UNews - Richelle Marynowski

Faculty expertise showcased in lineup of 2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series speakers

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:29:34 +0000

From legalized gambling to AI in the classroom, testing confidence in eye-witness testimony and more, the 2025-26 lineup of PUBlic Professor Series lecture topics have been finalized, with six intriguing and engaging talks planned for the season.

Initiated in 2014 by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Arts & Science, the PUBlic Professor Series lectures have grown to include the breadth of research expertise on campus, including representation from all its Faculties and Schools.

“The PUBlic Professor Series is one of our key opportunities to showcase the excellent work being done by our faculty members to the external community. It’s really an important example of the research activities taking place throughout campus and how impactful that work is on everyone’s daily lives,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge’s vice-president (research).

The 2025-26 season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, when Faculty of Fine Arts professor Dr. Anne Dymond presents, From a Communist Doctor to Madonna’s Cone Bra: Museums and Cultural Diplomacy in Troubled Times. Her presentation will take place in a community location to be finalized as the PUBlic Professor Series continues to visit new venues to connect with more community members.

“We started moving the talks around this past year, using venues that opened the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ up to new audiences, and found it to be very successful,” adds McMartin. “PUBlic Professor is for the public, we want to meet them where they frequent, especially when topics lend themselves to specific locations.”

Ensuing talks will take place in October and November, and then January, February and March 2026 and include speakers from the Faculty of Arts & Science, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences and Dhillon School of Business. As has always been the case, all PUBlic Professor Series events are free and open to the public and available for viewing on the ULethbridge YouTube channel the following week.

Working with local venues and bringing research activities into the community also creates partnership opportunities. Corporate sponsors and community partners seeking to support creating connections and promoting activities that benefit and inform society are encouraged to connect with External Relations at external.relations@uleth.ca to learn more.

This season’s PUBlic Professor Series talks conclude with Dr. Robin Bright’s presentation, Does Reading even Matter Anymore?, 7 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lodge.

The PUBlic Professor Series is an example of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Strategic Plan in action under the strategic direction to Challenge Boundaries and Inspire Curiosity. We value courageous conversation, learning from each other’s knowledge and experiences, and actively promote the safe, respectful, open and accessible exchange of ideas.

The series lineup is as follows:

2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series

From a Communist Doctor to Madonna’s Cone Bra: Museums and Cultural Diplomacy in Troubled Times — Dr. Anne Dymond, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025

Cockwombles, Cornucopias and the Curious Task of Economics — Dr. Danny Le Roy — Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

Has AI Made Teachers Obsolete? — Dr. Richelle Marynowski (BEd ’94) — Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025

Playing Telephone with Eyewitness Evidence — Dr. Jamal Mansour — Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

Indigenous Childhood Stories Transform Worlds – Want Some? — Dr. Don McIntyre — Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Legalized Gambling in Canada: Winners and Losers — Dr. Rob Williams — Thursday, March 26, 2026

Faculty of Education rising to meet demand for early years educators with new Bachelor of Education program

trevor.kenney — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:32:38 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Education is adding a new undergraduate degree that will prepare future educators for the unique challenges of teaching in Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms. The Bachelor of Education in Early Years Education marks the first time in 30 years the Faculty has offered a four-year degree as part of its renowned teacher education program, as well as the first time students will be allowed direct entry into the program from high school.

The Early Years degree is the third BEd option offered by the Faculty of Education.

“We’ve heard from superintendents in our area that there’s a real need for teachers who are able to help young children build foundational skills in literacy and numeracy,” says Dr. Richelle Marynowski (BEd ’94), Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs with the Faculty of Education. “These skills are important to student success both throughout school and later on in their lives.”

The Early Years degree is the third BEd option offered by the Faculty of Education, joining the five-year Combined Degrees program, where students graduate with a Bachelor of Education as well as a second degree from another faculty, and the After Degree program, where students with a previously completed undergraduate degree can earn their BEd in two years.

“This allows high school students who already know they want to work with young children the opportunity to start that journey earlier,” says Marynowski. “The program also responds to the needs of school divisions across the province for teachers in this area.”

Entry to the Faculty of Education has always been very competitive, and the addition of the Early Years program will allow for 45 more students to begin their teacher education journeys this fall. As in the Combined Degrees and After Degree programs, Early Years Education students will complete 27 weeks of off campus practicum experience, more than twice the amount required for teacher certification in Alberta. While Early Years students will complete that practical classroom time exclusively in K – 3 classrooms, they will graduate provincially certified to teach K – 12, just like students in the other BEd programs.

Applications are now being accepted for the program’s first cohort, which will begin in the Fall 2024 Semester. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2024, and more information can be found on the ULethbridge website at: /future-student/program/early-years-educatio n.

Marynowski, Stewart, Lenon appointed as Tier II Board of Governors Research Chairs

trevor.kenney — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:15:31 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors appointed three Tier II Board of Governors Research Chairs recently, rewarding outstanding faculty members who are committed to excellence in graduate student training and who possess outstanding records of attracting highly qualified personnel.

