Purdy Crawford Teaching Centre director named at Ƶ Allison University
SACKVILLE, NB – Toni Roberts is the new Purdy Crawford Teaching Centre director at Ƶ Allison University. Roberts, who has worked at Ƶ Allison for 18 years, took on the new role on September 1.
The Purdy Crawford Teaching Centre advances teaching excellence at Ƶ Allison through research, development, and promotion of instructional technologies and progressive approaches to teaching and learning. Eileen Herteis served as the Centre’s inaugural director for 14 years before her retirement with Roberts also working out of the Centre in his former role as Educational Technology Consultant.
“Ƶ Allison is known for its sense of community, and this has grown online, particularly over the last two years,” says Roberts. “I’m excited to continue working with faculty in this new role to enrich the learning experience for all students.”
In addition to his current role, Roberts is also a part-time professor, teaching in departments of sociology, psychology, and geography and environment over his career and was named the Purdy Crawford Professor of Teaching and Learning in 2021.
“The University’s new Strategic Academic Plan recommended the re-establishment of a Director of the Purdy Crawford Teaching Centre and I am delighted that Toni Roberts has taken on this role,” says Jeff Hennessy, Ƶ Allison University Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research. “Toni’s experience, both in technology and teaching, will help support both faculty and students in making studies more equitable and accessible.”
Roberts has also been involved in several external organizations, sharing expertise around post-secondary teaching and learning including the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and the Maple League of Universities. Roberts currently chairs the Maple League’s Teaching and Learning Committee, bringing together educators from across the four member universities (Ƶ Allison, Acadia, Bishop’s, and St. FX) to discuss and share ideas around teaching in higher education.
A graduate of Ƶ Allison, Roberts holds a BA as well as master’s degrees in Chemistry, Sociology, Education, Feminist Studies, Philosophy, and a PhD Certificate in Teaching, Learning and Pedagogical Innovation. His work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. He also co-recipient of a D2L/STLHE National Teaching Innovation Award in 2022 for the project Working with Students to Co-Design 21st-Century Classrooms: The Online Learning & Technology Consultants (OLTC) Program.
