Fall 2019 SCHS Newsletter

Fall 2019 Fall 2019
Innovation & Scholarship and
Applied Research
Howard Page, Professor, Police
Foundations Program
Howie was nominated for this award because of
his work with introducing the ‘Serial’ Podcast to a
capstone course. In this course, students work online
both individually and within teams to incorporate
tactical decision making by the investigating detectives
involved in the real murder case of “Serial” for mock
trial purposes. This allows for the online podcasts
to enhance both the learning experience and the
outcomes of the capstone course and moot trials. A
recent graduating student of the Police Foundations
program had this to say, “I was more engaged in this
mock trial than any other assignment I’ve ever done in
my two years at Centennial College. We were guided
by everything we learned throughout the entire course
and could apply it here!”
Exceptional Support
Mary Jo Bryant, Field Placement Coordinator, Child and Youth Care Program
Mary Jo works tirelessly on behalf of the Child and Youth Care program, students, faculty and staff. She has diligently
created, maintained, and largely expanded field agency connections as well as secured placement spots across
the GTA to accommodate the increasing needs of students coming from different neighborhoods. For students with
challenges or who are in crisis, she always goes above and beyond to talk with faculty and agencies to problem solve
and to help the students in a calm and respectful way.
Exceptional Support
Mede Ovbiagele, Success Advisor
Mede has excelled at creating a work environment that inspires his peers and himself to achieve ever-greater
professional and personal growth. Mede fosters a collaborative, creative, solution-oriented work environment
especially when it comes to doing anything that is in the best interest of the students. Mede establishes and
maintains a client-centered approach in all of his interactions with students, advocating for them when appropriate.
Mede establishes a safe, respectful and effective environment that enables him to diffuse challenging situations,
and seeks opportunities to further define, expand and develop the Student Adviser support role. He works closely
with the Student Financial Aid office to ensure OSAP funding is available to eligible students in order to reduce
financial barriers to participating in these particularly intensive courses. He demonstrates exceptional support within
the college community, which is appreciated by students and faculty alike.
Leadership: A Community Leader
or Fostering Student Leadership
Cheryl McPherson, Professor and
Coordinator, Addiction and Mental
Health Worker Program
Cheryl is recognized for her leadership in decolonizing
and indigenizing curriculum in Community Services,
including developing a strong and sustainable
partnership with GWEK in Manitoulin Island. As a
Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) woman, Cheryl’s passion,
enthusiasm and Drive for this indigenizing work is
deeply personal and political. As Program Coordinator
for the Addiction and Mental Health Worker Program
(AMHW), Cheryl led the indigenization process with
the AMHW faculty team, ensuring that curriculum was
created and delivered that is inclusive of Indigenous
approaches and understanding. Cheryl passionately
teaches from an Anti-Colonial framework, critically
reflecting on self as practitioner, examining societal
power imbalances, and working towards social
justice for all.
MARY JO BRYANT-
MEDE OVBLAGELE MEDE & MARY JO-
26
27