Field education team news
Sheri McConnell, PhD, MSW, RSW, currently field education coordinator and the school’s manager of field education, will assume a three-year position as assistant professor in January 2020.
Dr. McConnell has been with the school for many years and has previously taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is looking forward to the new challenge of teaching full-time.
June Kirkland-Smith, MSW, RSW, was the successful candidate for Dr. McConnell’s field education coordinator positon and we are delighted to welcome Ms. Kirkland-Smith for that term appointment. Most recently a teaching term instructor with the school, Ms. Kirkland-Smith has worked in the community with several agencies and in private practice. She has been employed with Eastern Health for 25 years, where she has worked in mental health and addictions with children for most of that time and most recently as program coordinator, central intake (children) for about nine years.
Following a very competitive search, Lynsey Soper-Thistle, MSW, RSW, was the successful candidate for the position of field education coordinator after Joan Davis-Whelan retired. Ms. Soper-Thistle completed her MSW field practicum within the school’s MSW Student Services, under Ms. Ivy Burt’s supervision, gaining useful insights into the school and its programs. Her practice experience in the past seven years has included varying roles with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), including counsellor, volunteer coordinator, and most recently manager. She worked for two years as an acute care social worker in Western Health at the start of her career. Ms. Soper-Thistle has notably provided field instruction to eleven BSW students. She is currently on maternity leave.
Ms. Mandy Penney, recent MSW graduate from our school, was the successful candidate for the maternity replacement for the field education coordinator position. Check out Mandy’s story.
Ms. Cheryl Mallard, MSW, RSW, takes on the role of field education manager and Ms. Lisa Muise continues in her position of secretary for BSW and MSW field, as well as secretary for our undergraduate programs and for student services.