Catherine Etmanski

Catherine Etmanski, PhD, is a Professor in the School of Leadership Studies (SLS). Since joining RRU in 2012, she has served in a number of administrative and service roles, including as SLS School Director, Program Head or Acting Program Head for three leadership programs, Thesis Coordinator, member of the Research Ethics Board, Accessibility Advisory Committee, Internal Communications Advisory Committee, Guiding Committee for RRU Food Production, Prevention & Response to Sexual Violence & Misconduct Advisory Committee, Diversity Action group, University Conversions and Promotions Committee, RRUFA Member at Large, ALT/SEM/Curriculum Committee-Extended, and more. As a committed organizational citizen, Catherine now seeks an appointment on Academic Council to better understand University governance, leverage her current knowledge of the organization, and promote enhanced communication as we move through this time of transition, uncertainty, and turbulence.

Catherine enjoys working collaboratively and endeavours to promote creativity and mutual learning through her leadership and scholarship, for example through university initiatives such as the “Walk with Me” events held in 2018 and 2019 and various webinars, trainings, guest speakers, and other learning opportunities organized with and for the RRU community over the years.

Catherine is an avid writer and endeavours to reach multiple audiences through her scholarship (peer reviewed publications, blogs, creative contributions, websites, workshops, conferences etc.). She has also edited, or co-edited books and special issues of journals related to: “Food leadership: Leadership and adult learning in global food systems transformation”, "Adult learning through collaborative leadership", "Learning and teaching community-based research: Linking pedagogy to practice", and “Engagement through the arts.”

As a reflexive educator, Catherine is committed to continual learning in her teaching practice. She seeks to integrate new methods, ideas, and materials on a regular basis. For example, she is currently learning more about Trauma-Informed Pedagogy. Prior to joining RRU, Catherine was an instructor of leadership (Faculty of Education) and community development (School of Public Administration) at the University of Victoria (UVic). She has been teaching online and designing online curriculum since 2005. She also worked with UVic’s (then called) Office of Community Based Research, conducting outreach and education.

She has served as a volunteer or board member with Canadian Crossroads International, the Martha Farrell Foundation Canada, the Institute for Child Rights and Development, and the Greater Victoria Community Social Planning Council.

In 2012, she was awarded for Excellence in Teaching in the Faculty of Education at UVic. She has studied, volunteered, worked, and lived internationally in such countries as: India, Botswana, the Czech Republic, Fiji, and Japan.

Catherine is excited by the potential to continue contributing to the RRU community through a position on Academic Council. The School of Leadership Studies’ mission is to “foster the imagination, capacity, and courage to lead in extraordinary times.” Indeed, she hopes a position on Academic Council might enable her to do just that.