Originally from Vancouver, Claire received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Victoria (2003), completed her Masters in English Literature and Language at Queen’s University (2005) where she also was accepted into the PhD program. While working on her PhD dissertation, Claire joined the English Department at John Abbott in 2008. The experience was transformative for her, making her realize that her passion was for teaching and not academic research. In 2013, Claire became a certified yoga instructor and has since tried to incorporate movement and meditation into her teaching practice. Claire is deeply committed to fostering the intellectual development of her students, their creativity and sense of agency. She chooses course content that challenges destructive social practices, proposes solutions to the current environmental crisis and encourages the political engagement of her students.