Joanne Duklas

Researcher and Consultant

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Joanne is an award winning researcher and consultant in higher education with several years experience in Canadian post-secondary education. Her career includes serving in various senior leadership roles within the post-secondary sector on stakeholder boards and at one of Canada’s largest institutions as a registrar and assistant vice president. Her scholarship research interests focus on student success and mobility.

 

A former president of the national registrars’ association (ARUCC, 2012), Joanne actively supports post-secondary organizations and government by leading large-scale projects, evidenced-based research, and cross-sector consultations to advance best practice and student success. She provides her institutional clients with expertise in a broad range of areas including pathway development, strategic and organizational reviews, service improvements, and policy development and standards creation.

 

Joanne has led and authored several national studies including creating Canada’s first national transcript and transfer guide and peer-reviewed national studies including International Transfer Credit Practices (2019) and Micro-Credentials: Trends in Credit Transfer and Credentialing (2020).

 

In her downtime, Joanne is a fine artist and exhibits her work in juried art shows when she’s not enjoying work or family. Visit her website to see more!

 


ANDREA SANDERS

Andrea Sanders

Business Manager

Andrea joins the DCC Inc. team with an extensive background in Higher Education, and high-level administrative experience in the private sector. A graduate of the University of Guelph (BA Hons), McMaster University (MA Hons), and a student of Western University (PhD ABD) in French Studies, her education and skills are complemented by diverse international study and teaching experiences.

 

Through her work at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and as an award-winning Instructor at the University of Guelph, Andrea has blended her passion for developing administrative and operational best practices with a deep commitment to people-focused initiatives and supporting Learner success.

 

A lifelong learner, Andrea regularly seeks opportunities to explore new disciplines and pursue creative and cultural interests in dramatic arts, photography, and travel.


LAUREN REEV, BUSINESS SUPPORT ANALYST

Lauren Reeve

Research & Business Support Analyst

Lauren Reeve joined Duklas Cornerstone Consulting in June 2023 as a Research and Business Support Analyst. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science in Health and Life Science at Concordia University in Montreal.

 

She has studied programming in various languages, advanced mathematics and statistics, and natural sciences. She hopes to pursue a Masters in Business Administration upon graduation from Concordia.

 

In her downtime, Lauren is a fibre artist and spends time crocheting clothes, housewares, and other creative projects. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, and in nature.


Maya Hardy

Maya Hardy

Analyst and Communications Consultant

Maya is an analyst and communications consultant with Duklas Cornerstone Consulting Inc. At DCC Inc., she provides marketing, communications and finance support and oversees communications for the MyCreds™ | MesCertif™ project, led by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC).

 

Maya is a graduate from McGill University and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Finance. An advocate for lifelong learning and unique education experiences, she has also studied abroad at SciencesPo in Paris and has recently completed a graphic design certificate in partnership with CalArts.

 

She has a keen entrepreneurial spirit, having been previously involved with the inception and business development of a NEXT Canada backed startup in the travel industry and receiving the McGill Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Startup Internship Award. Maya has also worked with many local retail organizations to transform and improve their marketing and business strategies. At McGill, she led the McGill Marketing Network as President and was actively involved in numerous case competitions on a national level.


GINA PRESTON, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Gina Preston

Marketing Communications Manager

Gina is an experienced marketing communications professional with a broad range of skills. Her background spans branding, strategic planning, campaign management, copywriting, written and visual storytelling, content and social media marketing, website development, and project facilitation.

 

Prior to joining DCC, Gina worked as a marketing communications consultant, assisting clients with the development and execution of digital and traditional communications campaigns. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector, for advertising/marketing communication agencies, global franchised organizations and manufacturers.

 

Gina has studied marketing at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), and design at Humber College. She has taken many work related courses and most recently obtained a continuing education certificate in Multimedia Storytelling & Content Marketing from the University of Toronto. She continues to stay current in her field to provide the best possible results for DCC and its clients.

 

Gina enjoys spending time with her family and fur babies. She is an avid gardener and enjoys traveling to distant places.


Amalia Valverde

Communications and Administrative Assistant.

Amalia, a dynamic individual with a passion for communication, technology, and design, is a recent graduate of the Interactive Media Design program at Algonquin College and previously completed a bachelor’s degree of Science in Communications at The Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL) in Monterrey Mexico. She communicates effectively in English and Spanish, both written and oral.

 

With several years of experience in the private sector from internal/external communication, social media, corporate social responsibility roles, and academic projects, Amalia possesses a diverse set of skills, including web programming, user experience design, graphic design, video editing, digital marketing, writing, and project planning. She brings a creative and analytical mindset to problem-solving, and a commitment to effective organization and planning is evident in her work.

 

In her downtime, Amalia indulges in hobbies such as cycling, yoga, and nurturing houseplants.


Sonia Moore

Operations Coordinator

Sonia began her career in the legal & accounting sectors and has worked over the last 20 years in both the research & development industry, focused on the support of launching new products into the marketplace and the construction industry, in account & project management capacities.

 

She supports the administrative and operational needs at DCC Inc. by providing expertise in administration, concierge and financial management services and is currently supporting such projects as MyCreds™ | MesCertif™ led by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC). In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and travelling. She is also a ballet inspired Barre devotee!


