Our instructors

Shelley-Anne Vidal

Shelley-Anne Vidal (she/her/hers) is an experienced educator, facilitator, and inclusive leadership coach with over 15 years of experience designing and delivering interactive, learner-centred workshops and courses in both in-person and online environments. Since beginning her facilitation work in 2009, Shelley has taught across a range of topics including Job Search, Intercultural Communication, Entrepreneurship, and the Foundations of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Shelley holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration & Leadership from Royal Roads University, along with certificates in Executive Coaching, Intercultural Studies, and Career Development Practice. She is also a graduate of the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program and brings a strong foundation in communication through her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cheyney University.

Currently, Shelley serves as a Post-Degree Diploma Instructor at Langara College and as a facilitator for the Intercultural Studies program and Certificate in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Centre of Equitable Systems Design. She is also the Founder of Phenomenal Black Women Networking & Social (PBWNS) and the Inclusive Leadership Coach and Community Builder behind Affirming Community Together (ACT) by Vidal, where she supports individuals and organizations in building inclusive, affirming, and values-driven communities.

Shelley is deeply passionate about community engagement, social justice, and creating learning spaces that are inclusive, practical, and transformative. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her young daughter, supporting community activism, meeting new people, travelling, and reconnecting with nature through long walks.

Stephen Wade

Alannah Wallace

Alannah Wallace (MA) is a PhD candidate in the Attentional Neuroscience Laboratory in the UBC Department of Psychology. She studies the electrophysiology of the visual attention network and the use of behavioural strategies to optimize control of attention and/or compensate for stress on an executive system due to environmental and/or neurobiological factors.

Wanda Warkentin

John Warren

Suzanne Weiler

Erika Wong

Dr. Erika Wong, PhD, is a start-up founder, practising artist, podcast co-host and lecturer at various institutions. She has worked internationally in tech, fashion, and art strategising. She is a Fellow in Higher Education holding a PhD in Business from the University of Brighton in Brighton, England; an MA in Creative Practice for Narrative Environment from Central St. Martins in London, England; and a BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Jack York

Jack York, MSW, RSW, is Program Coordinator of the Continuing Education and Certificate Programs at the UBC School of Social Work and a Sessional Lecturer in both the Bachelor and Masters of Social Work programs.

Jack is a mental health and substance use clinician, educator and researcher. Jack has over fifteen years of frontline mental health practice and clinical supervision experience, including training and experience in a variety of mental health modalities of practice. He has taught mental health and substance use courses in the BSW and MSW programs at the UBC School of Social Work, and has conducted research on concurrent mental health and substance use practice, including recent published scholarly work on the topic.

Jack completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work, specializing in health and mental health practice, completed the BCCSU Addiction Social Work Fellowship, and is currently a PhD student at the UBC School of Social Work, focused on concurrent mental health, substance use and low-barrier, harm reduction informed supportive housing.

Jack led the development of the UBC Micro-certificate in Mental Health and Substance Use.

Kaya Yoshida

Andre Zamani