I’ve been working with the Adventure Tourism Business Operations program since 2001, teaching ATBO 107: Natural Interpretation. I also teach COMP 153: Introduction to Data Processing, which I’ve been offering since 2007, as well as a range of Continuing Education classes focused on computer and office application skills. I first began teaching computer skills at College of the Rockies in 1994, and over the years I’ve also taught Adult Basic Education courses in English, math, and science. I’ve led basic literacy classes and worked in student education advising as well. It’s been a rewarding journey supporting learners at all levels and in so many different subject areas.
My academic background includes a college diploma in geology from Cambrian College and a B.A. in archaeology from the University of Calgary. I’ve worked across Canada in field roles involving archaeology, geology, geophysics, and surveying—everywhere from Quebec to British Columbia to Nunavut. For eight years, I worked with the Geological Survey of Canada’s Institute of Sedimentary and Petroleum Geology as a collections curator, joining expeditions to the Rockies and the Canadian high Arctic. I’ve also worked as a professional ski patroller and snow reporter.
I stay engaged with current research in ecology, archaeology, anthropology, and geology. Even in my seventies, I remain active outdoors—hiking, cross-country skiing, sea kayaking, and I especially enjoy glacier ascents.
I rely heavily on visuals in the classroom, using PowerPoint to add depth to lectures and spark curiosity. I love bringing in real-world objects and 3D models to illustrate concepts, and I incorporate movement and body language to make ideas stick. In Natural Interpretation, I take students into the field so they can connect learning directly to the landscape, and I have them lead presentations so they can practice communicating their knowledge with confidence.
I’m a firm believer in lifelong learning—and that we learn best by doing. I do my best to bring that mindset to every class I teach, and I hope my students carry it with them long after the course ends.