Nathalie Girardin Headshot

Nathalie Girardin

Registrarial and Operations Consultant

Nathalie Girardin worked in higher education at Université de Montréal for over two decades in special projects for academic affairs and for the registrar’s office. She participated in the implementation of one of the first student portals in the country where she oversaw admissions, schedules, enrolment, and grades, among other things. She was also in charge of the student helpdesk, covering all aspects of the student online experience.

 

As the university’s student systems, room assignment and records specialist, Nathalie participated in the implementation of a new room assignment system and worked as a business analyst for the implementation of an ERP as well as other systems. She also worked hand in hand with architects and technical staff to oversee construction projects that affected classrooms. Nathalie’s teams were also responsible for program creations, course offerings, schedules, room assignments, student enrolment and progression, grading, transcripts, and overall records. Her teams provided training, manuals, guidance and help to all university academic staff, including manuals for teaching staff, and contributed to policies on various themes.

 

Since leaving the Université de Montréal, Nathalie who is fluent in English, Spanish and French, and is certified as a translator with OTTIAQ, has been working with Duklas Cornerstone Consulting Inc. as a translator and registrarial consultant for over two years.


Kathy Mahony

Consulting Associate

Kathy is an accomplished Ontario College administrator with more than 20 years experience in business operations, staff supervision, financial management, enrolment planning and strategic enrolment management. Her leadership in student admissions, both domestic and international, was acknowledged by the Ontario Committee of Registrars, Admissions and Liaison Officers (CRALO) with the Award of Recognition.

 

When Kathy graduated with a diploma in Computer Electronics, she was one of the first women hired as a data technician at Bell Canada. Her desire for a new professional direction led her to study Online Writing and Information Design and later, to earn a MA in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University in Victoria. Her commitment to life-long learning made a second career in post-secondary seem like a natural fit.

 

Kathy was a leader in transformational change for the Seneca College Registrar’s Office during implementation of a new student information system. She also successfully directed the project to create a comprehensive enrolment datamart and reporting dashboard for the college. With a passion for helping others achieve their goals, Kathy is committed to mentoring and coaching staff, and embedding opportunities for career growth into office operations.

 

Kathy joined Duklas Cornerstone Consulting Inc. in 2021, where she is excited to combine her technical aptitude, management experience and communication expertise to deliver a range of business services for post-secondary clients.


Image of Sybil Massey

Sybil Massey

Graphic Designer and Communications Specialist

Sybil Massey is a freelance artist, graphic designer and specialist. She works on DCC’s print and digital brand identity materials for clients to support their communications and branding needs.

 

Sybil comes with two decades of experience working in the higher education field. Her background includes digital and print communications, strategy, project management, process development, and specialized systems integration. Sybil graduated from York University with a BA.


Oana Alexandru

Financial Consultant

Oana is an experienced financial professional with a strong background in financial planning and modelling, valuable experience in the higher education sector and strong interest in student success.

 

She earned her MBA from University of Pittsburgh/ Katz Graduate School of Business and has extensive experience in building and maintaining complex financial models, analyzing companies from various industrial and financial sectors, and performing sensitivity analysis. In her current management role with Student Financial Services at York University she has been developing, implementing, and maintaining business/financial models needed to support financial aid strategies.

 

Oana has a strong interest in applying her extensive working knowledge of financial analysis and modelling in higher education sector with a view to improve systems and processes for students. During her entire career, Oana has been focused on researching, collecting, and analyzing complex data from various internal and external sources, building, and maintaining financial and business models to support strategic planning as well as continuous process improvements. Her passion has always been education and she is strongly committed to contribute to student success.


Robert Adamoski, Ph.D.

Researcher and Consultant

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Dr. Robert Adamoski serves as Professor Emeritus at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, and provides professional consulting services, primarily to the Canadian post-secondary system. He has three decades of experience as a faculty member, dean, director, and associate vice-president. Robert has led system-level research on student transitions and mobility, supports quality assurance processes in the BC post-secondary system, and conducts policy research on a variety of emerging topics in Canadian post-secondary.


A. Narbutt

Amadeus Narbutt

Research Analyst & Business Support Specialist
Amadeus Narbutt is a Research Analyst & Business Support Specialist at DCC Inc. He provides research and policy analysis support for the DCC team and governance support to the MyCreds™ | MesCertif™ project, led by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC).
Amadeus is a graduate from the University of Guelph and York University, earning a BA and MA in Political Science, as well as TCPS 2 CORE certification in Research Ethics. After several years in academia, he explored work opportunities in academic administration, public policy think-tanks, the public service, and electoral politics. He is passionate about applying his diverse experience in policy, research, and academia to the exciting post-secondary projects with which DCC Inc. is engaged.
Outside of work, Amadeus is a keen gardener, baker, and hobbyist fermenter. His kitchen is often overflowing with pickles, sauerkraut, and sourdough.

Aidan Hardy

Communications and Media Consultant

Aidan Hardy is a freelance worker currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance at Trent University. He brings expertise in video editing, music production, and design to various projects and clients with DCC Inc.. He has previous experience working as a Branch Manager for Vector Marketing, where he recruited and led his own team of employees, contributing to the company’s overall sales and success. He is excited to combine his creative talents and his business mindset as he supports the Duklas Cornerstone team.

In his spare time, Aidan is the drummer for his band, ‘Blank Notion’, performs live concerts and writes and produces music. He also has a passion for travel and exploring the outdoors and is keen to continue traveling and hopes to live abroad in the future.