Alan Wright: An Introduction

For over 30 years, Alan Wright has been a steadfast, passionate, groundbreaking advocate for teaching improvement in Canadian universities. His contributions to the field include a striking number of “firsts:” He was named as Executive Director of the first teaching and learning centre established in Atlantic Canada and hosted the first Society for Teaching and Learning Conference (STLHE) to be held East of Montreal (at Dalhousie University), jointly established and edited the pedagogical Green Guide Series as well as the Collected Essays in Learning and Teaching (CELT),  promoted the use of the teaching dossier on an international scale, established the first university teaching certificate in North America to be recognized in the UK by the professional body SEDA, and the first to be named as a Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, in a Canadian university. Alan has worked to bridge the divide between Canada’s two linguistic and cultural solitudes, building networks between francophone and anglophone educational development communities through his positions in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Ontario. Throughout his career, he has brought Canadian and international academic developers together, to ensure that national initiatives are informed by the international context. He was awarded the STLHE’s Lifetime Achievement Award for what colleagues from across the country and beyond characterized as “his pervasive and sustained influence; his patient, engaged mentorship; his breadth of knowledge; his commitment to the academic community and to learners; his unique perspectives; his professionalism; his drive for excellence – and his sense of fun.”

A graduate of Mount Allison, McGill, and the université de Montréal, Dr. Wright has worked in a wide variety of settings, always with a view to improving the curriculum and supporting teachers at all levels with their professional development needs. Alan has enjoyed presenting workshops and conference sessions throughout Canada and in many countries overseas. He has also been called upon by several universities to lead an evaluation of their teaching and learning services. On a personal note, Alan is an avid paddler and runner with over fifty marathons and ultra-marathons to his credit.  Alan and Marie-Jeanne Monette have been married for 35 years and their three adult children live and work in Ontario and the UK.

Working with Dr. Wright

If you would like to work with Dr. Wright, please email teaching@trentu.ca so we can add your team to his itinerary while he is here.

Additionally, Dr. Wright will be in attendance for our Growth and Goals Sessions for Faculty and Instructors with Dr. Alison Flynn if you would like to work with him in the fall.