Dr. Geraldine Balzer is an Associate Professor of Curriculum Studies in the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Her experiences teaching Inuit students led to her interest in decolonizing pedagogies and transformative education. Her teaching focuses on ways of disrupting the hegemony of standard English and embracing the diversity of Englishes within our world, incorporating Aboriginal and postcolonial literature into secondary classrooms, and preparing teachers to be advocates of social justice. Her research focuses on decolonization and social justice. She works with teachers to explore the use of diverse literary texts and literary theory in order to engage students in critical thinking about societal issues. She also studies International Experiential Education/Service Learning and its impact on Canadian participants and host communities in Central America. A central focus of this research is to ensure that Indigenous host communities in the Global South have voice in the development and implementation of these programs. Reciprocity is central to developing research that is not an extractive industry but is co-owned by the researchers and the communities.
Doug Chivers is an accomplished behavioural and evolutionary ecologist in the Department of Biology. His research focusses on how anthropogenic disturbance alters predation dynamics and prey cognition. Doug is a University of Saskatchewan Distinguished Professor. His research has been cited more than 20,000 times. He is a Fellow of the Animal Behaviour Society and the Royal Society of Canada. Doug has served as the USFA Chair and Vice Chair several times and has been involved in Collective Bargaining for much of his career at the University of Saskatchewan.
Dr. Julita Vassileva is a Professor in the Department Computer Science. She is a leading researcher in user modelling, personalization and social computing, as well as AI in education. She has authored over 300 research papers and given 15 keynote presentations at international conferences. In 2021 Dr. Vassileva received the U of S Distinguished Researcher Award. She has advised over 50 graduate students (15 PhD) and has received the two main U of S awards for graduate supervision: the University’s Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award (2014), and the Advising Excellence Award by the Graduate Student Association (2013). Dr. Vassileva is a member of the editorial boards of several reputed journals, including UMUAI, IEEE TLT, ACM TSC, IJAIED, and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in AI Supporting Human Learning and Behaviour Change. Dr. Vassileva held the NSERC/Cameco Chair for Women in Science and Engineering for the Prairies region (2005 – 2011) and started a science outreach program for aboriginal youth in the North, called “Science Ambassadors”, which has now completed 13 years of impactful activity in over 25 communities and has engaged over 25,000 indigenous youth in science. For her leadership and mentorship, she got the Saskatoon’s YWCA “Women of Distinction Award (Science and Research)” in 2015.
Haizhen Mou is a professor at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan. An economist by training, her primary research areas include fiscal policy, fiscal federalism, health policy and social policy. She is the principal investigator of multiple SSHRC grants and published in economics, public policy and public administration journals.
Francis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Division of Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Jan Gelech is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Health Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Her scholarship examines mental health, disability, cultural resilience, and inclusion in higher education and health care. As one of two Equity Officers for the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association, she is committed to advancing a climate of collegiality, equity, and inclusivity for all faculty members.
John Gjevre is a Professor in the Department of Medicine.
Allyson Glenn joined the University of Saskatchewan in 2009 and is an Associate Professor, Art and Art History within the School for the Arts. She brings a deep understanding of academic life and a strong commitment to faculty advocacy. Passionate about interdisciplinary learning she has collaborated on teaching initiatives with the College of Agriculture and participated in Global Classroom exchanges with Tec Monterrey in Mexico. Her creative research includes animation and drawing projects developed faculty in Music and Anatomy and Cell Biology. Beyond teaching and research, she has contributed extensively to academic governance, serving on committees such as Presidents and College Review, Nominations, University Portrait, Gail Appel Visiting Artist, Sabbatical and Salary Review committees. To the USFA she brings enthusiasm and valuable experience in collegial governance and serves as a faculty member on the engagement committee.
Professor Allison Muri has been a faculty member in the Department of English since 2004. Her research focuses on Digital Humanities applications to the study of Eighteenth-century literature, history, and culture. First elected a member of the USFA Executive in 2016, she has been active with the USFA since 2009 as a member of the Joint Committee for the Management of the Agreement (JCMA), JCMA Caucus, and the USFA Negotiating Committee and Caucus. She has served as USFA Chair, USFA Vice-Chair, Co-Chair of JCMA, Chair of the USFA Communications Committee and is the Association’s Chief Negotiator.
Anna is an Assistant Professor of speech-language pathology in the School of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Her teaching and scholarship focus on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), accessible health care, and inclusive clinical and educational practices. As a member of the USFA Executive Committee, Anna is particularly interested in faculty advocacy, collegial governance, and equity-informed approaches to teaching and service.
Jason Perepelkin is a professor in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan. His research and teaching focus on pharmacy practice, management, leadership, and the organization of health services, with a focus on how pharmacists spend their time and how work can be better utilized across the care team. Jason has held a range of leadership and service roles within the university and profession, and is active in community work in Saskatoon. His work often connects research, teaching, and practice, with an emphasis on practical changes that improve patient care and support the pharmacy workforce. On the USFA executive, Jason brings experience in academic governance, workload, and faculty roles in professional programs.
Originally from Québec, Yannick Tremblay joined the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology as a Lecturer. Prior to joining USask, he completed post-doctoral training at the Institut Pasteur in France and the Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire at the Université de Montréal. He also received his PhD from Dalhousie University in Halifax NS and his BSc (Agricultural sciences) and MSc from McGill University. Yannick’s role at USask is centered on teaching in higher education with a focus on implementing new pedagogical approaches and implementing active learning in the classroom.
Colleen grew up on the traditional territories of the Taa’an Kwächän and Kwanlin Dün peoples in Whitehorse, Yukon, and on Treaty 7 lands near Calgary. She joined the University of Saskatchewan in 2013, where she is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Studies. She teaches in the field of international politics, and her research contributes to the critical analysis of political violence, war, and security. Colleen has served as Graduate Program Chair, Outreach Chair, and as a member of both the graduate and undergraduate committees in her department. At the college level, she has been Program Chair of International Studies, contributed to the bylaws and sabbatical committees, and served on the CGPS Faculty Council and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program Committee. Since 2017, Colleen has been an active member of the Association’s Grievance Committee and served as Grievance Officer 2021-2024 and 2025 – present. She is dedicated to protecting the labour rights and academic freedom of faculty members, as she believes that our work environment is directly connected to both faculty’s academic performance and students’ learning conditions.
Liz Quinlan is a Professor in the Department of Sociology with a research program that falls into the broad areas of caring labour.