Black History Month Profiles

Audrey Brown is a proud graduate of Athabasca University’s Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education (2022) and a committed advocate for Black excellence, access, and opportunity through education. With over 30 years of experience in adult, workplace, and distance learning, Audrey’s career has spanned frontline, technical, and leadership roles. She currently serves as Director of Learning and Development at Lifeline Systems Canada, leading global blended and remote learning initiatives across Canada, the United States, and the Philippines, and as Program Designer at Phoenix Counselling Services Canada, supporting accessible education for Black and racialized newcomers. Audrey is also the founder of eLearning Education Services, a consultancy focused on human-centered digital learning. Through her work and mentorship, Audrey is committed to advancing Black excellence by expanding access, amplifying voice, and supporting pathways to leadership through education.

Dr. Venise Bryan is a Caribbean-born Black woman whose worldview is shaped by her Jamaican upbringing and experience as a migrant in Canada. As a registered nurse, nurse educator, and scholar, she is deeply committed to supporting learners’ success and mental well-being, fostering culturally responsive and relational approaches in both health and educational settings.

Dr. Bryan’s research focuses on supporting online learners’ mental health and nursing role transitions, particularly within health and educational environments. Dr. Bryan has contributed to building collaborative research networks, leading projects funded by external grants, and disseminating findings that inform policy and practice. She is dedicated to challenging structural inequities and nurturing trust, inclusivity, and cultural understanding in every professional context she engages with.

Through her scholarship and mentorship, Dr. Bryan continues to inspire and support the next generation of health professionals, advancing both equity and excellence in education and healthcare.

Bertrand Bickersteth is a poet, playwright, essayist, and educator. He was born in Sierra Leone and raised all over Alberta, including Edmonton, Calgary, and Olds. His poetry collection, The Response of Weeds, was the winner of several awards. His forthcoming collection, Canadian Colored, will be published by NeWest Press in 2027. His nonfiction work, Numinous Animal: Tracing the Afrofuturism of Black Cowboys, will be published by University of Athabasca Press in the fall of 2026. His current project features poetry about Black Cowboys from Alberta, for which he has designed a font based on their historic cattle brands. He lives in Moh'kins’tsis (Calgary) and teaches at Olds College.

Dr. Simon P. Sigué is Interim Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Full Professor of Marketing in the Faculty of Business. He has held various leadership roles, including Vice Dean in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Department Chair in the Faculty of Business, and has contributed to boards across Africa and North America. Dr. Sigué was President of the Academy of African Business and Development and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of African Business. His research focuses on marketing strategy, franchising, game theory, and international marketing, and has earned multiple awards, such as the Best PhD Thesis at HEC Montréal, the Best Conference Paper Award of the Academy of Marketing Science, and a nomination for Journal of Service Research Best Article Award.

Dr. Ramses Ilarraza is the Interim Associate Vice President, Research at Athabasca University (AU). His scientific career in biomedical laboratory research has focused on the role of the immune response in asthma and other respiratory diseases, alongside contributions to additional fields of study. Dr. Ilarraza has co?authored two books, as well as multiple book chapters and numerous peer?reviewed research articles, several of which have been featured in leading journals in immunology. In his role as Interim AVP Research, he champions an active, ambitious, and inclusive research culture at AU, and works to expand opportunities for research that is equitable, community?engaged, and impactful.

Dr. Candy Khan is an AVP, EDI at AU, with more than 25 years of experience working across post-secondary education, healthcare, municipal government, and public-sector systems. She has partnered with presidents, provosts, boards, and executive leadership teams to strengthen organizational culture, leadership capability, and workplace wellbeing in complex and highly regulated environments.

A certified leadership and executive coach, Dr. Khan is deeply committed to helping students and emerging professionals understand the realities of leadership, identity, power, and belonging in today’s workplaces. Her work bridges lived experience, research, and practical insight supporting individuals to build confidence, navigate systems, and lead with courage and authenticity.

Dr. Khan is also an author and speaker whose work centers on equity, resilience, and personal transformation. She is passionate about empowering the next generation to lead with purpose, self-awareness, and impact—especially those who have historically been underrepresented or unheard.

Bangaly Kaba, PhD, is a full professor of information systems management at the Faculty of Business, Athabasca University (AU). He earned his doctorate in information systems through a joint program involving four major Montreal universities: UQAM, HEC Montréal, Concordia University, and McGill University. He also holds a master's degree in project management from UQAM. Professor Kaba leads the Department of Operations Sciences. His research examines the adoption and implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs), their organizational impact, quantitative methods, ICT leadership, online learning, and international project management. His work has been published in leading academic journals, and he has presented at major national and international conferences on ICTs and project management. He serves as an associate editor for  Information Technology for Development and the African Journal of Information Systems. He also chaired the session on artificial intelligence (AI), information systems, and communication technologies (ICT) at the 26th Congress of the African Academy of Business and Development.

