Purpose:
The Community Advisory Board (CAB) is as an advisory body for the Centre for Community Engagement and Social Change (CCESC) at Queen’s University. The CAB provides guidance, cultivates collaboration and ensures that the Centre’s work remains responsive to the priorities and needs of Queen’s University, the broader Kingston community, and beyond.
The goals for the Community Advisory are to:
- Provide overall strategic, visionary, fiduciary, and policy oversight and guidance for the Centre, its priorities, and relevant initiatives.
- Review and provide evaluations for major projects, proposals, funding opportunities, budgets, and reports.
- Provide a valuable connection to relevant local, national, and international communities, initiatives, programs and/or funders
- Participate in emergent discussions, issues, and developments that may have wide-reaching implications for the Centre and assist in determining appropriate responses and/or action.
- Tracking and assessing overall action plan/ outcome progress on an annual basis
- Liaison with members of relevant partners/organizations/groups to ensure their needs are being met by ongoing initiatives, research, and outreach.
- Propose new initiatives, outcomes, policies in response to feedback and community needs.
Community Advisory Board Members
The CAB aims to reflect a diversity of lived experiences, cultures and communities and academic
disciplines, with particular attention to historically excluded communities in education, including but
not limited to Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ and disability communities. We recognize the
intersectionality of identities and seek members who bring both lived experience and deep
engagement in their communities. Membership is not intended to place the burden of
representation on individuals, but rather to promote a collaborative and inclusive space where
diverse insights guide the Centre’s work in a meaningful and ethical way.
Hill Werth
Community Youth Representative
Hill Werth is an internationally recognized mixed media artist and activist, focused on celebrating underrepresented individuals in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
They launched the Hate has no home here campaign in 2023 which has since spread across Canada promoting safe spaces to all members of the Kingston community, providing a “peaceful way to combat hate against all marginalized groups who have faced, and continue to face, discrimination.”
They have been an invited guest speaker across K-12 schools and tertiary institutions, spearking visibility, awareness and representation to the trans, non-binary, and wider 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
They were a member of the USA national bobsled team, and completed their Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University.
Dr. Alana Butler
Queen's University
Dr. Alana Butler is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University. In 2015, she graduated with a Ph.D. in Education from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She joined Queen’s University in 2017 and currently teaches in the Bachelor of Education program as well as the Graduate Studies program. Her research interests include the academic achievement of low-socio economic students, race and schooling, equity and inclusion, and multicultural education.
She is currently Principal Investigator on a 2019 Insight Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for a study on post-secondary access for low-income youth. She is co-investigator on a number of projects funded by SSHRC including a 2022 Partnership Grant on Sub-Saharan African immigrants, a 2021 Partnership Engage Grant on the academic outcomes and well-being of foster children, and a 2021 Partnership Engage Grant on anti-oppressive, anti-racist pedagogy for secondary schools. Her scholarly work has been published in the Canadian Journal of Education, Gender and Education, and Canadian Ethnic Studies.
Dr. Kelly Maracle
Queen's University
O’nahkwi:yo Kelly Maracle is a Mohawk woman and member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte at Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Kelly has held numerous roles in the field of Indigenous education over the past 20 years including K-12, adult education, post-secondary education, and administration. She is a mother of three children and sits with the Turtle clan.
Kelly’s areas of focus are developing culturally responsive, Land-Based educational programming and Trauma Informed Practice. She completed her Masters of Education in the World Indigenous Studies in Education program at Queen’s University, with research in plant-based teachings, Land-Based Indigenous Knowledge and pollinator gardens. “I am always inspired by my late father, who firmly believed in the power of education.”
Dr. Nicole Bobbette
Queen's University
Dr. Nicole Bobbette is an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy in the faculty of health sciences. She holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Science and an MSc in Occupational Therapy.
Dr. Nicole Bobbette's research has focused primarily on supporting the health and well-being of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, as well as family and paid care-partners. Her current research projects include Promoting brain health, Strengthening the Capacity of Occupational Therapy to Practice in Collaborative Primary Care Teams, and identifying optimal primary care models for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario.
Dr. Wendy Craig
Special Advisor to the Principal, Queen’s University
Dr. Wendy Craig is a professor in the department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research program focuses on bullying, victimization, healthy relationships, and knowledge mobilization – moving research into practise and practise into research. Over the past 30 years, she has examined bullying and victimization from a developmental psychopathology perspective. She regularly speaks to parents and educators. She has published widely on topics of bullying and victimization, peer processes, sexual harassment and aggression in girls. She was editor of a volume on childhood social development.
Dr. Craig has co-authored two books on Juvenile Delinquency and Social Development as well as numerous book chapters and articles. As a Canadian representative, Dr. Craig works with the World Health Organization and UNICEF conducting research and promoting healthy relationships. She is an international leader in research on bullying.
Dr. Erin Clow
Director of Experiential Learning, Loyalist College
Dr. Erin Clow is the Director of Experiential Learning at Loyalist College, integrating experiential learning opportunities into diverse curricula. She is an award-winning leader in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), with expertise in EDI leaderships, innovative program development, and teaching and training excellence. She has a Ph.D. in Political Studies from Queen’s University and has served as an adjunct professor, associate director of education and learning, and Education and training Advisor for the Human rights and Equity Office. She also serves as a board member at interwoven connections as on the special education advisory committee at Limestone district school board.
Dr. Scott Compeau
Associate Director Innovation and Education, Boys and Girls Club
Dr. Scott Compeau is the director of innovation and education at the Boys and Girls Club South East. His work is focused on foundational skills related to literacy, STEM and forging interdisciplinary connections in Education. Scott is a former K-12 teacher with a He has a degree in Engineering and his Ph.D from Queen’s University. He is committed to forming reciprocal partnerships to improve access and elevate learning for young people in his community.
Michael Blackburn
Principal, Educational Services LDSB
Michael Blackburn is a principal of educational services with the Limestone District School Board in Kingston, Ontario. He has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Cherles Sturt University in Australia. His work is focused on current special education supports and services and enhancing how we meet the needs of all learners while fostering an inclusive learning environment. He has been a speaker and facilitator for George Hull Centre for Children and Families
Helen Simson
President, Kingston Learning Disabilities Association
Helen Simson is a resident of the Kingston Learning Disabilities Association of Kingston. She is dedicated to listening and collaborating with community voices, especially parents and caregivers of children with learning disabilities.