Board of Directors

Susan Forseille, Chair

As the Director, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) at Thompson Rivers University, 22-years as a career-educator, and an enthusiastic researcher, Susan Forseille has been privileged to work in, and conduct research around, multiple intersections of career development, prior learning, and education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Education from Thompson Rivers University, and is currently completing her PhD with the University of Leicester. Susan is a passionate PLAR advocate believing adult learners acquire great amounts of knowledge and skills through life and work experience.

Justine Arsenault, Vice-Chair

Justine Arsenault is a Program Planning Analyst with BCIT’s SITE Centre and responsible for assessing the knowledge, skills and experiences of adult learners and advising them on educational pathways based on the APPL method. She also manages the BCIT Legion Program, providing prior learning assessments as well as career development and transition support to Canadian Armed Forces members.

Lori Woods, Director

Lori is a recently retired faculty member from the Douglas College, Disability and Community Studies Department. Over several decades Lori worked on a variety of prior learning assessment and recognition projects with MCFD, Centre for Curriculum Transfer and Technology, Multi-lateral Task Force on Training, Career Pathing and Labour Mobility, Open Learning Agency, Susan Simosko, and Associates and BC Campus. Lori also co-developed the unique “Flexible Options” Recognition of Prior Learning and Top-Up Learning model that was used with practitioners in community, education and employment support work settings who were seeking public post-secondary credentials.

Raj Brar, Director

Raj Brar is a reliable, committed and result-focused individual. With over 20 years of progressive experience in education and employment programs, she has experience in project management, event coordination, fundraising, as well as educational and employment counseling within the public and non-profit sectors. Raj Brar has a Bachelor of Science and Pharmacy from India, and holds the designation of Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP). Raj previously worked at BCIT in the School of Business for over two decades. She joined PICS in 2018 as a FCR Program Manager to work with the Internationally Trained Professionals (ITPs). Raj Brar has proven to exceed expectations while providing superior service and solutions.

Skel7áw̓s/Naomi Narcisse, MEd.  St'át'imc Nation, Director

Manager of Indigenous Education & Affairs Capilano University

Proud NVIT, SFU, & UBC Alumni. Naomi has over eight years of experience working with Indigenous Adult Learners. In September 2023 Naomi will be starting her PhD journey at UBC within the Faculty of Education. Naomi completed her MEd in Educational Administration & Leadership at UBC & NVIT in 2021, BA degree at SFU, and AAD at NVIT. She is also actively learning St'at'imc language from her local language authorities, accredited by Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (BC’s sole Indigenous Public Post Secondary school).Naomi is passionate about student success, from recruitment to career guidance, and is a strong advocate in curriculum that is inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing. As a lifelong learner, protecting & sharing traditional knowledges, Naomi is always eager to support students and her teams. Naomi’s traditional St'át'imc name is Skel7áw̓s and this means ‘leader/education’. While experiencing firsthand the barriers Indigenous learners face in higher education, she is a leader in sharing transition paths and backing academic success in post-secondary.

Tákem nsnek̓wnúk̓w7a (All My Relations)

Tannis Morgan, Director

Tannis Morgan is the Associate Vice President, Academic Innovation with responsibility for the Library, Learning Centre, School of Instructor Education, and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Research. She comes to PLAR as an advocate of access to higher education, and much of her work has been at the intersection of online and distance learning and open education. Tannis has a PhD in Education from UBC and has authored and co-authored numerous publications in the areas of digital learning and open education practices.