Paul Ackah is a graduate student, cybersecurity professional, and student leader with a strong commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, and the responsible use of technology in public service. He is pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems, a program he found to be both intellectually challenging and professionally transformative. Paul works as an Information Security Officer with the Government of Alberta, where he contributes to protecting critical information systems and supporting secure digital transformation across public-sector environments. Paul currently serves as an AUGSA Council Member from the Faculty of Science and Technology. In this role, he is committed to representing graduate student voices, strengthening communication between students and university leadership, and contributing to initiatives that enhance the graduate student experience. Beyond academics and professional life, Paul is a devoted husband and father, balancing his studies, career, and leadership responsibilities with family life in Edmonton, Alberta.

Isaac Ocquaye-Allotey is a doctoral (DBA) student at Athabasca University with a professional background in finance, infrastructure, and transaction advisory across Africa and North America. He currently serves as a Director at Mishlay Capital & Advisory Partners Inc., a firm providing strategic, financial, and transaction advisory services to public and private sector clients in emerging markets. Isaac previously worked with organizations including Deloitte, EY, Afreximbank, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, where he gained exposure to infrastructure and private sector development initiatives. He holds an MBA in Finance and is based in Canada. His doctoral research examines Africa’s infrastructure financing paradox, focusing on Global North–South dynamics, enterprise risk management, and early-stage project development. Isaac’s work bridges academic inquiry and lived professional experience, with a strong interest in leadership, equity, and knowledge production within global systems.

Judy M. Parnell is a Master of Education candidate in Open, Digital and Distance Education (ODDE) at Athabasca University. Drawing from her professional background in technology and project management—and her personal journey as a chronic pain patient—she focuses on bridging educational gaps in pain management and cannabis for therapeutic purposes (CTP). Her research explores how mobile learning (mLearning), microLearning, and EduTech can provide learner-focused, interactive, equitable, evidence-based, and patient-centred eLearning and resources for the 6.3 million Canadians living with chronic pain. Parnell’s work emphasizes inclusivity for marginalized groups and aims to enhance health-related quality of life through innovative digital platforms.

Kimberly Jean Pharuns is the Executive Director of the Observatoire en immigration francophone au Canada (OIFC) and Associate Professor at the Université de l’Ontario français (UOF). She has over 15 years of experience in community engagement with a strong track record of advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in Canada’s immigration sector. She is also a doctoral student in Business Administration (DBA) at Athabasca University. Kimberly holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business (2021) and has extensive experience in teaching, knowledge mobilization, and organizational capacity-building.

Her leadership is characterized by cultural competence and stakeholder collaboration, enabling her to secure funding and lead transformative initiatives. She teaches management courses, mentors students, and actively contributes to academic and community networks.

In addition to her professional and academic roles, Kimberly is an avid runner, currently training for her first marathon.

Stephanie holds a Doctor of Education degree, and her doctoral research focused on developing a conceptual framework to inform culturally tailored chronic disease self-management programs for older Black adults. Her work is grounded in social justice, health equity, and patient advocacy.

Stephanie Buchanan is the Senior Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and a Guideline Development Methodologist at the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO). She provides strategic leadership in advancing equity- and anti-racism–informed approaches across nursing practice, policy, and guideline development. With over thirty years of experience, Stephanie is a seasoned nurse leader with expertise in professional practice, education, and evidence-based program development. She is currently co-leading the development of a landmark RNAO Best Practice Guideline addressing anti-Black racism in nursing.

Lee-Tasha Smith’s work sits at the intersection of equity, mental health, and organizational systems. Her research focuses on cultural competence, anti-racism, and systems-level change within psychology and education. Her thesis examined racialized experiences in psychological training and service delivery and how institutional practices shape access to care for marginalized communities. She recently contributed to the textbook School Counselling in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide, advancing critical conversations on culturally responsive practice and equity-informed approaches in school counselling.

Currently, Lee-Tasha leads and supports equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives through an organizational psychology lens. Her work centres psychological safety, anti-racism, accessibility, and systems-level change, helping organizations move beyond performative EDI toward sustainable practice. She is actively involved in policy review, leadership development, equity data initiatives, and culture-building efforts that prioritise lived experience and accountability.

Shahla Ali (she/her), originally from E Africa and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario. She is enrolled in her first semester of the Master of Nursing program and works full-time as a Registered Nurse. Shahla is strongly dedicated to advocating marginalized communities, equitable health care, and incorporating cultural aspects into nursing practice. Her academic and professional goals are to advance holistic care, amplify the voices of minorities, and address systemic racism in health care systems. Finally, Shahla would like to acknowledge the admins for inviting her to participate in an inspiring discussion that honors Black achievements, resilience, and the continued influence of Black professionals in nursing and healthcare as a panelist for Black History Month.