Dr. Gavan Watson, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
Dr. Gavan Watson (he/him) started his term as the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning at Queen’s University in April 2023. Dr. Watson oversees the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Queen’s University Quality Assurance Processes (QUQAP), and the university’s academic integrity policies and practices. As a member of the Provost’s Office senior team, Dr. Watson leads senior committees and projects that advance the priorities of the portfolio, working with faculty and staff across academic units and institutions to improve the quality of student learning. The Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) also works to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and Indigenization in all aspects of teaching and program development to enhance the student learning experience.
With research published in peer-reviewed journals like New Directions for Teaching and Learning, as well as articles in publications like EDUCAUSE review, Dr. Watson works to blend scholarly expertise and classroom practice. His research interests are focused on teaching and learning, particularly on topics related to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and educational technology. Dr. Watson has also published at the intersection of education and the environment, specifically on how educational practices inform our experiences with animals and the natural world. A recognized leader in the field of teaching and learning in higher education, Gavan has been invited to speak on topics ranging from Open Badges to Facilitating Student Assessment with Technology across Canada and the United States.
Dr. Watson holds a PhD in Environmental Education, a Master in Environmental Studies from York University, and an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science in Family and Social Relations from the University of Guelph.
Prior to his current role, Dr. Watson was the Associate Vice President (Academic), Teaching and Learning and the Director, Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. In this role he provided leadership to the group supporting instructional design, educational development, online course delivery, student academic success, and classroom technology across the multi-campus institution.
Dr. Watson also served the Associate Director, eLearning, Centre for Teaching and Learning at Western University where he supported the work of academic units engaged in the university’s Institutional Quality Assurance Process and led the university’s blended learning strategy to facilitate pedagogical innovation in the delivery of undergraduate curriculum. As an Educational Developer at the University of Guelph, he collaborated with educators and learners to enhance the quality of teaching and learning and facilitate faculty-driven curricular renewal processes. He served as the secretary to the board of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) and as a member of the Council of Ontario Educational Developers' executive.
Contact Dr. Gavan Watson, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
Dr. Denise Stockley, Professor and Scholar in Higher Education
Denise Stockley completed her Doctorate in the Psychology of Education at Simon Fraser University and since that time has accumulated extensive experience in promoting both classroom-based and online learning.
“The idea of creating individual learning opportunities, recognizing that each person learns differently – all those things are what play out in my work now. The assumption that we have to transmit knowledge through a traditional lecture is not the assumption now. Now the idea is that there are other ways for people to learn, and sometimes those ways are out of our comfort zone.”
Dr. Stockley joined Queen’s University in January 2001. She is currently a Professor and Scholar in Higher Education with the Office of the Provost (Teaching and Learning Portfolio) and the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her current research focuses on how we create environments that promote learning. She is studying the impact of national teaching awards, research ethics training, and competency based medical education to name just a few of her projects. More recently, she co-edited a book entitled Influencing the Quality, Risk and Safety Movement in Healthcare: In Conversation with International Leaders. She is the Principal Investigator of several research grants in a variety of areas including those from the Tri-Council (SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR) and from the Networks of Centre of Excellence (NCE).
Claire O'Brien, Manager, Academic Initiatives
Claire is responsible for academic initiatives within the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). She oversees Queen’s University Quality Assurance Processes (QUQAP) and policy on academic integrity. She supports the Senate Committee on Academic Development and Procedures (SCADP), the Senate Cyclical Program Review Committee (SCPRC) and a variety of teaching and learning initiatives.
Claire earned a Master of Arts (Oxon) in Modern Languages, then worked for the UK government until moving to Canada in 2005. After gaining an Advanced Diploma in Behaviour Therapy from St Lawrence College, she joined Queen’s in 2012. Claire was previously with the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), as well as working in the Faculties of Health Sciences and Arts and Science.
Dr. Sarah Lublink, Manager, Quality Assurance
Sarah manages Queen's University Quality Assurance Processes such as Cyclical Program Review, new program proposals, and major modifications to programs. Sarah joined the Teaching and Learning team in September 2022.
Sarah’s background is in teaching; she taught Philosophy at a state college in Florida for eleven years after finishing her Ph.D. at Western University. As a faculty member she held leadership roles in in Assessment, Quality Assurance, and Faculty Professional Development, and served as Interim Director of the college’s Teaching and Learning Center in 2020. Prior to teaching in Florida, she taught at the University of Oklahoma and at Huron University College.
Sarah Whiteman, Assistant to the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
Sarah Whiteman is the Executive Assistant to the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning in the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). Sarah provides administrative and calendar support for the Vice-Prost and supports committees, the QUQAP process and various projects within the Teaching and Learning portfolio. Sarah joined the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) in August 2022.
Sarah graduated from Griffith University in Gold Coast, Australia with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Previous to joining Queen’s, Sarah provided administrative support to Partners and Senior Managers at a professional accounting firm.
Reasat Faisal, Teaching and Learning Assistant
Reasat Faisal is the Teaching and Learning Assistant in the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University. With a global perspective shaped by professional experiences in Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and Canada, Reasat supports the Queen’s University Quality Assurance Processes (QUQAP) by assisting with Cyclical Program Reviews, new program proposals, and major program modifications.
Reasat’s career spans both the non-profit and private sectors. At BRAC Bangladesh, he led sustainability-focused initiatives in renewable energy, waste management, and urban development. With Kindling, he contributed to community-driven projects addressing fire safety in informal settlements. In the United Kingdom, he collaborated with diverse teams on academic projects at the University of Westminster and worked as an urban planner at Arup, focusing on sustainable design and resilience.
Reasat holds an MA in International Planning and Sustainable Development (Urban Resilience Pathway) and a BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Currently completing his PhD, his research explores climate-induced migration and sustainable employment transitions, with an emphasis on just transitions in the global garment sector.