Dr. Rhonda L. Paulsen, Hrs. B.A., M.A., Ed.D.
“Advocating Cultural Diversity in Education and Training”
Personal Mandate:
To share the responsibility of ensuring that education and business institutes
provide environments in which differing learning styles, worldviews, and traditions
co-exist in a balance of autonomy and association.
Degrees
Ed.D, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto – Doctor of Education; specializing in Adult Education, Counselling Psychology, and Community Development
M.A., Trent University – Canadian Heritage Development Studies
Hrs. B.A., Trent University
Doctor of Education Dissertation and Master’s Thesis:
Ed.D: “A Critique of Language and Literacy in Educational Policy: Hawaii and Canada”
This research analyzed historical and contemporary policies and laws regarding language within the educational system in Hawaii and Canada. It provided a comparative context to Indigenous studies in the political and education arenas and identified specific areas for continued research and investigation, such as language use, policy development, and curriculum.
M.A.: “Displaced Culture: Re-defining Tradition within Two Pedagogical Paradigms”
The purpose of this community based research was to establish the value of Indigenous cultural schooling vis-a-vis the mainstream system. This research was based on interviews with a study group of Indigenous students and evaluated alternative schooling for best practices in learning strategies, outcomes, and measurements of success. Further, the study explored the meeting ground between Indigenous knowledge and western perspective.
Both the M.A. and Ed.D research are grounded in sociological theory, utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methodology, data analysis, and evaluation processes. The premise of the theses encapsulates the subjective realities and perceptions in human development, and explores the origins of social status orders, the place of schools in this order, and the effects of such on people.
Certification
- University of Waterloo: Social Work Certificate
- Bell Canada: Management Certificate in Program Development, Teaching and Training
- Certified 1st degree black belt in each of: Tae-Kwon Do, Hupkido, Kuk Sool Won, and Karate
- Bronze medal, Tae Kwon Do, 1981 Pan Am Games Preliminaries
Speaking Engagements
- Ontario Native Education Counselling Association (ONECA) conference, Keynote Speaker: “New Direction: Healing and Reconciliation in Indigenous Post-Secondary Education”
- International Association of Language Commissioners, Ottawa: “Protecting Language Rights”
- Chiefs of Ontario Annual conference: Panelist for “Best Practices: First Nations Control over First Nations Education”
- Metis Nation of Ontario, Wapiti Metis Council: “Metis Education: Canada’s Priority(?)”
- Canadian Federation of University Women: “Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Call: Promoting Healing and Right-Relations through Education”
- First Peoples House of Learning, Trent University, Insights Conference: co-presenter with Elder Shirley I. Williams-Pheasant on the research, writing, and translation of “Spirit of the Island: Manitoulin’s People”
- College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario: “Multi-culturalism; Multi-lingualism: Perspectives for an Approach to Classroom Dynamics”
- Canadian Association for Studies in Adult Education: “Life-Long Learning”
- Ontario Provincial Teacher Training conference: Panelist for “Global Awareness in the Classroom”
- Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT): “Collaborating for Best Practices in Indigenous Post-Secondary Education”
- Ontario Council for International Co-operation: Panelist for “Best Practices: Teacher/NGO Collaboration”
- International Conference on Indigenous Education, Hawaii: "Social and Cultural Influences on Learning in the University Setting"
- International Education Symposium: “Language, Equity, and Identity in Education”
- Canadian Indigenous/Native Studies Association (CINSA) Trent University: “Influences on Diversity in Learning”
- CINSA, OISE/University of Toronto: Panelist for “Alternative Learning”
-Trent University’s Indigenous Women’s Symposium: “Restoring Right Relationships and Knowledges in Health and Education” (partnered with Dr. Eileen Antone and Dr. Barbara Ronson)
- University of Toronto: conference organizer and speaker, “Native Literacy: A Living Language”
- Trent University’s International Summer Exploration Conferences: “Education in Canada”
- Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board: “Global Justice Issues"
- Heads of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ontario: “Post-secondary Indigenous Education”
- United Church Presbytery: “A response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission: The Church and Indigenous Education for Healing”
- New Canadian Center: “Intercultural Relations in Schools”
- Rotary Club: “Canadian Education in the International Forum”
Community Affiliations and Personal Involvement
- Ontario's Ministry of Education: Joint Implementation Working Group member, responding to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation 'Calls to Action'
- Trent University: Indigenous Studies Ph.D Program, Steering Committe and continuing Council member on: Graduate Committee, Selections Committee, and Ethics Committee
- Fleming College: Aboriginal Education Council member
- Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board: 'Character Matters' team member
- Catholic District School Board: conducted literacy tests and assessments for MTCU
- Spanish level 1 in preparation for an archaeological dig (with Hopi community support) researching Hopi land claims: a fifteen year project that successfully negotiated with the U.S. government for the return of over 90,000 acres to the Hopi society that was forcibly taken from them in the 1920’s)
- Ojibway Dictionary and Lexicon: artist for university level resources (in text and CD format)