Deanna Davis, PhD, MA,BA (Hon),BA (Spec)

About

Dr. Deanna Davis serves as the Executive Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the University of Alberta. An alumna of both the Augustana and North campuses, she provides strategic academic leadership for institution-wide teaching and learning initiatives, with a focus on advancing pedagogical excellence, educational innovation, and evidence-informed instructional practice.

Throughout her career, Dr. Davis has made significant contributions to the University of Alberta’s teaching and research ecosystem through previous roles in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and in Organizational Development within Human Resources, Health, Safety, and Environment (HRHSE). She was responsible for implementing and refining Canada’s first Professional Development Requirement for graduate students, strengthening its effectiveness and impact as a national model for enhancing career readiness and professional capacity. She also led the curricular redevelopment of the Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement, ensuring the integration of equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous perspectives into graduate foundational learning.

Dr. Davis was the principal architect of the structural and curricular renewal of the Graduate Teaching and Learning Program (GTLP), a multi-tier system of teaching development for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Her work draws on more than two decades of teaching experience across disciplines—including the Department of Music—and reflects her scholarly expertise in pedagogy, curriculum design, and academic leadership. She also holds professional certifications in EQ-i 2.0/360, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, and coaching, which inform her integrative approach to educational development.

In recognition of her sustained contributions to the institution, Dr. Davis received the APO Recognition Award in 2023.