Teaching students about storytelling, research, and how to get out in the field.
I came to academia after a decade working in newsrooms, magazine offices, and as a freelance journalist. In 2017, I earned my MLitt in Environmental History from the University of St Andrews, during which time I was introduced to the methods and theory of oral history. The rest is history (literally).
I regularly present and attend academic conferences, including those held by the Royal Geographical Society, the Oral History Society, and the National Geographic Society. My research interests are rooted in environmental history, but I am also interested in furthering the practice of trauma-informed interviewing, deep listening, rural reporting, and historical storytelling for a general audience.
I currently teach journalism, research, and narrative non-fiction at the University of King’s College in Halifax, N.S., across undergraduate and graduate journalism programmes. My students produce news and longform reporting for our campus publication, The Signal, and I also mentor graduate students as they complete their capstone projects.
Previous to King’s, I taught in Thompson River University’s Communication and Digital Journalism programme.
My teaching career started with the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, when I taught and mentored students at their annual WordsWorth summer camp (which I also attended as a teen!). Since then I have continued to mentor young writers and storytellers through the University of St Andrews International Summer School and National Geographic’s Explorers in Classrooms programmes.
My research focuses on environmental history and policy, trauma-informed interviewing, rural reporting, and deep listening.
Student successes!
Finding Sanctuary
Olivia Nitti and Tedi Buffett’s 2026 investigative feature for The Signal, Finding Sanctuary, won Silver in the Student Journalism Award at the 2026 Atlantic Journalism Awards.
Canada’s most valuable fish
In February 2026, student Yuan Wang had her investigation into the illegal trade of elvers published in The Walrus.
B.C Wildfire Service information officer
Cassidy Martin now communicates essential wildfire emergency alerts and logistics in the B.C. Interior.
The Signal
Throughout the school year, my students produce The Signal, telling compelling stories for the people who live, work, and play in the Halifax area.
WITH MORE TO COME…
I’m a deep believer in lifelong learning. I’ve recently taken workshops, courses, and lessons in:
Beginner Gaelic, through the Nova Scotia Gaelic Council
Using mapping tools to investigate environmental crime, with the Pulitzer Center
Advanced interviewing, with UC Berkeley and the Oral History Center
Adult swimming, at the YMCA