Our Team
Leadership Team
Dr. Hugh McKenzie
Director
Associate Dean, Scholarly Outreach & Engagement
Associate Professor, Anthropology, Economics & Political Science
MacEwan University
Hugh is currently the Associate Dean of Scholarly Outreach and Engagement in the Office of Research Services. In this role, he is working to support and enhance MacEwan’s community engaged research. He is excited to welcome everyone to MacEwan in May 2025.
Dr. Emily Milne
Conference Chair
Associate Professor, Sociology
MacEwan University
Dr. Emily Milne is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at MacEwan University. She is a community-engaged researcher who uses theory and research methods to address and inform priority areas in education policy and practice and teacher education, contribute to public understanding and discourse, and co-create solutions to social issues with community partners. She works primarily with schools and school divisions because she believes in the education system, but she also believes it can be better and she wants to be part of making it better. Her work is informed by a social responsibility and desire to engage in the co-creation of knowledge and understanding with community partners to advance educational equity and support students’ ability to achieve their academic potential and goals.
Meagan Auer
Project Manager
Community Engagement Facilitator
MacEwan University
Meagan Auer (she/her) is the Community Engagement facilitator in MacEwan's Office of Research Services, and a Ph.D. Candidate in the department of political science at the University of Alberta. Meagan brings a wealth of experience to her role as Project Manager for the C2UExpo, having managed special projects across diverse post-secondary institutions for almost 10 years. To learn more about Meagan, visit https://meaganauer.com.
Committee Chairs
Alannah Penny
Co-Chair - Event Planning & Logistics
Office of Research Services
MacEwan University
Alannah Penny is the newly appointed Community Engagement Events Coordinator with MacEwan University's Office of Research Services. With several years of event curation experience at MacEwan, Alannah brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to her role as co-chair of the Event Planning & Logistics Working Group. She looks forward to working alongside the talented team behind the 2025 C2UExpo and engaging with the wider community to cultivate an enriching experience for all attendees.
Dr. Françoise Cadigan
Co-Chair - Student & Volunteer Engagement
Associate Professor, Human Resource Management
MacEwan University
Françoise Cadigan is an Assistant Professor of Human Resource Management (HRM) at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include talent management, decision-making, manager preferences for different types of employees, and the effects of artificial intelligence on HRM decision-making.
Dr. Heather Fitzsimmons-Frey
Chair - Programming
Associate Professor, Arts & Cultural Management
MacEwan University
Heather Fitzsimmons Frey, Associate Professor and Chair in Arts and Cultural Management, is a community-engaged researcher focused on youth engagement in the arts and cultural sector. Her methodologies include archival and qualitative research, creative and performance-based inquiry, and performance-based historiography. Current SSHRC and MacEwan funded projects include Elm Tree Theatre (elmtreetheatre.ca), creating immersive theatre experiences for early years (ages 1 – 5) audiences; and the Young People are the Future project (yptf.ca) examining historically dressed interpretation, and youth engagement in living history museums. Her research is published in multiple journals including Canadian Theatre Review, Girlhood Studies, Research In Drama in Education, Performance Matters, and Theatre Research International, and she is a co-author (with Stuart Poyntz and Julian Sefton-Green) of Youthsites: Histories of Creativity, Care, and Learning in the City (OUP 2023). With a heart for creative and interdisciplinary thinking, and for gathering people to reimagine through multiple perspectives, she is committed to MacEwan’s Interdisciplinary Dialogue Project.
Kealey Dube
Co-Chair - Student & Volunteer Engagement
Assistant Professor
MacEwan University
Kealey Dube (she/her/hers) is a social worker specializing in children's mental health, with a focus on family social work and supporting children and youth impacted by trauma. In 2021, Kealey transitioned to a faculty role at the School of Social Work, MacEwan University. Her current interests include community-engaged scholarship and student partnerships. Committed to social justice, equity, and truth and reconciliation, Kealey integrates these principles into her teaching and scholarship. She empowers students to tackle real-world challenges through collaborative, hands-on experiences. Passionate about creating inclusive learning environments, she advocates for students as active contributors in research and practice.
