COIL Virtual Exchange -Canadian Case Studies Showcase

Ada Lee

Global Development Manager

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Ada Lee is a strategic, creative, and people-focused higher education professional with 8+ years in public HEIs and 12+ years in non-profit management & intercultural engagement. An International Relations and Marketing Communication Specialist by academic training, she blends her curiosity for what makes people tick with the power of storytelling, systems thinking, and sustainability. In her current role, she oversees the study abroad program and global partnership projects at KPU. She is currently co-chair of the Virtual Education Abroad sub-group at CBIE’s Education Abroad PLC.

Eunjung Riauka

Director, International Learning

University of Western Ontario

Eunjung is an International Education Professional who is dedicated to helping students, staff, faculty and higher education institutions better understand and engage with global issues through international mobility, research and internship abroad programs. Leveraging over 10 years of experience in Higher Education in the field of international mobility programs, recruitment, partnership development & agreements, admissions (domestic/international), and assessment of transfer credits. Highly motivated and engaged in developing an internationalization strategic plan and direction in advancing the internationalization agenda and positive student experience in post-secondary institutions, she is a knowledgeable and trained facilitator and curriculum developer for cultural safety learning programs. In her current role, she oversees the International Learning program at Western University. She is currently co-chair of the Virtual Education Abroad sub-group at CBIE’s Education Abroad PLC.

Lesley McCannell

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Lesley McCannell has developed business students at Melville School of Business at Kwantlen Polytechnic University for the past 20 years. She specializes in teaching Intercultural and Leadership courses and Co-Chairs the Human Resources Management Department. Lesley is an innovator in designing inclusive learning environments. She supports faculty and professionals in the development of intercultural fluency, inclusive leadership practices

Laura Wyper

Algoma University

Dr. Wyper has a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery from Laurentian University, a Bachelor of Education from Trent University, a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Community Development from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Adult Education and Community Development with a specialization in Comparative, International and Development Education from OISE, at the University of Toronto. She is the current Chair of the Department of Community Economic and Social Development at Algoma University.

Natasha Mrkic-Subotic

Langara College

Natasha has over 25 years of global experience in marketing, WIL, strategic partnerships, and higher education. Natasha carries a dual academic & administrative role as faculty member and Intercultural Engagement Consultant focusing on Global Academic Engagement for Langara College. She is also the Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors for CityStudio, an organizing academic member of the Athens Institute for Education & Research, and faculty at Capilano University. She is passionate about social innovation and developing global relationships that promote applied learning and a student/community-focused changemaker culture to solve real problems. Key components of her work include fostering intercultural engagement among faculty, staff, and students, which has included the development and promotion of COIL Virtual Exchange since 2019, and the creation of the West Coast Virtual Exchange Institute.

Aleksandra Zecevic

Western University

Dr. Aleksandra Zecevic is an Associate Professor of Gerontology in the School of Health Studies, the Faculty of Health Sciences, at the Western University. She is the 3M National Teaching Fellow with the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and recipient of numerous awards for teaching innovation. She is a trailblazer for community engaged learning, international learning, and learning through simulation. She engages her students as partners in exploring arguably the best healthcare systems in the world through COIL and international travel in Scandinavia, advocating tirelessly for improvement of lives and health of older adults. Her research on prevention of falls, improvement of safety culture in healthcare, gerontology education and Age Friendly Cities afforded her a Fellowship with the Gerontological Society of America.