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Chris Martin

Dr. Chris William Martin is a Professor of Social Sciences in the Police and Public Safety Institute at Algonquin College. He holds a PhD and M.A. in sociology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is a passionate applied researcher whose work examines topics like semiotics, identity, meaning, work and professions. He has extensively studied the history, art, and culture of tattooing and graffiti. Through his work with the Victimology Research Centre and the Paramedicine Research Lab he is also helping to conduct several federally funded (SSHRC) research projects exploring the career and wellbeing of paramedics and other first responders and healthcare professionals.

His research has appeared in books from Bloomsbury Academic Publishing including Reading Graffiti: The Semiotics of Street Art (Forthcoming with co-author Diana McGlinchey) and The Social Semiotics of Tattoos: Skin and Self (paperback 2020). He has also published journal articles and book chapters for publications like Traumatology, The Public Journal of Semiotics, Oxford University Press, and Cambridge Scholars Press. He loves to play guitar, read, and spend time with his wife and two daughters outside of work.

Alyssa Ferns Ph.D.

Alyssa Ferns is a full-time professor with the Police and Public Safety Institute. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in forensic psychology from Carleton University, and a B.A. from the University of Guelph. Prior to working at Algonquin College, she was a full-time professor and program coordinator for the Bachelor of Social Science (Criminal Justice) at Humber College. Alyssa is an applied researcher who has had the opportunity to work with the Toronto Police Service, the RCMP, and Correctional Services Canada. She has been awarded research grants from both Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Her projects have related to police use of force decision making, neighbourhood policing, vicarious resilience of service providers, and concussion recovery for intimate partner violence survivors. She currently works with the Victimology Research Centre at Algonquin and is passionate about worker wellness for all first responders. She enjoys teaching courses related to mental health, psychology, and research methods.

Ashley Murfin

Ashley has a passion for sharing knowledge and helping others succeed. As a proud alumnus of the 1993-94 Algonquin College Paramedic Program, he was named the most dedicated student.

Ashley is currently an Ed.D candidate, pursuing a Doctor of Education with a specialization in Emerging Educational Technology with Edgewood University. He has a Master’s in Health Services Management, from Charles Sturt University, a Bachelor’s in Physical Education (Hon), from the University of Ottawa and a Teacher & Trainer of Adults Certificate from Algonquin College. During the OPALS Study, he completed his ACP Program with the Michener Institute (1998) and his Advanced Flight Paramedic Certification with Sunnybrook. Ashley has worked as a Land Paramedic in both the urban and rural environments and as an Advanced Care Flight Paramedic on 7791.

Ashley has been teaching and precepting throughout his career, including the Algonquin Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic Programs, Pre-Service Firefighter Program, Ottawa Base Hospital, Special Operations, Incident Command System, as well as leadership principles to new Operations Superintendents. He was part of the team that wrote and taught the first ACP Program offered at Algonquin College (2000).

With the Ottawa Paramedic Service, at the rank of Commander, he has held several portfolios including Operations, Performance Management & Special Operations. Ashley helped build the first Tactical and Paramedic Support Unit Specialty Teams in Ottawa. He has been the incident commander and lead planner for many major events and special visits in Ottawa, most notably Canada Day Celebrations, Presidential and Royal Visits. He is the co-founder of the OPS Diversity Champion Program and actively promotes diversity.

Ashley has received several honours and awards including The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada, the 12 year (medal) and 22 year (bar) Service Medal from the Ottawa Paramedic Service, the City Manager’s Award of Excellence, the Public Hero’s Award from Intracultural Dialogue Institute of Ottawa and the Long Service Award from the Ontario Paramedic Association.

LinkedIn: Ashley Murfin, EdD (Candidate), MHSM, ACP(f) | LinkedIn

ORCID (Research): https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3331-1773

Deanna Schofield

Deanna is an experienced, positive coach and motivator for students and paramedics to reach their full potential as informal and formal servant leaders. As an EMS Coordinator and Superintendent, Deanna worked to improve bias aware teaching practices and aligning assessments of paramedic employees and new hires with bona fide job requirements. Deanna uses and has taught the GROW model of coaching for performance to hundreds of municipal staff to incorporate formal check-ins and informal coaching moments to improve success.

A paramedic graduate from Holland College, PEI, she started working in her hometown Halifax, Nova Scotia, the day after graduation in the spring of 1999. She also worked as a triage paramedic in the tertiary care center, Queen Elizabeth II Emergency Room before returning to complete her Advanced Care Paramedic program. As one of a small group of out-of-province paramedics that challenged the barriers to transfer credentials, she joined the Ottawa Paramedic Service in 2001.

With the Ottawa Paramedic Service, she highlights her roles through the years as a teacher, preceptor, hospital liaison, project officer for the Diversity Champion Program, and the Unintentional Overdose Prevention Task Force partnering with police, fire, community non-profits and Ottawa Public Health. She was a team member on many projects that improved pre-hospital care and built regional solutions to vulnerable patient care issues such as the TED program (Targeted Engagement and Diversion), STEMI bypass changes, and the CHEO NeoNatal Transport Unit.

In her volunteer time, Deanna is a founding member of the Paramedic Women’s Community, member of the Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa (PPAO) Helping Every Local Paramedic (HELPfund), Paramedic Ride, a Scouter and basketball coach.

As a cross-cultural competency facilitator, Deanna continues to work to recognize bias and use her privilege as a settler to build diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities. She lives with her wife, two children and many pets in rural Ottawa.