Originally from Vancouver, Claire received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Victoria (2003), completed her Masters of Arts in English Literature and Language at Queen’s University (2005) where she also was accepted into their doctoral program. In 2008, while working on her dissertation, Claire joined the English Department at John Abbott. The experience was transformative, making her realize that teaching, not academic research, is where she could contribute most effectively to the struggle for a free and just world. Her course content addresses the real problems of our times, empowering students to confront destructive environmental practices and state-sanctioned violence with the courage, compassion and analytical rigour that this requires. By embracing a holistic model of education, one that incorporates movement, cultural and outdoor activities, and creative writing into more traditional practices, Claire is committed to fostering her students' intellectual development, creativity and sense of agency. She hopes that in discovering more about each other and themselves, students will also rediscover their innate capacity for joy.