McDowell Foundation Award Recipients

Verna Gallén

2009 McDowell Foundation Award for
Contributions to Educational Research

The McDowell Foundation Award is given to individuals who have made contributions as a builder, a researcher or a supporter to the field of teacher-centred educational research. This year’s recipient of the McDowell Foundation Award, Verna Gallén, has fulfilled all three of those roles – builder, researcher and supporter. Verna’s devotion to literacy and her belief in the importance of research to the teaching profession has had a significant impact on teachers and education.

Verna’s love of literacy, commitment to lifelong-learning and the power of the written word is evident from her educational background, volunteer activities, and her extensive research, oral speaking and writing experience.

Verna received a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction majoring in English and Anthropology in 1971, a Bachelor of Arts with High Honours in English in 1973, a Master of Arts in English in 1977, classes in audiovisual production and teaching English as a second language in 1980 and 1983, and an Honours Certificate with High Honours in Anthropology and Archaeology in 1997. In 2009 she continues her pursuit of formal learning at the University of Saskatchewan in the Master of Arts program with the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology. In all of her studies, Verna has exhibited excellence and was awarded three scholarships (1967, 1968 and 1972), a university teaching fellowship (1973) and a University medal as Most Distinguished Graduate in Social Sciences at Fall Convocation (1997).

Verna’s career path brought her to the STF in 1976 where she remained until her retirement from full-time employment in 2008. In her over 30 years of employment with the STF, Verna served as a Library Technician, Research Assistant, Administrative Consultant and most recently, Research Coordinator for the Dr. Stirling McDowell Foundation for Research Into Teaching. An invaluable asset to the STF, following her retirement, Verna has continued to provide support to the STF and the McDowell Foundation as an interviewer, facilitator and researcher.

Verna has been and remains dedicated to the Dr. Stirling McDowell Foundation. She was instrumental in building and supporting the Foundation throughout her years as Research Coordinator. In this role, Verna coordinated the Foundation’s governance, administration and research program and served as a long-time ex-officio member of both the McDowell Foundation Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors. In addition, she also worked with the Project Review Committee and the fundraising committee. Verna continues to share her understandings of the issues facing teachers and the importance of research to the teaching profession with educational researchers.

In her volunteer work, Verna has been a long-time supporter of both the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society (SAS) and the Saskatoon Archaeological Society. In her various capacities as secretary, member, vice-president, president, treasurer, member of the Conservation Program and First Nations Liaison Committees of the SAS and member of the Board of Directors of these societies, Verna has shown her dedication to ensuring the future of our environment by learning from the cultures of the past.

Verna enjoys exploring the human condition and culture of groups and societies – both current and past. Her interest in First Nations cultures led her to take on a position from 1969-70 as a community development worker and live and work with the people in Aroland, an Objibway settlement in Northern Ontario. In 1972 she worked in a remote native settlement as a management training consultant for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Verna later acted as STF representative to the Aboriginal Education Research Network and as a member for the planning committee for Gathering 2000 on Aboriginal education in Saskatchewan.

Through all of her many life and work experiences, Verna’s dedication to literacy, lifelong-learning and research has remained.

Today, we are pleased to honour Verna Gallén – builder, researcher and supporter of the McDowell Foundation and educational research.

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