Alice Schmidt Hanbidge, M.S.W., R.S.W., PhD., Associate Professor in the Bachelor and Masters degree programs in the School of Social Work at Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada combines the applied practices of community health within an academic setting to effectively contribute to the advancement of knowledge, research and program delivery. Alice was a founding developer of the first health-focused Master of Social Work online program (2013) in Canada, including the development of the Supervision and Leadership in Social Work course. Key research program and publication areas include advancing technology in the teaching of social work, learning with mobile devices, online learning practices, advancement in supervision and leadership and furthering field education in social work. Alice coordinated  several mobile learning projects; the Integrity Matters project recently won the International E-Learning Association’s Mobile Learning Award (IELA, 2018). Alice’s 20+year extensive social work practice experience includes a specialization in leadership and program development in community mental health that contributes to her clinical, teaching and research social work interests.  

E-mail: ashanbidge@uwaterloo.ca 

Brent Carr, Manager of Community Wellness and Social Enterprise with CMHA Middlesex, currently completing the Master of Social Work at Renison University College. Brent completed his undergraduate degree in social work, as well as nonprofit management. During Brent’s 10-year career at CMHA Middlesex he has demonstrated a keen interest in leadership and program development. Brent supported CMHA to create and launch their current social enterprise (a business developed to hire people with mental health issues), was a team lead for a residential program, and currently manages their Community Wellness department. As manager, he has partnered with academic institutions to assess the effectiveness of having mental health workers in library settings and also supported evaluation research of models that promote employment opportunities for people with mental illness. These partnerships enhance the development of best practices within his community. As a manager, Brent is interested in supporting supervisors from community-based agencies to develop their skills in leadership practice.

Cathy Mudge, B.A., Fourth-year student in the Bachelor of Social Work degree program at Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Cathy applies formal training to issues related to poverty and family homelessness in her home community of London, Ontario. Cathy’s previous experience as a licenced Realtor informs the work she does with precariously housed and homeless families to find and maintain stable housing. Some areas of research interest include relative poverty in a Canadian context, education and learning program development, and effective leadership and supervision training. Cathy’s recent career transition to social and human services work is preceded by 15 years of entrepreneurship, business marketing and human resource management in the real estate and retail sectors.

E-mail: csmudge@uwaterloo.ca