Academic Leadership Team
Meet our dean, associate deans and assistant deans at the Faculty of Nursing
Dr. Catherine Laing BPE, RN, PhD
Interim Dean
Dr. Laing has served as associate dean, undergraduate programs, in the Faculty of Nursing since 2018 and previously served as acting dean in the fall of 2023. Dr. Laing has been working in the field of pediatric oncology nursing for 25 years and holds a PhD as well as a Master of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing, and Bachelor of Physical Education from UCalgary.
Dr. Laing’s research is in the field of paediatric oncology, and, more recently, in undergraduate nursing program planning. Dr. Laing’s current research interests lie in lottery-based admission processes in undergraduate nursing education, and the role of technology for evaluation and clinical feedback. She is active at the local, national, and international levels of pediatric oncology nursing and undergraduate nursing education.
Dr. Nancy Moules PhD, RN
Associate Dean, Research
Dr. Nancy Moules is a professor with the Faculty of Nursing and past holder of the Kids Cancer Care Chair in Child and Family Cancer Care (2015-2020). She is a three-time alumna, receiving her BN, MN and PhD from the University of Calgary. She is internationally known for her work in hermeneutic research and scholarship, and is the editor of the Journal of Applied Hermeneutics and co-founder and chair of the Canadian Hermeneutic Institute. She leads a program of research focused on psychosocial paediatric oncology, family, grief, and relational complexity.
Dr. Tracie Risling, RN, PhD
Associate Dean, Innovation
Tracie Risling RN, PhD is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean of Innovation in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary.
She is president-elect of the Canadian Nurses Association and the Past-President of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Association. A registered nurse for 20 years with a practice background in pediatric and public health nursing, Tracie has extensive nursing education experience teaching, conducting research and engaging in curriculum design and evaluation for both undergraduate and graduate programs. She also leads a patient-oriented program of health and nursing informatics research including study on artificial intelligence, social media, co-design, and the use of texting for wellness and workforce support. She is a passionate advocate for increased nursing engagement in the development, use, and evaluation of digital health solutions, which is reflected in her work with the new Doctor of Nursing program at the University of Calgary. Dr. Risling serves on the editorial boards of the Canadian Nurse online journal and the JMIR Nursing informatics journal.
Dr. Zahra Shajani, RN, EdD
Interim Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs
Zahra Shajani is a dedicated advocate for health promotion, illness and injury prevention, with a particular focus on diverse individuals and families, especially those with young children and varying socio-economic backgrounds. Her commitment to early childhood development is evident in her work, where she strives to create supportive environments and build relationships to foster overall health. Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary, Zahra holds the position of Interim Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs. Her extensive experience and expertise have positioned her as a community leader both locally and nationally.
Actively involved in numerous community organizations dedicated to health, wellness, education, and quality of life enhancement, Zahra is deeply committed to making a positive impact. Zahra Shajani's leadership extends to her role as the President of the Ismaili Council for the Prairies, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping community initiatives. Additionally, she has served as the Chairman for the Aga Khan Health Board, further highlighting her commitment to improving healthcare for all.
As the co-chair for the Global Network of Public Health Nursing (GNPHN), Zahra collaborates on an international level to address public health challenges. Her involvement as a board member for Generations Calgary, a multi-generational organization, reflects her dedication to supporting diverse age groups within the community.
Dave Patterson
Interim Associate Dean Undergraduate Practice Education
Dave Patterson (he/him) completed his Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Nursing degrees here at the University of Calgary. His MN was focused on nursing education utilizing interprofessional education simulations, which led to certification as a Canadian Certified Simulation Nurse Educator.
Dave has taught at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Nursing since 2011. He is now an Assistant Professor (Teaching) after retiring from roles as both a Community Health Educator for the Calgary Zone Perinatal Education Program and a Level II NICU Nurse within Alberta Health Services. While working with students in congregate living facilities, Dave developed a passion for working with individuals experiencing dementia, their families, students, and staff to ensure respectful family-centred care is the standard of care.
Dave has taught throughout all terms of the undergraduate nursing curriculum, and his current focus is on transitioning from student to professional practice as a nurse.
Currently the Interim Associate Dean - Undergraduate Practice Education, Dave also serves as President of the Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association.
Dr. Lorelli Nowell, RN, PhD
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Dr. Lorelli Nowell has been teaching in the Faculty of Nursing since 2003. After finishing her PhD in Nursing at the University of Calgary in 2017, Dr. Lorelli Nowell completed an Eyes High Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. She earned her Master of Nursing from the University of Calgary in 2012, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Thompson Rivers University in 2000.
Dr. Nowell is passionate about teaching and learning and she has a strong mixed methods research background with numerous interdisciplinary collaborations. Her emerging program of research focuses on studying innovations in teaching and learning, the professional learning and development of educators, and mentorship to support teaching and learning practices. She frequently publishes and presents at regional, national, and international conferences, often in collaboration with her graduate students.
Dr. Nowell supervises students with an interest in teaching and learning, mentorship, and professional development using knowledge synthesis and mixed methods research approaches.
