Governance and Civil Studies Diploma

Dr. Reza Ashouri Talooki joined Keyano College in September 2022. His areas of interest are Literature, Poetry, Education, Politics, Media Studies, and critical discourse analysis. Reza wrote his doctoral dissertation on political humour and its manifestations in various genres - written, filmic, and performative productions- following the September 9/11 tragic events in America.  

Dr. Talooki completed B.A and M.A degrees in English, a PhD degree in Comparative Literature, with an emphasis on Diaspora Studies and Postcolonial Literature, and a second M.A degree in Public Policy and Administration, with a focus on sustainability and community development.  

Besides his academic career, Reza also worked for the federal government of Canada and some not-for-profit and private sector organizations in the past, which helped him deepen his understanding and hone his skills in various areas, including policy analysis, public administration, management and leadership, and community development.  

His research interests include post-colonial literature, migration literature, media studies, and politics/policy analysis. 

Contact Information:

reza.ashouri-talooki@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4836

Kory began teaching at Keyano in September 2020 and her areas of discipline are sociology and interdisciplinary studies. Kory attended Oregon State University for six years, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology.

During that time, she also graduated with a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with her disciplines being Sociology, Education and Adult & Higher Education. While at Oregon State University, Kory was a member of the Women’s Volleyball program, she went on to play professionally in Switzerland and now continues to help coach the Keyano’s Women’s Volleyball team. Kory's areas of discipline are sociology and interdisciplinary studies. 

Her research interests include inequality and social problems, and criminal justice.

Contact Information:

kory.cheshire@keyano.ca

+1-780-792-4813

Dr. Ryan Cox joined the Keyano College Faculty in 2012. He holds a BA(Hons) in English Literature and Creative Writing (Windsor), an MA in English: Creative Writing (Windsor), and a Ph.D. in English (Minnesota). His doctoral dissertation, “Premonition of a Future Line We Will Be Writing: Politics, Language and Identity in English Canadian Experimental Poetry,” focused on the role Avant Garde poetics played in the formation of a Canadian national identity.

His areas of discipline are English Literature, Creative Writing, Film, Television, and Screen Media, Canadian Literature and Culture, Indigenous Literatures of Turtle Island, Popular Culture and Cultural Studies, as well as Poetry and Poetics.  

Research interests include Nation and national identity, professional wrestling, experimental poetics and the Canadian Avant Garde, and identity and its construction. 

Contact Information:

ryan.cox@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4837

Kevin joined the Keyano College faculty in 2010 and is an instructor in the College and Career Preparation Program and University Studies. Kevin has a Master’s of Arts degree with a focused on Global Change. Prior to teaching at Keyano College, Kevin was a high school teacher with experience teaching in a variety of topics and levels across Canada. His areas of discipline are global studies, history, and education. Kevin is also actively involved in local history projects and is the Historical Curator at the Military Museum of the RMWB. Kevin also sits on the Board of Directors of the Wood Buffalo Military Museum Centre.

Kevin's research interests include military history, Canadian history, globalization, the growth of Neo-Nationalist movements, Military and Strategic Studies, and Political Geography.

Contact Information:

kevin.rodgers@keyano.ca 

+1-780-791-5702

Dr. Mark Young joined the Keyano College faculty in 2014 and is an instructor in the University Studies department. Dr. Young has a Bachelor of Arts, Specialist in Philosophy, from Brandon University, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Regina, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Ottawa. Before coming to Keyano College, Dr. Young taught at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Red Deer College, and Lakehead University. His areas of discipline are philosophy and political science. 

His research interests include political theory, and epistemic agency. 

Contact Information:

mark.young@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4825

Dr. Robert Changirwa joined the Keyano College faculty in 2018 and is an Engineering Instructor in the School of University Studies. He is a Professional Engineer (PEng) and a Project Management Professional (APMP). His academic background includes a BSc in Mechanical Engineering (University of Nairobi), a MASc in Engineering (Dalhousie University) and a Ph.D. in Engineering (Dalhousie University). His areas of discipline are mechanical engineering, mining engineering, and statistics.

Prior to teaching, Robert worked at Syncrude Research Centre (Edmonton) and recently at Shell Albians Sands (Fort McMurray), holding progressively more challenging positions from Plant Engineer to Project Team Lead. He is equipped with 30 years of diverse experience, including 15 years of post-secondary teaching and 15 years in the oil sands industry.

