Advancing Leadership in Educational Scholarship
The QIESR Scholars Program formalizes scholarly leadership at Queen’s through three complementary designations: QIESR Invited Scholar, QIESR Scholar, and QIESR Student Scholar Partner. Together, these roles strengthen institutional research capacity, foster mentorship across career stages, and connect QIESR to national and international scholarly networks. Scholars are selected through an adjudication process based on demonstrated contribution to educational scholarship and alignment with QIESR mission and priorities.
Appointment as a QIESR Scholar provides formal recognition and connects recipients to a cross-disciplinary community engaged in rigorous inquiry into teaching and learning. Scholars gain enhanced visibility through QIESR programming and communications, opportunities to contribute to institutional and broader scholarly conversations and research projects, and priority access to consultation through QIESR’s Educational Researcher and Consultant. The designation strengthens scholarly identity and supports continued impact in educational scholarship.
Appointments reflect role and contribution, with three-year renewable terms for QIESR Invited Scholars and QIESR Scholars and one-year renewable terms for Student Scholar Partners.
Continued appointment recognizes meaningful contributions that advance QIESR’s mission and strategic priorities.
Scholar Programs
QIESR Invited Scholars
(Three-Year Term | Renewable)
QIESR Invited Scholars are individuals not within the Queen’s community and connect QIESR to leading national and international conversations in the scholarship of teaching and learning, discipline-based education research, and educational research. This designation recognizes established scholars whose work demonstrates conceptual depth, methodological strength, and public contribution.
QIESR Invited Scholars contribute through visible intellectual engagement rather than administrative responsibility. During their term, QIESR Invited Scholars have the opportunity to deliver a high-profile lecture or seminar, create or participate in a QIESR Nexus, and engage in dialogue with QIESR Scholars and Student Scholar Partners as appropriate. They may provide consultative input on emerging scholarly directions and/or participate in collaborative initiatives that enhance QIESR’s national visibility.
Dr. Justin Bilszta
Senior Lecturer, Department of Medical Education, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne
Dr. Bilszta leads educational program design and delivery with a focus on health professions education, notably directing the Master of Clinical Education, one of Australia’s premier programs in the field. His scholarship emphasizes curriculum innovation, research education, and fostering inter-institutional collaboration to enhance teaching and learning in medical education across Australia and New Zealand.
Dr. Lindsay M. Brant
Director, Indigenous Initiatives at St. Lawrence College, and Adjunct Assistant Professor and Senior Advisor, Teaching, Innovation and Learning, Master of Health Professions Education Program at Queen’s University
Dr. Lindsay Marie Brant is. Lindsay is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. She’s a scholar, educator, leader and storyteller, creative writer/poet.
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Dr. Melanie Hamilton
Director, Jane and Ron Graham Centre for SoTL; Assistant Professor, Curriculum Studies, College of Education, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Hamilton’s scholarship advances the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) through the development of scholarly communities, institutional leadership, and educational programming. She focuses on SoTL leadership, identity formation, and fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary cultures that support sustained inquiry into teaching and learning in higher education. Recipient of the 2026 ISSOTL Distinguished Service Award.
QIESR Scholar
(Three-Year Term | Renewable)
The QIESR Scholar designation recognizes faculty, librarians, staff or postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate sustained leadership in educational scholarship. QIESR Scholars serve as intellectual anchors within the QIESR ecosystem, contributing to mentorship, scholarly culture, and institutional capacity-building.
QIESR Scholars maintain an active program of inquiry and contribute meaningfully to QIESR initiatives over their term. This may include creating, participating in, or leading a Nexus group, supporting emerging scholars, contributing to public scholarship events, and advancing knowledge mobilization within the institution. The role is designed to amplify existing and ongoing scholarly leadership rather than introduce substantial new obligations.
By formalizing scholarly leadership within Queen’s, QIESR strengthens mentorship pathways, supports cross-disciplinary collaboration, and establishes visible standards of rigour and ethical inquiry across its broader network.
