UNB Fredericton

June 16 | 12:10 - 1 p.m.
Harriet Irving Library, Active Learning Lab, Room 303
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July 8 | 12:10 - 1 p.m.
Harriet Irving Library, Active Learning Lab, Room 303
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August 5 | 12:10 - 1 p.m.
Harriet Irving Library, Active Learning Lab, Room 303
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Virtual meet-ups

June 9 | 12:10 - 1 p.m.
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July 14 | 12:10 - 1 p.m.
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August 4 | 12:10 - 1 p.m.
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Virtual

June 17 | 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Faculty, staff and students
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Workshop overview

Ableism, one of the many ‘-isms’ (i.e., sexism, ageism, etc.), is the discrimination towards people with disabilities.

Believe it or not, it exists in many of the policies, practices, and locations that we visit every day. In this workshop we will explore the different types of ableism and how to recognize them in our day-to-day lives.

We will brainstorm ways to approach these observations and how each one of us can become an ally in our community.

Presenter: Kathryn Mathyssen, M.ADS

Kathryn Mathyssen is the Founder of The Accessible Advocate, an organization that provides workshop opportunities to educational institutions, corporate companies, and others to spread awareness, allyship, and education on topics in disability studies and accessibility.

In addition to this, The Accessible Advocate provides local and virtual support to families and youth in transition who may need assistance with navigating the social services system.

UNB Fredericton

July 8 | 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Harriet Irving Library, Event Space, Room 318
Faculty, staff and students
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Workshop overview

We all hope that contentious conversations can be guided by empathy, respect and reason, yet they often feel frustrating or circular. This workshop introduces a surprising tool for bridging divides: a “human-friendly math tool box” inspired by developments in behavioural economics, psychology and decision science.

Without requiring participants to engage in formal mathematics, Jon Sensinger demonstrates how math-informed frameworks can clarify values, reveal shared goals and reframe disagreements.

Through examples such as equity vs. equality and targeted hiring and prosperity, participants will learn practical ways to move conversations forward.

Interactive and accessible to all, regardless of math background or political perspective, this session focuses not on getting the math right, but on helping dialogue go better.

Presenter: Dr. Jon Sensinger

Dr. Jon Sensinger is the director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering and a professor of electrical engineering at UNB, situated on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Wolastoqiyik.

Trained as an interdisciplinary biomedical engineer and as a clinical prosthetist and licensed as a professional engineer in New Brunswick, he has worked in Chicago and Thailand and co-founded Coapt LLC, the first company to successfully market pattern recognition for prostheses.

His research interests include prostheses, exoskeletons, human-machine interfaces and curiosity-driven artificial intelligence.

He leads a team of faculty, scientists, engineers, clinicians and students who share a commitment to improving lives locally and globally. Jon is a generally curious person who values integrity, wonder and future generations.

His personal interests include supporting Wabanaki friends, land, and languages; chess; taekwondo; ultimate Frisbee; instrument-making and playing; and reading and recommending books.

Virtual

July 15 | 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Faculty, staff and students
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Workshop overview

Have you ever wondered why ableism exists and how it has grown to become so prevalent in our current society?

In this seminar, we will explore the different historical approaches to disability and the nuances of each. We will discuss topics such as institutionalization, The Medical Model, the identity-first vs. person-first debate, and much more.

By the end of this session, we will have explored why we see disability the way we do currently and how we can put a more ally-friendly foot forward.

Presenter: Kathryn Mathyssen, M.ADS

Kathryn Mathyssen is the Founder of The Accessible Advocate, an organization that provides workshop opportunities to educational institutions, corporate companies, and others to spread awareness, allyship, and education on topics in disability studies and accessibility.

In addition to this, The Accessible Advocate provides local and virtual support to families and youth in transition who may need assistance with navigating the social services system.

UNB Fredericton

July 22 | 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Harriet Irving Library, Innovation Hub
Faculty, staff and students
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Workshop overview

This interactive workshop supports individuals in building stronger cross-cultural communication, inclusive leadership, and meaningful collaboration skills.

Through practical, hands-on learning, participants gain tools to foster connection, strengthen belonging, and navigate diverse environments with confidence and empathy.

Presenter: Shahram Ghanberi

Shahram Ghanbari is an educator and leadership strategist with over 30 years of experience advancing inclusive excellence and cross-cultural collaboration. Combining a background in Physics and an MBA, he brings a unique analytical and strategic perspective to leadership development and organizational growth.

Based in New Brunswick, he is recognized for his work in Cultural Intelligence (CQ), helping organizations foster belonging and remove systemic barriers. He has also served as a keynote speaker for the Model United Nations at Saint Thomas University, speaking on global diplomacy and leadership.

Shahram is the founder of the Modern Sage Leadership philosophy, a framework centered on equanimity, congruence, and inner strength in today’s complex environments. Through education, leadership training, and advocacy, he helps individuals and institutions build more inclusive and collaborative cultures.

Virtual

August 12 | 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Harriet Irving Library, Innovation Hub
Faculty, staff and students
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Session overview

This session provides an overview of New Brunswick’s Accessibility Act, including its purpose, guiding principles, and long-term vision for a barrier-free province.

Participants will learn about the development of the Act, its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, and the role it plays in identifying, removing, and preventing barriers for persons with disabilities.

The session will also explore the framework for future accessibility standards and what the legislation means for organizations, communities, and individuals across New Brunswick.

Presenter: Melissa Candy

Melissa Candy is the Director of the Accessibility Office within the Labour Market Policy, Research and Analysis Directorate at the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

In this role, she supports the advancement of accessibility initiatives and the implementation of New Brunswick’s Accessibility Act, working collaboratively to promote inclusive and barrier-free communities across the province.

Virtual

August 19 | 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Faculty, staff and students
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Overview

As our news coverage reflects, the landscape of the far-right in Canada is constantly in flux. This dynamic workshop presents the current “State of Hate” in Canada as understood by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. It reflects their ongoing research and monitoring and provides a high-level overview of trends and current events related to hate.

If you are trying to make sense of how all the moving pieces (currently) fit together, this workshop will help. Special attention is paid to the connective tissue between disparate-seeming groups and movements; to illustrate the ways far-right movements build upon each other over time and across space.

Presenter: Hazel Woodrow

Hazel Woodrow is the Education Program Manager at the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, a non-partisan, non-profit organization in Canada dedicated to monitoring, countering, and exposing hate-promoting movements, groups, and individuals.

In her role, she focuses on public education about hate, its impacts on society, and strategies to recognize and respond to it. She also contributes to public conversations through media appearances and interviews, where she discusses the importance of addressing hate and its effects on communities across Canada.