Dr. Andrew Estefan, PhD, RPN
Associate Dean, Curriculum Development & Program Evaluation
Dr. Andrew Estefan joined the Faculty of Nursing in 2008. Since this time he has taught undergraduate, master's and doctoral students in the areas of philosophy, research methods, and mental health/psychiatric nursing.
Between 2014 and 2016 he served in the role of Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning. Before coming to Calgary, Dr. Estefan taught in nursing, health and social care programs in Australia and the United Kingdom. His research program focuses on narrative inquiry and he has published work relating to narrative practice and pedagogy in post-secondary undergraduate and graduate learning. He was the recipient of the inaugural University Teaching Award for assistant professors in 2014 and is a member of the Teaching Academy at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Estefan's program of research inquires at the intersections of sexuality, gender, and people's experiences of mental health and illness. His research work in narrative inquiry and philosophical hermeneutics, alongside faculty colleagues, has been published extensively; he supervises numerous master's and doctoral students undertaking narrative and hermeneutic studies. His teaching, research, and scholarship have been recognized with international awards from the American Educational Research Association.
Dr. Michelle Scott
Associate Dean, Indigenous Education
Dr. Michelle Scott, Anaatsa'poopaki (Pretty Plume Woman) was previously the Faculty of Nursing's Director of Indigenous Initiatives. She joined UCalgary Nursing after being the director, Indigenous Initiatives at St Mary’s University in Calgary for over eight years. Michelle is a proud L’nu (Mi’kmaw) and Irish/English woman whose ancestral home is Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). She grew up in Tkaronto (Toronto) where she received a BA in Sociology from UToronto and has called Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary) home for the past 23 years. She also completed her MEd at the University of Saskatchewan.
Michelle is committed to opening up spaces within the western academy to centre Indigenous voices and Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing - to bring community together to learn alongside each other at the fire of all our relations about the historical and ongoing legacy of colonization in the place we now know as Canada and to provide the space at this fire for people to begin to understand themselves, their world and the future they want to create together, in a good way, on the path of reconciliation.
Dr. Tracey Clancy, RN, PhD
Assistant Dean, Faculty Development
Dr. Tracey Clancy is a tenured, associate professor teaching within the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary. She is currently the Assistant Dean of Faculty Development. Tracey has been teaching students in clinical practice since 1996, and joined the faculty as a full time instructor in 2008.
She is an inaugural member of the Teaching Academy at UCalgary’s Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning. Her research interests include exploring the philosophical underpinnings of nursing, nursing's disciplinary perspective, curriculum development, educational leadership, meaningful work, peer mentorship, co-teaching, teaching presence, authentic learning and self-authorship. Tracey’s practice experience is in oncology, hematology, bone marrow and stem cell transplant, in addition to an advanced nursing practice role within the Advanced Vascular Access Service at the Foothills Medical Center. She serves with the Alberta Children’s Hospital as a parent volunteer.
Tracey completed her PhD in nursing from the School of Nursing within the Faculty of Human and Social Development at the University of Victoria. Her dissertation is entitled, Teaching Nursing as a Complex Emergent Discipline. Tracey was chosen as the 2022/2023 Fellow of the Center for Nursing Philosophy at the University of California Irvine. She earned her Master of Nursing from the University of Calgary in 2008 with a focus on transitioning into clinical teaching. She received her Bachelor of Nursing in 1996 from the University of Calgary, having completed her nursing diploma from the Foothills School of Nursing in Calgary in 1988.
Dr. Heather Bensler, RN MSN EdD
Assistant Dean - Academic Partnerships
Dr. Heather Bensler joined the Faculty of Nursing in August 2017 as a tenure-track assistant professor (teaching) and the Director of Indigenous Initiatives with a focus on faculty and curriculum development. She is the Assistant Dean Academic Partnerships for the Faculty of Nursing. In this role, She is responsible for ongoing development, sustainment, and extension of collaborative partnerships with rural and Indigenous academic partners in the profession of undergraduate nursing educational programs.
Dr. Nicole Letourneau, PhD MN BN RN FCAHS FAAN FCAN FRSC
Assistant Dean, Mentorship for Research and Grant Success
Nicole Letourneau PhD RN FCAHS FAAN FCAN FRSC is a professor in the Faculty of Nursing and Cumming School of Medicine (Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Community Health Sciences) at the University of Calgary, where she holds the University of Calgary Research Excellence Chair in Parent and Child Health.
She is Scientific Director of CIHR's National Health Research Training Plaform and Women's and Girls' Health Hub, called AVA (Alliance against Violence and Adversity), comprised of more than 200 academic and community partners across Canada, focused on implementation science training and knowledge mobilization to address violence and adversity affecting girls and women. She is also Director of RESOLVE (Research and Education for Solutions to Violence) Alberta. She is Principal Investigator (PI) of the Child Health Intervention and Longitudinal Development (CHILD) Studies Program, APrON, the Alberta pregnancy cohort of 2200 families funded for follow-up to 17 years of child age. She founded the ATTACH and VID-KIDS parenting programs.
She has attained $75 million CAD in research funding. In this capacity as assitant dean, her focus is on cultivating mentorship opportunities for new and early-career faculty members, graduate students, and post-doctoral trainees to enhance research excellence and funding within the Faculty of Nursing.