Alumni Awards 2025

About Anna Pearson

Anna Pearson earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and French, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Education in Educational Leadership at Nipissing University. Committed to inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, equity, and global citizenship, she has taught in both French Immersion and English streams and currently teaches with the Near North District School Board.

In 2019, Anna returned to Nipissing as an inaugural Professional Associate at Nipissing University’s Centre for the Study of State Violence. In this role, she collaborates with scholars such as Dr. Hilary Earl and educators like Dr. Jonathan Pitt, to facilitate workshops, experiential programs, and professional development opportunities for Nipissing students and aspiring teachers. For Anna, teaching complex topics based on age-appropriate strategies ensures that the next generation of teachers are empathetic and capable.

Since 2021, Anna has taught at Nipissing’s Schulich School of Education focusing on social studies and history pedagogy. Her courses prepare teacher candidates to teach historical thinking and challenges them to create inclusive and critically engaged classrooms. In 2024, Anna received the CASBU (Contract Academic Staff Bargaining Unit) Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence and in 2025, she received the Minister’s Award of Excellence for FutureProofing Ontario Students.

In 2022, Anna was awarded the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence in recognition of her outstanding contributions to K–12 education.

In 2023, Anna joined the Ministry of Education to revise the Social Studies curriculum and served as a consultant, writer, and reader for the Ontario College of Teachers’ Additional Qualification course on Holocaust Education and Countering Antisemitism. In 2026, she will write, develop and deliver an Intermediate Division History AQ course.

Anna is now pursuing her PhD at York University, exploring the ways in which experiential learning at sites of trauma fosters empathy, ethical awareness, and transformative learning. This research informs her practice as she has co-facilitated study tours at Nipissing University and with the Canadian Battlefields Foundation. Her commitment to justice-based education has been recognized with fellowships at the University of New Brunswick’s Gregg Centre, Canadian Society for Yad Vashem, and Northwestern University.

Anna’s teaching, scholarship and leadership began at Nipissing University where she took to heart: “never be a bystander.”

About Connor Lafortune

G’chi Waabshka Mukwa ndizhinikaaz miinwaa Nimkiins ndizhinikaaz bineshiinh ndondem Okikendawt ndonjiibaa Anishinaabe miinwaa Wemitigosh nini ndow.

Connor Lafortune is from Dokis First Nation on Robinson Huron Treaty territory of 1850 in Northeastern Ontario. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Nipissing University with a Double Honours Major in Indigenous Studies and Gender Equality and Social Justice. He has completed a Master’s in Indigenous Relations at Laurentian University and will begin pursing a PhD in Rural and Northern Health this September.

Connor is Anishinaabek, Queer, and Francophone; he uses his understanding of the world to shape his creations as a writer, poet, and musician. He combines the written word with Indigenous beadwork and sewing to recreate the stories of colonization, showcase resilience, and imagine new futures.

He works primarily in Life Promotion, harm-reduction, mental health, and Indigenous education through organizations such as the Feather Carriers: Leadership for Life Promotion, School Mental Health Ontario, and Cannabis & Mental Health.

Above all else, Connor is a poet, an activist, a shkaabewis, and a compassionate human being.

About Hayley Heaslip

Hayley Heaslip graduated from Nipissing University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, specializing in Marketing. A proud Nipissing alumna, she brings energy, creativity, and community spirit to everything she does. Currently working as the Manager of Member Relations & Events at the Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers (CARS), Hayley organizes national industry events and fosters meaningful connections across Canada’s railway sector.

Now living in Renfrew, Ontario, Hayley gives back to her community through her work on the Bonnechere River Park and Trail Project Working Group and the Renfrew Public Library Board. She also hosts the annual Barr Street Block Party and supports Canada Day celebrations with games and festive fun for local families.

Hayley volunteered for five years with Girl Guides of Canada in Ottawa, working with Sparks, Embers, and Guides (ages 5–12), helping girls grow into confident, compassionate leaders.

Hayley is married to her university sweetheart, Scott, whom she met at Nipissing. Together, they share their home with two beloved dogs, who are truly part of the family.

About Norm Dokis

Norm Dokis is a professional nature interpreter who uses Indigenous ways of knowing in his land-based teachings. He grew up on the land as a guide for tourists who visited his community of Dokis. With a lifetime of experience, Norm employs a balanced approach of storytelling, humour, bushcraft skills, history and a variety of topics to provide a holistic educational experience.

Norm has been employed with the Ministry of Natural Resources as a Resource Liaison Specialist for over 21 years and enjoys his role of working with Indigenous communities.

Norm is the president of the Ganawandaagwad Institute which focuses on historical preservation as well as the owner of Camp Petawachuan, a cultural education camp delivering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) programming in collaboration with elders, youth, and other educators.

Norm’s teaching philosophy revolves around inclusion and often uses his quote “reconciliation starts with me” as a starting point to unite numerous organizations.

About Sabah Khan

Sabah Khan is a strong global leader whose work spans more than a decade across international mobility, public sector administration, private-sector operations, and client services. With a professional footprint in Canada, India, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and Australia, she brings a unique global perspective and a proven track record of delivering transformative results in both education and business environments.

Since migrating to Canada in 2021 as an international student, Sabah has made an indelible impact on Nipissing University and the broader North Bay community. Currently serving as the International Mobility Coordinator in the Registrar’s Office at Nipissing University, she leads strategic planning and implementation of student exchange, study abroad, global internship programs, and summer travel courses. She is also actively involved in international admissions, ensuring academic alignments and policy compliance. Her innovative approach—including the development of pre-departure workshops, re-entry sessions, and international networking events—has reinvigorated the University’s global engagement, resulting in increased participation, enhanced cultural preparedness, and a stronger international student experience.

Sabah is also a dedicated community builder. She has partnered with local businesses to create resource guides that support international students with housing and integration.

Her role in the Diversity at Work Nipissing (DAWN) initiative and her involvement in various cultural events showcase her unwavering commitment to inclusivity and community connection.

Sabah’s leadership is marked by both compassion and precision, which have earned her numerous accolades, including back-to-back Post-Baccalaureate Leadership Awards from Nipissing University in 2022 and 2023. Academically, she holds a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Human Resource Management from Nipissing University, a Retail Management qualification from Australia, and a bachelor’s degree in arts from Pune University, India.

With a history of exceeding performance benchmarks and leading award-winning teams internationally, Sabah exemplifies excellence in both education and community service. She prides herself for being a compassionate changemaker helping shape a more inclusive and globally connected campus and community future at Nipissing University.