Book Team Bios
Dr Barbara Brown, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. Her work is at the forefront of integrating emerging technologies into K-12 and higher education learning environments. A key focus of Dr. Brown’s research is examining the experiences of students and faculty as they navigate and engage with artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies in educational settings. She helped establish the AI Community of Practice in the Werklund School and supports the partnership with the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Literacy and Integrity (CAIELI) in the Doucette Library located in the Education building.
Dr Sandra Abegglen, PhD, is a Researcher in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) at the University of Calgary with a strong interest in collaboration, co-creation and social justice. Her research focuses on online education, hybrid pedagogy, academic literacies, and creative learning and teaching methods. She is the Principal Investigator for Playful Hybrid Higher Education [https://playhybrid.education] and TALON [https://taloncloud.ca], the Teaching and Learning Online Network. She is also co-author for both of the crowdsourced, open-access collections on AI in Education.
Dr Fabian Neuhaus, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary in SAPL. His research in the urban environment focuses on the topics of habitus, type, and ornament. He is interested in participatory methodologies and co-created processes in the built environment as well as in the scholarship of learning and teaching. He has published widely and presented his innovative design work nationally and internationally. He is currently an Educational Leader in Residency at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning.
Patrick Hanlon has been an educator for nearly 35 years and has been a Teaching and Learning Facilitator with Werklund School of Education since 2017. Throughout his career he has taught in cross-cultural contexts, beginning with his work as a junior high school teacher. His role at Werklund has involved him in supporting faculty and sessional instructors in the adoption of emerging learning technologies and he has recently been supporting research into teacher wellness and well-being. Since 2023, he has led the Werklund School of Education Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice.
Dr. Soroush Sabbaghan is an Associate Professor and Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. A leader in the intersection of technology and education, his work focuses on generative AI literacy, inclusive design, and educational innovation. He has developed tools like SMARTIE, Ally, and REVIA, fostering accessibility and efficiency in learning environments. His upcoming edited book, Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education: Ethical, Theoretical and Practical Perspectives, anchors his 2025 AI speaker series, engaging public audiences in critical AI discourse. His impactful presentations and publications explore AI’s role in shaping the future of education.
Leeanne Morrow is currently serving as Associate University Librarian for Student Learning and Engagement. In the Library she leads the innovative staff working on the public services team, the subject librarian team and the Digital Strategies team. She is also responsible for the library’s initiatives in supporting artificial intelligence literacy including leading the Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Literacy and Integrity (CAIELI). CAIELI is a transdisciplinary student focused initiative providing space and support for students to explore and learn about generative artificial intelligence through programing and training with a focus on connecting students to experts as well as a foundation in academic integrity. She has an MLIS from the University of Alberta and a BA in Art History from the University of Calgary. She joined the University of Calgary in 2007 and prior to that spent four years at the Calgary Public Library as the Business Services Librarian.
Transformative Talent Interns/Graduate Assistant Researchers
Alexandria Poppendorf is a PhD candidate in Educational Leadership at the University of Calgary. A neurodivergent Appalachian scholar, she specializes in narrative research and critical place studies. Her transdisciplinary work weaves together continental philosophy, personal narrative, and non-Western ways of knowing and being, with a focus on voice, justice, equity, and inclusion. This unique approach informs her exploration of curricula of place and place-making in educational contexts. She is also a research assistant with the Play, Redesign, and Learn group, an interdisciplinary team investigating game redesign projects and culturally sustaining pedagogy. As Vice President Academic of the Graduate Students’ Association (2024–2025), she led the founding of Peer Beyond, the first interdisciplinary graduate research journal fully maintained by a graduate students’ association. Its inaugural issue, conference proceedings from the 2025 Peer Beyond conference, was published in April 2025.
Mohammadmahdi Zanjanian is a PhD student in Environmental Design at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL), University of Calgary. His research centers on participatory placemaking and the role of collaborative design processes in addressing inequalities in access to public spaces. He leads experimental projects and participatory initiatives at NextCalgary, focusing on co-creation and gamification. Prior to joining SAPL, he worked as a lead urban designer, contributing to a diverse portfolio of urban planning and design projects and award-winning design competitions.
Bridgette Crabbe is a Filipino-Canadian interdisciplinary designer with a passion for transforming spaces into vibrant, immersive environments. Her expertise spans graphic design, branding, photography, trend forecasting (an extreme generalist perhaps) and urban design. Bridgette holds a Bachelor of Design from MacEwan University and has dipped into the world of the advertising industry. Currently pursuing a Master’s of Planning (MPlan) at the University of Calgary, Bridgette is driven by a vision to create impactful, experiential spaces that combine visual design and the built environment to inspire connection.