Dr. Meghan Norris
Dr. Norris focuses on educational leadership with a strong commitment to accessible post-secondary education. Her work bridges scholarship and practice, emphasizing collaborative approaches to address challenges such as campus crises and pandemic-related education adjustments.
Meghan Norris | Department of Psychology
Dr. Michele M. Leering
Visiting Scholar, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Dr. Leering’s work centers on advancing reflective practice as a professional metacompetency in las as a professional discipline. She also researchers and supports legal empowerment, systemic advocacy and legal literacy approaches to improve access to justice for marginalized communities. With a background as a community lawyer and community leader, she integrates participatory action research and interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen legal education and professional development in support of people-centred justice ecosystems.
Dr. Kim Sears, RN, PhD
Professor, School of Nursing, Queen’s University
Dr. Sears is a recognized leader in health professions education and has been instrumental in pioneering innovative programs in healthcare quality and safety, including the world’s first standalone Doctorate in Health Quality. Her work integrates curriculum innovation, research, and system-level leadership, with a focus on building capacity for health system improvement through simulation, digital learning, and interprofessional education.
Dr. L. F. Carver
Associate Professor, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
Dr. Carver leads innovative educational initiatives addressing active learning challenges in the age of generative AI. She is organizing a series of roundtable discussions at Queen’s to develop strategies that preserve deep student engagement despite widespread use of AI tools. Her scholarship also includes enhancing student feedback methods, sharing teaching innovations through institutional presentations and looking at faculty experiences teaching and associated activities.
Dr. Rachel Zand, PhD
Dr. Zand specializes in research ethics education and institutional capacity building, co-leading the development of Canada’s national Research Ethics Board Training program (CREST). Her work focuses on translating ethical research practices into professional development and policy change to enhance research ethics standards across Canada.
Dr. Boris Zevin, MD, PhD
Professor and SEMO Medial Education Scholar in the Department of Surgery Queen’s Health Sciences with a cross-appointment to the Faculty of Education
Dr. Zevin leads internationally recognized research in health professions education, focusing on AI-enabled assessment, educational interventions, and feedback optimization in clinical training. He advances innovative educational practices and interdisciplinary collaboration across medicine, education, and computing, with a strong commitment to mentorship and capacity building.
Brian Frank
Brian Frank’s scholarship focuses on assessment, educational technology, and curriculum innovation in engineering education. With extensive leadership in program development and national initiatives, he advances evidence-based practices to enhance engineering education and student success.
QIESR Student Scholar Partner
(One-Year Term | Renewable)
The Student Scholar Partner designation recognizes undergraduate and graduate students as contributors to educational scholarship. This role reflects QIESR’s commitment to partnership-based inquiry and the development of future scholars.
Student Scholar Partners engage in scholarly dialogue within the Practice and Innovation Nexus, present work-in-progress during their term, and contribute to knowledge mobilization initiatives. The role is developmental and collaborative, offering students mentorship and visibility while strengthening the culture of inclusive scholarly engagement.
Annual appointments are renewable based on continued engagement, ensuring flexibility while sustaining continuity and creating opportunities for ongoing scholarly involvement beyond student partnership.
Megan Hirschfeld
Bachelor of Health Sciences Student, Queen’s University
Megan is actively engaged in educational scholarship as a research assistant on projects exploring ethical principles in higher education and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at Queen’s. Passionate about enhancing student engagement, accessibility, and career integration, she aims to contribute to the growth of student participation in educational research through the QIESR Student Scholar Partner Program.
Call for Applications
QIESR Scholars Program
The Queen’s Institute for Educational Scholarship and Research (QIESR) invites applications and nominations for the QIESR Scholars Program. This multi-tiered program recognizes and advances leadership in educational scholarship across three categories:
- QIESR Invited Scholars
- QIESR Scholar (Faculty/Staff/Postdoctoral Fellows)
- Student Scholar Partner (Undergraduate and Graduate Students)
Through these designations, QIESR strengthens scholarly capacity, fosters mentorship, and advances national leadership in educational scholarship and research.
Appointments are effective upon acceptance and are granted for the specified term associated with each designation.
