Have you met Jason, a research associate with the Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families? Spend a few minutes getting to know him a little bit better.
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
I love learning about my family history. I spend a lot of time trying to track down my ancestors and trying to discover who they are.
What’s your favourite distraction?
I have two. My first is escapist fiction — crime, spy, war — it doesn’t really matter. I get sucked in and it is a great way to take my mind out of reality for a while. My second distraction is working on my yard — specifically my lawn. I can spend hours outside plucking dandelions or making sure that it is mowed exactly how I want it.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
Right now, I would be taking a course on counseling. I have been working for a number of years on examining the impact of technology on children’s development. The next thing that I really want to be able to do is to help parents and children develop digital wellness.
What’s a weird pet peeve you have?
I can’t stand when people leave the toilet lid open in my house. I think toilets have lids for a reason.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
I would love to sit down and chat with Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. To me, he is one of the most influential thinkers regarding child development. I would love to get his thoughts on children’s development in our current society. And I have a few ideas I would like to share with him.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
I am really missing hockey. I would love to be able to go to an Oilers game.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
“Relax and enjoy being young.” I was in such a hurry to grow up and go to university. I wish I realized just how much time I had to experience life.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
My barbecue. I would barbecue year-round if I could. I think that everything tastes better when cooked on a barbecue.
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Empowering, enlightening, challenging.
