CTLT Indigenous Initiatives Welcomes New Staff, Dr. Claudia Diaz

CTLT Indigenous Initiatives is pleased to welcome Dr. Claudia Diaz. Claudia will be taking on the role as an Educational Consultant, Indigenous Initiatives, providing support for professional development programming, educational resources, and strategic initiatives related to Indigenous engagement in teaching and learning.

We asked Claudia to share a few fun facts about herself.

Claudia Diaz

Dr. Claudia Diaz, Educational Consultant, CTLT Indigenous Initiatives

Three Fun Facts

  1. I learned English one decade ago.
  2. I’ve taken silver work classes and I made my dear friends’ wedding rings.
  3. I love backpacking. One of my favourite trips has been Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. One recent highlight is Tenant Lake in Strathcona Park, Vancouver Island

What are some of the things you have started working on in your new role? And what are some of the areas you are looking forward to exploring?

The first days in my new position have been exciting. I have been meeting new colleagues and team members, and I have been walked through the myriad of projects the Indigenous Initiatives team is working on and planning ahead. As a former international student at UBC, I’m interested in the IN/Relation Project that offers opportunities to international students to learn about Indigenous history and contemporary contexts at UBC. As a sessional instructor, I’m also interested in the What I Learned in Class Today Renewed Project for what can offer to faculty and teaching assistants who are keen to create more inclusive environments in their courses.

I have been positively surprised by the work environment. Despite getting to know my co-workers through online meetings, I have felt connected with their work already. I’m really looking forward to attending the many online sessions my colleagues are carrying out in the next weeks. It is going to be exciting to meet faculty, staff, and students who are eager to bring in Indigenous perspectives in their teaching and learning.

What excited you about joining this team/working on this project?

In joining CTLT’s Indigenous Initiatives I see an opportunity to keep working on two areas – teaching and learning – which I have devoted my experience and knowledge. The resources that the Indigenous Initiative team has created have been pivotal in my own teaching. I’m excited to learn from a team that is committed to engaging, revising, and rethinking Indigenous Initiatives through ongoing collaborations with Musqueam people as well as with other colleagues in CTLT and across UBC. And I can certainly contribute to this superb team with my teaching and facilitation experience.

 

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