Rebecca Kerrison
Co-Chair - Marketing & Communications
Marketing Consultant
MacEwan University
Rebecca Kerrison is the Marketing and Communications consultant In MacEwan’s Office of Research Services and is a MacEwan University alumni with a Bachelor of Communications from the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communication. Rebecca believes that marketing is essential to the success of any event and can help communities connect with each other. Rebecca brings to the table great experience in event marketing with her past positions in marketing community events. Rebecca is proud to be a part of the C2UExpo 2025 and looking forward to trying new marketing strategies and growing her skills in leadership.
Wayne Williams
Chair - Marketing & Communications
Assistant Professor, Design
MacEwan University
Wayne Williams is an Assistant Professor in MacEwan’s Design Program, and a recent recipient of MacEwan’s Distinguished Teaching Award. His academic work centers on community-engaged scholarship, genre theory and visual communication, knowledge visualization, and communities of practice. Applying design thinking to non-traditional design problems, bridging the gap between academic and practical spheres, Wayne aims to enhance our understanding of how design can address societal issues, emphasizing the importance of a community-focused, visually communicative methodology in research. Through conference presentations and collaborative research efforts Wayne is committed to fostering dialogue and exchange within the academic community. Through these scholarly endeavors, Wayne strives to enrich both the theoretical and practical dimensions of design, advocating for its role in creating meaningful social change.
Barb Hudkins
Chair - Finance
Facilitator, Careers & Experience
MacEwan University
Barb's commitment to lifelong learning is evident in her pursuit of growth, insightfulness, and understanding through continuing education. She firmly believes that high-quality education should be accessible to everyone. Barb holds a Bachelor of Education, a Graduate Certificate in Corporate Social Innovation, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership. As an experiential learning facilitator at MacEwan University, she has supported work-integrated learning opportunities that bridge authentic workplace experiences with higher education classrooms in a meaningful and intentional way. Additionally, Barb has built strong relationships with community partners who eagerly engage with post-secondary institutions. She has extensive experience in advocating, engaging, and networking with all stakeholders, ensuring that educational initiatives are inclusive and beneficial for all involved. Her passion for education and community collaboration underscores her dedication to fostering environments where learning and practical experience coalesce to prepare students for successful careers.
Gail Kesslar
Co-Chair - Community Outreach
Applied Research, Business Development Officer
NorQuest College
Gail Kesslar is an Applied Research, Business Development Officer. With over 20 years of project management and administration experience. Known for her relationship building skills and her ability to collaborate, Kesslar is also known for her ability to ideate and activate projects from the ground up. With extensive experience in managing both projects and diverse teams, she also brings added value to projects through her communications and marketing expertise. A former Project Manager of Research and Academic Innovation’s Autism CanTech! project, the VR Soft Skills Training, and Unity Higher Ed XR Grant, she sees and values Applied Research as a powerful tool that can help both community organizations and industry to solve challenges while simultaneously elevating individuals from equity-seeking groups.
Jennifer Sibbald
Chair - Childcare
Manager, Early Learning at MacEwan
MacEwan University
Jennifer Sibbald is the Manager for Early Learning at MacEwan (ELM). Since 1972, ELM has been a centre of innovation, research and education, providing quality childcare to the university community as well as the broader community. Jennifer has been in the field of Early Learning and Child Care for 14 years and recently completed a Master of Arts in Innovative Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado. She is passionate about advocating for children’s rights to be seen and heard, we do this by attuning ourselves to listen to the voices of young children. Jennifer recognizes the importance of creating a community of learners by building nurturing relationships.
Dr. Leanne Hedberg
Co-Chair - Community Outreach
Director, Social Innovation Institute
MacEwan University
Dr. Leanne Hedberg is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Social Innovation Institute at MacEwan University. As a community-engaged scholar, Dr. Hedberg has facilitated several cross-sector community collaborations on resilient & accessible food systems and, most recently, on inclusive entrepreneurship. When she’s not working, you can likely find her at a dog park pretending that one of the dogs is hers.
Samantha Franke
Co-Chair - Event Planning & Logistics
Event Coordinator
MacEwan University
Samantha is an event coordinator from MacEwan University’s Conference and Event Services Department. Her role allows her to assist internal and external clients in planning events hosted on campus. Some of her favourite events she has worked on include the Indigenous Youth Conference, Take Me to MacEwan, Early Learning at MacEwan’s 50th Anniversary, Downtown Campus Block Party and the Brain Freeze Festival. She loves a challenge and learning new skills and is thrilled to be part of the C2U team! One of her goals for this event is to push herself to think of ways that sustainability can be integrated into the logistical planning.
