Joanne Weber has been named the first-ever Canada Research Chair in Deaf Education.

“This is very exciting news because this appointment is the result of decades of hard work by the Canadian Deaf communities to secure the recognition of the federal government of the role of American Sign Language (ASL), Langue de Signe Quebecois (LSQ) and Indigenous Sign Languages in the lives of Deaf Canadians.”

Congratulations and sincere gratitude to Linda Brittain, Regional Placement Coordinator in Undergraduate Student Services, for 40 amazing years of service in the Faculty of Education!

Fall Convocation 2020 will see the inaugural cohort of the Health and Physical Education Master of Education students graduate. Led by Elementary Education professors Doug Gleddie and Hayley Morrison and Secondary Education professor Lauren Sulz, the program is designed to allow teachers to pursue their master’s degree over two years through a combination of online courses and a two-week in-person component in each summer of the program.

This fall has looked very different from previous years in the Faculty of Education. To protect the health and safety of students and faculty, the vast majority of our courses are being delivered remotely this semester, while most staff provide support from their home offices.

School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) alumna and former faculty member Heidi Julien says that a library and information studies degree is a passport. Looking at her CV, it would be easy to take Julien’s assertion literally.

The word “unprecedented” is getting a lot of use in 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic and its attendant effects continue to impact the entire globe. Counseling psychology doctoral student Larissa Brosinsky says there’s a secondary impact that likewise has no parallel: a “mental health pandemic” brought about by unrelieved worry, uncertainty and isolation as jurisdictions strive to bring the disease under control.

The Faculty of Education has a proud tradition not only of producing great educators, psychologists and information studies professionals, but great research. Here are some recent stories you may have missed about UAlberta education researchers and the important work they do to improve teaching, learning and professional practice in Alberta, in Canada and around the world.

Congratulations to the following Education faculty members, staff and students who have achieved distinction and have recently been acknowledged for their impactful work, both within and beyond the academic community.

As the pandemic wears on, social distancing, self-isolation and other public health measures intended to stop the spread of COVID-19 are affecting everyone. We asked Education alumni how they’re maintaining a positive outlook and finding joy during these challenging times.

The University of Alberta Faculty of Education has once again been ranked in the top three Faculties of Education in Canada by Maclean’s Magazine’s 2021 University Rankings.

The UAlberta Faculty of Education was ranked third in both program reputation and research reputation. The University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto were tied for top spot in both categories.