The Office of Academic Research is pleased to announce the recipients of the Support for Scholarly Activity Fund (SSAF) – Fall 2025 Competition.
SSAF provides internal funding to support faculty-led research and scholarly initiatives that advance innovation in teaching, professional practice, and applied research. The Fall 2025 grant recipients reflect the strength and diversity of scholarly activity across the Yorkville community and the university’s ongoing commitment to building sustainable research capacity and academic leadership.
We are honored to support the following faculty members and their work:
Karen Edge, M.Ed._NB
Learning from Leader Support Associations: A Pan-Canadian Study of Future Opportunities and Challenges Facing School Leaders
This project examines the structures, systems, and policies shaping Canadian school leaders’ work and careers across provincial, territorial, and pan-Canadian contexts. The study will map key actors involved in leadership recruitment, development, and retention and explore current and emerging challenges and opportunities facing school leaders nationwide.
Nakita Savant, M.Ed._NB
From Awareness to Action: A Mixed-Methods Study on Faculty AI Adoption and the Development of Ethical Governance Tools in the Yorkville University M.Ed. Program
This study investigates faculty use of AI tools, levels of AI literacy and self-efficacy, and perceived challenges in the M.Ed. program. Findings will inform ethical governance tools and evidence-based recommendations to support responsible AI integration in curriculum and assessment.
Louise Olivier, Liberal Arts_BC
Empowering Yorkville Students and Faculty through Metaliterary and Self-Directed Learning
This research explores levels of metaliterary awareness and self-directed learning among Yorkville students and faculty, identifying strategies to strengthen these competencies within collaborative and digitally mediated learning environments.
Marco Bertuzzo, Liberal Arts_ON
Exploring Modes of Virtual Pedagogy – Process, Production, and Impact
This project examines the production processes, costs, and pedagogical impact of high-quality digital learning resources. Building on prior work with the Yorkville Innovation Lab, it investigates immersive media production and evaluates learning outcomes relative to production effort and cost.
Carla Weaver, BBA_BC
AI-Enabled Assessment Transformation in Higher Education: Balancing Ethics, Pedagogy, and Generational Change
This research examines how generative AI is reshaping activity-based assessment in higher education, with attention to critical thinking, ethical considerations, and emerging assessment frameworks that support responsible and effective AI use.
Regina Power, BCA_ON
Legal Guide to the Canadian Creative Industry (1st Edition)
This project develops a practical legal resource tailored to Canada’s creative industries, integrating legal doctrine with industry practice to support education, professional development, intellectual property protection, and contractual negotiation.
Lorraine Godden, M.Ed._NB
Planting the Seeds for Lifelong Career Development: Exploring the Role of Play
This study explores the role of play in early career development by examining literature, stakeholder perspectives, and opportunities to bridge theory and practice. The findings will inform a conceptual framework for understanding how play supports learning, engagement, and professional growth.
Congratulations to all recipients for their outstanding contributions to Yorkville University’s research and scholarly community.
