معرفی
Christy Thomas, EdD serves as Dean of the School of Education and Associate Professor at Ambrose University, where she joined as a sessional instructor in Fall 2019, became Assistant Professor in August 2020, and was promoted to Associate Professor in March 2024. She concurrently holds an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, where she has taught since 2016.
Her academic credentials include:
- EdD in Education (University of Calgary, 2016)
- MEd (University of Alberta, 2011)
- BEd (University of Calgary)
Dr. Thomas's research centers on collaborative leadership frameworks and professional learning ecosystems in educational settings. She employs mixed-methods approaches including design-based research and action research to investigate how communities of practice foster teacher development. Her work bridges theoretical scholarship with practical implementation, focusing on creating environments where educators and students can thrive through collaborative risk-taking and supportive structures. Current projects examine digital-age pedagogies and leadership development models that integrate care ethics.
Analysis of her 2021-2024 publications reveals strong thematic convergence around educational transformation through collaboration. Key trends include decolonization of teacher education (evident in Métissage leadership frameworks), pandemic-responsive teaching strategies, and technology-mediated social connectedness. Her scholarship consistently addresses systemic challenges in K-12 education while proposing actionable solutions through professional learning communities and leadership development.
Dr. Thomas has secured substantial research funding as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator (Co-I), including:
- Alberta Education Research Partnership Program Grant (2025-2027): New Teacher Transition: Early Career Supports (PI)
- SSHRC Insight Grant (2025-2029): Examining Implementation of Policies Restricting Mobile Devices in K-12 Schools (Co-I)
- SSHRC IDG (2021-2023): Exploring Online Pedagogies for Social Connectedness (Co-PI)
- Ambrose Research Fund (2021-2022): Building Faculty Capacity for Online Teaching (PI)
She actively translates research into practice through instructional design consulting at Ambrose University and faculty development workshops at both Ambrose and the University of Calgary's Taylor Institute. Her consulting specializes in bridging academic theory with classroom application, particularly in online pedagogies and collaborative leadership models. Dr. Thomas emphasizes creating partnerships between researchers and practitioners to address real-world educational challenges.
