Office of the Dean

Dr. Melike Schalomon

Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science
Professor, Psychology

Room 7-310T, City Centre Campus
780-497-5302 • schalomonm@macewan.ca

Education

• PhD, Neuroscience (Alberta)

• M.Sc., Psychology (Alberta)

• B.Sc., Behavioural Neuroscience (Laurentian)

Previous Appointments

• Associate Dean, Administration (MacEwan University)

• Chair, Department of Psychology (MacEwan University)

• Chair, Animal Research Ethics Board (MacEwan University)

• Faculty appointments at the University of Alberta and Athabasca University

Areas of Specialization and Scholarly Activity

Dr. Schalomon’s teaching interests are primarily in the area of behavioural neuroscience and more broadly, the biological bases of behaviour. She has taught courses on topics related to neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, and human sexuality, in addition to introductory level courses in Psychology. Her current program of research is focused on the neurochemical bases of anxiety and conditioning in zebrafish (Danio rerio) employing computerized motion tracking of fish behaviour. Dr. Schalomon has previously published research on mice (experimental neurogenetics and neurosurgery, cerebral lateralization), rats (experimental neurosurgery, prefrontal cortex), and humans (sexuality in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder).

Dr. Joanne Minaker

Associate Dean, Academic, Faculty of Arts and Science
Associate Professor, Sociology

Room 7-310P, City Centre Campus
780-633-3988 • minakerj@macewan.ca

Education

• PhD, Socio-legal Studies (Queen's)

• MA, Sociology (Manitoba)

• BA, Criminology (Manitoba)

Previous Appointments

• Sociology Coordinator, Department of Sociology (MacEwan University)

• Member, Presidential Transition Team (MacEwan University)

• Member, Arts and Science Promotion and Review Committee (MacEwan University)

• Member, Academic Governance Council (MacEwan University)

• Editorial Board, International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory, The Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement and the Engaged Scholar.

• Founding faculty advisor, Change Making initiative, Student Association (MacEwan University)

Areas of Specialization and Scholarly Activity

• Youth crime, youth justice and criminalized youth

• Sociology of care, motherhood studies and marginalized mothering contexts

• Social (in)justice and community engagement

• At the core of Dr. Minaker’s scholarship are explorations of the tensions between individual agency and social systems and "the power of meaningful connections" in creating openings for personal transformation and social change.

• Currently working on two main research projects: 1) Social Media, Engagement, and Caring 2) Sexual Violence in the Post-Secondary Learning Context

• Select publications

  • Byrd, D., Minaker, J. & O’Reilly, A. (Eds). (forthcoming 2019) Feminist perspectives on young mothering. Bradford: Demeter Press. 

  • Boulianne, S., Minaker, J. & Haney, T. (2018). Does compassion go viral? Social media, caring, and the Fort McMurray wildfire. Information, Communication & Society, 21(5), 697-711. DOI: 10.1080/1369118X.2018.1428651

  • Minaker, J. (2017). Appreciating Ashley: Learning about and from the life and death of Ashley Smith through feminist pedagogy. Canadian Journal of Law and Society, 32(2), 291-306. Special Issue. DOI:10.1017/cls.2017.15

  • Minaker J., & Hogeveen, B. (2015) Criminalized mothers, criminalizing motherhood. Brandford: Demeter Pres.

  • Minaker, J., & Hogeveen, B. (2009) Youth, crime & society: Issues of power and justice. Toronto: Pearson.

Dr. Rob Wiznura

Associate Dean, Operations, Faculty of Arts and Science
Assistant Professor, English

Room 7-310S, City Centre Campus
780-633-3919 • wiznurar@macewan.ca

Education

• PhD, English (British Columbia)

• MA, English (Alberta)

• BA, Philosophy (KU Leuven)

• BA, English (Alberta)

Previous Appointments

• Chair, Bachelor of Arts, General Studies, and Bachelor of Education Transfer (MacEwan University)

Areas of Specialization and Scholarly Activity

• Milton, 17th Century literature, Bunyan, Smithsonian Folkways

• Currently completing article on Bunyan’s The Holy War and working on a project on Milton’s Samson Agonistes

• “Eve’s dream, Interpretation, and Shifting Paradigms: Books Four and Five of Paradise Lost.” Milton Studies 49 (2009): 108-23.

• Teaching and research interests include Bible as literature, Milton, Bunyan, Shakespeare, classics in children’s literature

Associate Decanal Responsibilities

• Hearing student complaints and routing appeals on matters like academic standing, course substitutions, final exam accommodations, transfer credit, and visiting student requests

• Working with the academic integrity officer and encouraging good student citizenship

• Helping to develop, promote, and manage co-op and community based learning opportunities

• Advancing on-line pedagogy, including blending learning and eCampus offerings