Kristin Ross

After graduating from the University of Victoria in Child and Youth Care (1987), Kristin developed and managed the Child Life Program at Lethbridge Regional Hospital, addressing the psycho-emotional needs of children and families. She moved to the Mental Health Program and worked with adolescents and adults in the inpatient and outpatient programs, including leading groups in stress management, wellness promotion, and family mental health education. During this time, Kristin earned her Master of Arts in Administration and Curriculum (Education) from Gonzaga University (1998).

Kristin began her post-secondary teaching career in 1992 at Lethbridge College in the Child & Youth Care Diploma then joined Camosun College in 2004 to develop and teach the first offering of the Mental Health and Addiction (MHA) Program. In 2007, she helped develop and continues teaching in the Interprofessional Mental Health & Addiction (IMHA) graduate diploma. The MHA and IMHA Programs at Camosun College have evolved over the years to their current blended delivery model.  Most recently, Kristin contributed to the development of Camosun’s Advanced Certificate in Mental Health, Addictions, and Criminal Justice. As an early adopter of educational technology, she recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Technology-Based Online Learning from UBC to support unique and engaging learning opportunities for students. Kristin has continuously worked to improve program delivery to incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to enhance the student learning experience both on-campus and in web-based environments.

In addition to mental health and addiction coursework, Kristin has been an instructor for other post-secondary programs including the Child, Family and Community Studies (CFCS) diploma and other post-secondary programs including Family Studies, Therapeutic Recreation, Early Childhood Education, and Special Needs Educational Assistant. She has been a trainer of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention for over 20 years.

Kristin's other academic interests include play and expressive therapies, mental health education for youth and families, and course development with learning technologies in a blended environment.  In her personal time, Kristin enjoys fly-fishing, hiking, script-writing, and playing the saxophone.