His research interests include engineering design, hydrocyclone hydrodynamics, and slurry pipelines.

Contact Information:

robert.changirwa@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4940

Dr. Jean-Pierre De Villiers is an instructor in the University Studies department at Keyano College. He holds a PhD in P. Eng., and his areas of discipline are physics, computing and engineering mechanics. Prior to joining the faculty of Keyano College, Dr. De Villiers worked at Saint Mary's University, University of Virginia, and the University of Calgary completing postdoctoral research.

His research interests include numerical relativity, black hole accretion, and machine learning. 

Contact Information:

jeanpierre.devillier@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4832

Dr. Blaine Legaree is a biology instructor at Keyano College, and his passion includes all things about microbes and molecules. His area of discipline include microbiology, biochemistry, cellular biology, and nutrition. During his Ph.D., he investigated the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall and the site of action of the antibiotic penicillin. Blaine’s other interests include the biology of infectious organisms, biochemistry, biotechnology, environmental health, and the history of science.

Prior to his time at Keyano College, Dr. Legaree was a Laboratory Technician at Western University, a Teaching Assistant at the University of Guelph, and completed Postdoctoral research at the University of Guelph. 

His research interests include infectious diseases, biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall, history of science, social media and higher education.

Contact Information:

blaine.legaree@keyano.ca

+1-780-792-5616

Dr. Matthew Morin has been part of Keyano’s instructional staff since Fall 2012, teaching mathematic courses for students in the Engineering transfer program, Bachelor of Education program, Environmental Technology diploma, and Bachelor of Environmental Science program. His area of discipline is mathematics. 

Believing that mathematics is a vital tool everyone needs, Dr. Morin brings recreational math activities to the Fort McMurray community through public lectures, an annual Math Fair, and acting as the local coordinator for the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest.

His research interests include math education, and combinatorics.

Contact Information:

matthew.morin@keyano.ca 

+1-780-791-4831

Dr. Sorin Nita joined the Keyano College faculty in 2008 and is an instructor in the University Studies department. He is very passionate about teaching Introductory University Chemistry and Organic Chemistry to our students, with his area of discipline being chemistry. 

Prior to coming to Fort McMurray, Dr. Nita completed his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Chemistry at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. When he is not teaching, Dr. Nita is a dedicated supporter of the local visual and performing arts community.

His research interests include atomic force microscopy, organic spectroscopy, computational chemistry, and chemical education. 

Contact information:

sorin.nita@keyano.ca

+1-780-715-3924

Dr. Tamar Richards-Thomas joined the Keyano College faculty in 2020 and is an instructor in the Environmental Science and University Studies programs. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics (honours) from the University of the West Indies, a Master of Science in Earth and Atmospheric Science from the University of Alberta, and completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Life Sciences at Trent University. She is also a certified teacher, specializing in Senior Mathematics, Physics, and Environmental Science.

Dr. Richards-Thomas's areas of discipline are computing, climate change, earth and atmospheric science, and physics.  Her research interests include air quality and pollution, hydrometeorology, climatology, and fluid dynamics.  

Contact Information:

tamar.richardsthomas@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4822

Dr. David Smith joined the department in 2008 and is an instructor in both University Studies and Environmental Sciences. He teaches a wide variety of courses in natural and applied sciences in addition to mentoring student research and performing community service. David has a B.Sc. in Wildlife Management (Maine), M.Sc. in Botany (Alberta), and Ph.D. in Plant Ecology (Saskatchewan).

Prior to his time at Keyano he worked as a wildlife biologist at the University of Maine, a botanist at Brandon University, a grassland ecologist at University of Nebraska, and in the reindeer herding program at the University of Alaska, Northwest Campus. Dr. Smith's areas of focus are ecology, wildlife management, soils, botany, biology, and forestry.

His research interests include plant/animal interactions and anthropogenic change in boreal, arctic and grassland ecosystems.

Contact Information:

david.smith@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4997

Emily holds a BSc.H.

Contact information: 

emily.bobbett@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4986

Jamie holds a B.Env.Sc. and has experience working in Environmental, Geotechnical, Biology and Chemistry laboratories. Jamie also assisted in field research examining the environmental impacts of the Athabasca Oil Sands under the Oil Sand Monitoring Program, including the effects of environmental contaminants on amphibians, has experience writing wetland field protocols including proper sampling techniques for contaminants testing for Environment and Climate Change. 

Contact Information:

jamie.wiseman@keyano.ca

+1-780-791-4986