Drs. Richelle Marynowski (education), D. Andrew Stewart (fine arts) and Suzanne Lenon (women & gender studies) have been appointed to three-year terms as put forward by the Office of the Vice-President Research.

“The calibre of the three individuals is outstanding,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, Vice-President (Research). “Without exception, each individual has demonstrated, or shows potential for, exceptional scholarly distinction. Each one is recognized as an innovative scholar who has made an impact in their field of study.”

Dr. Richelle Marynowski (Education)
Marynowski instructs future math educators. She is an emerging scholar with a growing reputation among her peers and is routinely sought out by Alberta Education for service and leadership in many curriculum innovation activities.

Dr. D. Andrew Stewart (Fine Arts)
Stewart maintains an extremely versatile and productive creative practice. His practice centres on combining acoustic instrument and digital instrument composition, and establishing performance practices for digital instruments.

Dr. Suzanne Lenon (Women & Gender Studies)
Lenon has a growing reputation internationally in the area of socio-legal studies. Her research is located at the intersection of socio-legal studies and critical race feminisms, with a particular focus on the complex ways race and sexuality interlock in law and culture.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine

caroline.zentner — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:29:58 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has several experts from the Faculty of Education available to discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with getting students ready for the school year.

These experts can offer insight and suggestions for parents about topics like the province’s new math curriculum, the move away from grade-based report cards, encouraging literacy, technology in education, and helping children become resilient.

School mathematics — teaching, learning, and assessment

Dr. Richelle Marynowskican provide information about the current mathematics teaching and learning directions in Alberta and how parents can help their students with math. She can also provide parents with information regarding teaching strategies that are effective in the math classroom. Her research interests also include classroom assessment practices and provincial examinations.

403-329-2269

richelle.marynowski@uleth.ca

Student report cards — a new look but one with more meaning

Dr. Carmen Mombourquettecan talk about the move away from letter grades and percentages on report cards to a system based on words, and explain the reasoning behind the move. He is also able to provide tips about how to help students get back into the learning groove, the issues that middle- and high-school-aged children can encounter with relationships, and how parents can best respond.

403-329-2018

carmen.mombourquette@uleth.ca

Help your child learn to love reading

Dr. Robin Bright, a literacy expert, can share pointers about ways parents and teachers can help children become avid readers. Her other areas of expertise include digital literacy, cyberbullying and helping school systems develop digital literacy policies.

403-329-2443

brightr@uleth.ca

Promoting resiliency in children

Dr. Dawn McBride, a registered psychologist, can offer practical suggestions on how to prepare children to return to school after a summer break. In addition, she can discuss how teachers and parents can use positive discipline principles to help children learn to manage their frustrations and anger appropriately. She can also address mental health issues, such as eating disorders, self-harm, depression and anxiety, experienced by some youth. Statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association indicate that an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder, the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

403-317-2877

Cell: 403-894-8460

dawn.mcbride@uleth.ca

From 3D Printing to computer apps that aid learning

Dr. Marlo Steed can discuss the role of technology in education, including 3D Printing, video creation, virtual reality and digital storytelling. Steed can speak about the ways technology can transform learning both in the classroom and at home.

403-329-2189

marlo.steed@uleth.ca

Coming home - Dr. Richelle Marynowski

darcy.tamayose — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 22:42:41 +0000

It is fitting that Richelle Marynowski left the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a student and returned as a professor.

Dr. Richelle Marynowski, here with her father and former U of L employee Rick Casson, has always viewed the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a second home.

From the time she was two years old, Richelle Marynowski experienced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as an extension of herself. Affectionately nicknamed “Rikki,” she accompanied her father, honorary doctorate recipient and former Member of Parliament Rick Casson, to work at campus Printing Services and became intimately familiar with the institution’s spaces and people.

“This really is my home,” she says. “I got involved in the community. I worked in the equipment room and as a cashier. I was also in the curling club. I spent 8 a.m. to midnight here every day.”

The Picture Butte, AB native was in Grade 3 when she set her sights on a career in math education. After graduating from the U of L with a BEd in 1990, she worked in rural, urban, private, and outreach schools, and for Alberta Education. A strong interest in enhancing math evaluation and assessment practices led to a master’s degree and then to a PhD.

It is fitting that Marynowski left the institution as a student and returned as a professor.

“It’s interesting to come back as an adult to see how some things have changed and how some things have remained the same. Despite the growth, the campus still has that small and friendly atmosphere.”

Today Dr. Marynowski instructs future math educators. She emphasizes the importance of getting to know students on an individual basis.

“The best way to help a student is to facilitate more than one way of learning. Children have many ways of understanding.”

“Education doesn’t stand still,” adds Marynowski, who encourages her students to embrace change. “It’s an amazing time for education in Alberta. The opportunity for involvement is great.”

Marynowski’s research foci are teaching, learning, and assessment, particularly in the field of Mathematics.

“There are so many ideas I want to explore. Now that I have my PhD, I can.”

UNews - Richelle Marynowski

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