As the new Assistant Dean of Students at Queen’s Law, Laura Kinderman, PhD’15, has set her top priority: “to support JD students in gaining the best possible learning experiences in the JD program.”
As the new Assistant Dean of Students at Queen’s Law, Laura Kinderman, PhD’15, has set her top priority: “to support JD students in gaining the best possible learning experiences in the JD program.” (Photo by Andrew Van Overbeke)

Over the past decade, Laura Kinderman, PhD’15, has been a leader in educational development and research at Queen’s University. In her most recent role as Associate Director of the Faculty of Health Sciences’s undergraduate program, she led the planning, development and delivery of several initiatives, including the new online Bachelor of Health Sciences program. For her outstanding leadership in the innovative uses of technology in teaching and learning, she received the School of Medicine’s 2017 H.F. Pross Educational Technology Award. The holder of a doctoral degree from Queen’s in English Language and Literature, who also has an MA from Dalhousie University (2006) and an Honours BA from the University of Victoria (2004), she is pursuing her Executive MBA degree from the Smith School of Business. Now she’s ready to apply her skills and knowledge to Queen’s Law as Assistant Dean of Students. 

Upon her January 1 appointment, Laura Kinderman spoke with Queen’s Law Reports about her experience with educational technology initiatives and her plans for JD students and the JD program. 

What attracted you to the Assistant Dean position at Queen’s Law?

I have been very impressed with the reputation of the Faculty of Law at Queen’s, as well as the new and innovative practices it has been engaging in, such as incorporating undergraduate education and online learning. I was attracted to this position as it is an opportunity to bring my skills and experience to a new area and continue to build on them. I see this role as an opportunity to grow, both for me and for the position. 

Tell us about how you have been involved with innovative uses of technology in teaching and learning at Queen’s University. 

I have long been interested in technology-enhanced learning. I was the operational lead for the development of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program, a fully online undergraduate degree that launched September 2016. Prior to that, I led the interdisciplinary training program for the Canadian Frailty Network (a Networks of Centres of Excellence Program), as well as for three NSERC-CREATE (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Collaborative Research and Training Experience) graduate degree programs in different interdisciplinary areas: Bone and Joint Technologies, Ultra-Large Scale Software Systems, and Sustainable Engineering in Remote Areas. In addition to these online design and administrative aspects, I also bring the lived experience of designing and teaching courses in professional skills, teaching and learning, writing and adult literacy.

How will you use that experience at Queen's Law? 

I am excited to become part of such an amazing community. I will look to use my experience in supporting and enhancing teaching and learning by bringing these transferable skills and perspectives to Queen’s Law. After having the opportunity to work alongside professional programs in the health sciences, the opportunity to be part of the JD program, and support the JD student experience, is a special career opportunity for me. I look forward to learning about a disciplinary context that I’m less familiar with, and to working with my colleagues and seeing some of the synergies from a cross-disciplinary perspective.

As Assistant Dean of Students, what do you look forward to over the next year?

I look forward to learning this new role, and to becoming embedded in the different areas that focus on enhancing student experiences in the Faculty of Law. The opportunity to appreciate the intricacies of the Law context at Queen’s especially excites me. I look forward to fostering an inclusive environment for students to feel welcomed, providing a confidential space for learners to discuss and explore different areas of concern, and to being physically located in an office that is a hub of student activity. I am excited to learn about my portfolio, which includes recruitment and admissions, enrollment and records, international exchanges and experiential learning opportunities, education development support for faculty and online learning, student health and well-being, and career services for students. I myself believe strongly in the principle of giving back. I am currently serving in the role of Vice-President on the Board of Directors of our national Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. For many years I was involved with Kingston Literacy & Skills, assisting in the cause of providing learning support and enabling access for adult learners in the Kingston region.

What are your top priorities for JD students and the JD program at Queen’s Law?

My top priority is to support JD students in gaining the best possible learning experiences in the JD program. I strive for students to see my office as a welcoming place, a space to bring questions, share experiences, and have their concerns heard and addressed. I am looking forward to learning more about the JD program, and to having conversations with students about their lived experience.