About the Authors

Jessica Blackwell is the Special Collections & Archives Librarian at the Dana Porter Library at the University of Waterloo. In this role, she is responsible for designing and implementing workshops, assignments, and lectures for students in a variety of faculties across campus on topics such as primary source literacy, book history, and archival research. She has presented on topics including indigenization at the university, using narrative as an instruction tool and experiential learning in women’s studies classes. Her work also involves donor relations, reference services, collection development, and outreach on campus and beyond.

Patrick Blessinger, Ed.D., is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Education at St. John’s University, a Math and Science teacher with the New York State Education Department, and a Chief Research Scientist of the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (in consultative status with the United Nations). He is the editor and author of many books and articles and is an Educational Policy Analyst and Contributing Writer with UNESCO’s Inclusive Policy Lab, University World News, The Hechinger Report, The Guardian, and Higher Education Tomorrow, among others. He teaches courses in education, leadership, and research methods and serves on doctoral dissertation committees. He founded and leads a global network of educators focused on teaching and learning and is an expert in inclusion, equity, leadership, policy, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. He provides professional development workshops to teachers and professors and regularly gives presentations and keynote addresses at academic conferences around the world. He has received several educational awards, including Fulbright Senior Scholar to Denmark (Department of State, USA), Governor’s Teaching Fellow (Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia, USA), and Certified Educator (National Geographic Society, USA).