Dr. Yuwaraj (Raj) Narnaware
Co-Chair - Programming
Associate Professor, Nursing
Macewan University
Dr. Raj Narnaware is an Associate Professor at the Department of Human Health & Sciences, Faculty of Nursing at MacEwan University. He teaches human anatomy and physiology in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) and Psychiatric Nursing (PBN). As a researcher and educator, he is involved in several Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects focusing on the efficacy of modern, cutting-edge teaching technologies to improve student knowledge in anatomy and physiology. In addition, he is also involved in evaluating the knowledge retention of his subjects and introducing active learning pedagogies as robust interventional strategies to improve long-term knowledge retention in nursing students.
Steering Committee
Community Partner Group
Ana-Maria Ortega (Edmonton Hispanic Women's Support Society)
Annaliese Pope (MacEwan University)
Barb Hudkins (MacEwan University)
Brad Odsen (MacEwan University)
Dr. Cynthia Puddu (MacEwan University)
Daniel Stadnicki (MacEwan University)
Elli Dehnavi
Dr. Emilene Reisdorfer (MacEwan University)
Dr. Emily Milne (MacEwan University)
Dr. Francoise Cadigan (MacEwan University)
Dr. Heather Fitzsimmons-Frey (MacEwan University)
Dr. Hugh McKenzie (MacEwan University)
Dr. Jennifer Long (MacEwan University)
Jeremy Albert (MacEwan University)
Dr. Kaitlyn Towle (MacEwan University)
Kealey Dube (MacEwan University)
Lan Chan-Marples (VPRI Research Partners Network)
Dr. Leanne Hedberg (MacEwan University)
Lisa Bélanger (Rural Development Network)
Meagan Auer (MacEwan University)
Melanie St.Onge (Edmonton Public Library)
Dr. Michael MacDonald (MacEwan University)
Olle Lagerquist (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology)
Preethi Gorecki (MacEwan University)
Dr. Raj Narnaware (MacEwan University)
Rebecca Kerrison (MacEwan University)
Robyn Hall (MacEwan University)
Samantha Franke (MacEwan University)
Sandy Robertson (City of Edmonton)
Sarah Dotimas (Bissell Centre)
Shannon Loughran (MacEwan University)
Wayne Williams (MacEwan University)
Allan Undheim (United Way - Alberta Capital Region)
Allan Waine (Edmonton Unlimited)
Alvin Finkel (Alberta Labour History Institute)
Alyse Pearce (Athabasca University)
Ana-Maria Ortega (Edmonton Hispanic Women's Support Society)
Anita Kemp (Mount Royal University)
Ayantika Mukherjee (University of Alberta)
Cheryl Whiskeyjack (Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society)
Cindie LeBlanc (Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board)
Davey Thompson (McNally High School)
Desh Mittra (Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation)
Elli Dahnavi (NorQuest College)
Dr. Francesco Mosaico (Radius Health & Healing)
Gail Kesslar (NorQuest College)
Dr. Hugh McKenzie (MacEwan University)
Ingrid Hoogenboom (City of Edmonton)
Jacob Montgomery (EPS - "HELP")
Jeff Shon (Edmonton Unlimited)
Jessica Scalzo (Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity)
Joy Vonk (Rural Development Network)
JP Armstrong (NorQuest College)
Julie Hallonquist (Edmonton Police Service)
Karen Edwards (Community University Partnership (CUP) - Ualberta)
Karen Gall (Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation)
Kass Green (Boyle Street Community Services)
Kate McIntosh (City of Edmonton)
Katherine Hancock (EPS - "HELP")
Kelta Coomber (City of Edmonton)
Lan Chan-Marples (VPRI Research Partners Network)
Lara Pinchbeck (Centre for Healthy Communities)
Laura Cunningham-Shpeley (Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues)
