathways to student success.
• Participants experimented with finger labyrinths, and I guided a facilitated walk on the outdoor labyrinth at St. Andrew's United Church.

*The participant experience was very positive and the Williams Lake campus has since submitted a SIF proposal to create a walking labyrinth on their campus .

3. A CELT event/series is planned, presented, and/or facilitated by one of the CELT members.

Be Well, Teach Well, Learn Well Series (Jan. - Feb. 2020)

• I initiated a faculty teaching and learning wellness series.
• This series sparked an interdisciplinary conversation about wellness, pedagogy, and workplace practices which help faculty, administration, staff, and students to flourish.

General Education presentation at the Faculty of Arts Retreat (Dec. 3, 2019)

• I presented an overview of the GenEd principles and program structure as they apply to the Faculty of Arts.

TRU RECRUITMENT, STUDENT ORIENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS

2016, 2017, 2019 Faculty of Arts Open House, October

• Students and their parents attended an introductory Faculty of Arts session wherein I promoted the EML Department and the Creative Writing Program.

2018 TRU Day of Arts and Science

• Offered a 50-minute Creative Writing workshop for 25 high school students.

2016, 2017 Faculty of Arts Student Orientation Day, September

• I led a group of first-year Arts students on a scavenger hunt and guided tour of the campus.

2016, 2017 TRU Open House, April

• Students and their parents attended an introductory Faculty of Arts session wherein I promoted the EML Department and the Creative Writing Program.

2015-2017 Cariboo Mainline Regional Arts and Science Fair, April

• Groups of 10-14 year-olds attended 25-minute activity sessions showcasing various disciplines on campus.
• I offered a session on “The Labyrinth and Creativity” to promote the Creative Writing Minor in the EML department, and creativity in the Faculty of Arts.

2014 Arts Mentors Stress Busters Event

• I hosted an interactive Stress Buster booth where students could experiment with a range of vinyl, wooden, paper, and ceramic finger labyrinths, and learn more about anxiety/stress management through mindfulness practices.

2010 TRU Arts Student Orientation Day

• Created posters to advertise the new technologies/services being offered by the TRU Writing Centre, hosted the TRU Writing Centre table, and assisted with the Scavenger Hunt.