Selection Criteria
Appointments are based on demonstrated scholarly contribution and alignment with QIESR’s mission and priorities.
Demonstrated scholarly contribution includes evidence of rigorous inquiry into teaching and learning, such as peer-reviewed publications, scholarly presentations, funded projects, program evaluation reports, or sustained leadership in discipline-based education research.
Alignment with QIESR’s mission refers to engagement in educational scholarship that is conceptually grounded, methodologically sound, ethically conducted, and oriented toward meaningful impact within and beyond the institution.
Alignment with QIESR priorities may include work that advances cross-disciplinary collaboration, strengthens research capacity, integrates students as partners, supports knowledge mobilization, or contributes to national and international conversations in educational scholarship.
Selections are made through an adjudication process to ensure transparency, fairness, and academic rigour.
Application Processes
Three-Year Term | Renewable
The QIESR Invited Scholar designation recognizes established national or international leaders in educational scholarship whose work demonstrates conceptual depth, methodological rigour, and sustained scholarly contribution.
QIESR Invited Scholars contribute to QIESR through visible intellectual engagement, including a public lecture or seminar and participation in scholarly dialogue with QIESR Scholars and Student Scholar Partners.
Nomination Process
Nominations may be submitted by QIESR leadership, Self-Nominations, QIESR Scholars, Deans, or other academic leaders.
Application Requirements
- A brief nomination statement (1–2 pages) describing the nominee’s scholarly contributions and alignment with the QIESR mission and priorities
- Current full or abbreviated (5 page) academic CV
- Submit full application to qiesr@queensu.ca with the Subject Line QIESR Scholar
Appointments are adjudicated by the QIESR Strategy Nexus and confirmed by the Vice-Provost Teaching and Learning or designate.
Three-Year Term | Renewable
The QIESR Scholar designation recognizes faculty, librarians, staff or postdoctoral fellows at Queen’s who demonstrate sustained leadership in educational scholarship and contribute to building institutional capacity.
QIESR Scholars maintain active programs of inquiry and contribute to QIESR initiatives through activities such as mentorship, participation in the Practice and Innovation Nexus, and scholarly events. The Scholar role amplifies existing scholarly leadership and does not require course release.
Eligibility
- Faculty, librarians, staff or postdoctoral fellows
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed or publicly disseminated educational scholarship
- Commitment to ethical and impact-oriented inquiry
Application Requirements
- Scholarly Statement (1 page maximum)
- Description of educational scholarship contributions
- Proposed contributions to QIESR over the term
- Full or abbreviated (5-page) CV
- Relevant publications and dissemination
- Grants and scholarly leadership
- Letter or email of support from Department Head or Dean confirming support for participation.
- Submit full application to qiesr@queensu.ca with the Subject Line QIESR Scholar.
One-Year Term | Renewable
The Student Scholar Partner designation recognizes undergraduate and graduate students engaged in educational scholarship. The role formalizes student partnership in research, evaluation, and knowledge mobilization initiatives.
Student Scholar Partners contribute to scholarly dialogue within QIESR programming, present work-in-progress during their term, and engage in mentorship and collaboration.
Eligibility
- Current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at Queen’s
- Active engagement in educational scholarship or related inquiry
Application Requirements
- Scholarly Statement (1 page maximum)
- Description of educational scholarship contributions
- Proposed contributions to QIESR over the term
- Faculty reference (email confirmation sufficient)
- Submit full application to qiesr@queensu.ca with the Subject Line QIESR Scholar
Selection Process for all Scholars
Applications and nominations are reviewed by the QIESR Strategy Nexus using the following criteria:
- Demonstrated scholarly contribution and rigour
- Alignment with QIESR’s mission and priorities
- Capacity to contribute to mentorship and institutional capacity-building
- Potential to advance educational scholarship within and beyond Queen’s
Appointments are made for defined terms and are renewable contingent upon continued engagement and contribution. Appointments for QIESR Scholars and Student Scholar Partners are contingent upon continued affiliation with Queen’s University.
For questions or clarification, please contact qiesr@queensu.ca.