Lindsay Swyrd (Explore Edmonton)
Ling Huang (Technology North)
Lisa Bélanger (Rural Development Network)
Lucy Lu (Third Space Playback Theatre)
Megan Schuring (The Mustard Seed)
Mei Hung (Chinese Benevolent Association of Edmonton)
Melanie St.Onge (Edmonton Public Library)
Mike Reeves (NorQuest College)
Olle Lagerquist (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT))
Paula Polman (Aquatic Biosphere Society of Canada)
Pauline Smale (The FamliyCentre of Northern Alberta)
Puneeta McBryan (Edmonton Downtown Business Association)
Rachel Lucier (EPS - "HELP")
Regan Willms (Concordia University of Edmonton)
Reisa Klein (University of Alberta)
Sandy Robertson (City of Edmonton)
Sarah Dotimas (Bissell Centre)
Sarah Smyth (NorQuest College)
Shannon Loughran (MacEwan University)
Shawn Tse (Boyle Street Community League)
Stephanie Lynch (Explore Edmonton)
Susan McGee (Homeward Trust)
Tanya Laughren (Edmonton Police Service)
Taylor Varro (Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board)
Teena Hughson (Town of Morinville)
Tracy Dalzell-Heise (Town of Morinville)
Trevor Prentice (Telus World of Science Education (TWOSE))
Tricia Smith (Radius Health & Healing)
Vasant Chotai (Canadians for a Civil Society)
Wesley Andreas (City of Edmonton)
Yasushi Okhi (Green Violin)
Childcare
Brittany Amot (MacEwan University)
Jennifer Sibbald (MacEwan University)
Dr. Natalia Rohatyn-Martin (MacEwan University)
Finance
Barb Hudkins (MacEwan University)
Dr. Kaitlyn Towle (MacEwan University)
Lan Chan-Marples (VPRI Research Partners Network)
Marketing & Communications
Adam Houston (MacEwan University)
Matt Gaudet (MacEwan University)
Preethi Gorecki (MacEwan University)
Rebecca Kerrison (MacEwan University)
Taryn Fritz (MacEwan University)
Wayne Williams (MacEwan University)
Event Planning & Logistics
Alannah Penny (MacEwan University)
Joy Vonk (Rural Development Network)
Kealey Dube (MacEwan University)
Lindsay Swyrd (Explore Edmonton)
Samantha Franke (MacEwan University)
Sarah Smyth (NorQuest College)
Programming
Barb Hudkins (MacEwan University)
Carolyn Jervis (MacEwan University)
Dr. Cristina Anton (MacEwan University)
Daniel Stadnicki (MacEwan University)
Dr. Emilene Reisdorfer (MacEwan University)
Franco (Frank) Saccucci (MacEwan University)
Dr. Heather Fitzsimmons-Frey (MacEwan University)
JP Armstrong (NorQuest College)
Dr. Kaitlyn Towle (MacEwan University)
Karen Edwards (Community University Partnership)
Kealey Dube (MacEwan University)
Lan Chan-Marples (VPRI Research Partners Network)
Larysa Hayduk (MacEwan University)
Lee Iverson (MacEwan University)
Lindsey Whitson (MacEwan University)
Lisa Bélanger (Rural Development Network)
Mavis Leung (MacEwan University)
Dr. Raj Narnaware (MacEwan University)
Rebecca Stiller (MacEwan University)
Dr. Reisa Klein (University of Alberta)
Dr. Rodney Schmaltz (MacEwan University)
Sandy Robertson (City of Edmonton)
Sarah Dotimas (Bissell Centre)
Taryn Fritz (MacEwan University)
Dr. Theresa Chika-James (MacEwan University)
Tracy Whatmore (MacEwan University)
Vasant Chotai (Canadians for a Civil Society)
Community Outreach
Ana-Maria Ortega (Edmonton Hispanic Women's Support Society)
Ayantika Mukherjee (University of Alberta)
Bill Matthews (MacEwan University)
Dr. Cynthia Puddu (MacEwan University)
Daniel Stadnicki (MacEwan University)
Dr. Heather Fitzsimmons-Frey (MacEwan University)
Kealey Dube (MacEwan University)
Lan Chan-Marples (VPRI Research Partners Network)
Dr. Leanne Hedberg (MacEwan University)
Melanie St.Onge (Edmonton Public Library)
Regan Willms (Concordia University of Edmonton)
Sarah Dotimas (Bissell Centre)