Moncton, NB – Crandall University professors Dr. Cathlene Hillier and Dr. Wendy Bokhorst-Heng have been awarded an $8,000 publication grant from the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP) through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to support the release of their upcoming edited book, Fostering Human Flourishing: Diversity and Equity in Canadian Schools. This important volume brings together 38 Canadian scholars to explore how educators can support human flourishing through diversity and equity in today’s increasingly complex and multicultural classrooms.
As Canada’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, classrooms are becoming more diverse, prompting increased calls for educators to respond thoughtfully and proactively to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Fostering Human Flourishing provides both conceptual foundations and pedagogical strategies to help educators navigate these challenges. The book’s approach draws on the work of scholars such as Martha Nussbaum and Carl Grant, who emphasize the cultivation of capacities like empathy, critical self-examination, and the ability to imagine the experiences of others. These concepts form the backbone of the book’s 23 chapters, which cover the wide range of topics related to diversity, each framed through the lens of human flourishing.
“Teachers are at the frontlines of fostering a more inclusive society,” said Dr. Cathlene Hillier, co-editor and Associate Professor of Education at Crandall University. “This book aims to inspire and equip educators with the tools they need to create classrooms that celebrate diversity and promote empathy. By preparing both current and future teachers to cultivate these capacities in themselves and their students, we hope to contribute to a more just and compassionate society.”
Dr. Wendy Bokhorst-Heng, co-editor and Research Fellow at Crandall University, is passionate about diversity and multiculturalism in education. Having taught and conducted research regarding diversity in Canada and in various international contexts, including the United States and Singapore, Dr. Bokhorst-Heng sought to create a resource that specifically addresses the Canadian context, which she believes has been underrepresented in scholarly literature on diversity education.
“The lack of Canadian-specific scholarship on diversity in education was a key motivator for this project,” said Dr. Bokhorst-Heng. “Much of the existing literature is rooted in the U.S. context, which does not fully account for Canada’s unique social and cultural dynamics. Our goal was to create a text that speaks directly to the Canadian experience and provides educators with the tools to engage in meaningful, transformative conversations about equity and diversity.”
In addition to the academic rigor of the chapters, Fostering Human Flourishing addresses the often difficult but crucial conversations surrounding privilege, discrimination, and social change. By drawing on Nussbaum’s (1997) notion of human flourishing, the book emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, empathy, and the collective nature of educational transformation.
Dr. Hillier and Dr. Bokhorst-Heng were inspired to explore human flourishing in education after noticing recurring barriers in diversity-related discussions, including guilt, defensiveness, and exclusion. Both professors believe that by emphasizing the importance of empathy and collective transformation, they can help educators facilitate more inclusive and productive dialogues about diversity and inclusion.
“This project began as a labor of love with the goal of providing a comprehensive textbook on diversity and inclusion within a Canadian context,” said Dr. Hillier. “However, it became so much more than that as I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with incredible scholars across Canada, and to work alongside Wendy, whose knowledge and vision took the project to levels I never imagined.”
Dr. Bokhorst-Heng echoed Dr. Hillier’s sentiments, reflecting on the deeply personal and transformative nature of the book’s content. “The stories and scholarship shared by our authors speak deeply into the pain that many students in Canadian schools experience. But they also highlight incredible resilience and resourcefulness. I am so grateful for the partnership with Cathlene, who has brought so much vision and insight to this project,” she said.
“We are extremely proud of the research activity spearheaded by our faculty,” shared Dr. Jon Ohlhauser, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs. “The work of Dr. Hillier – as well as Dr. Bokhorst-Heng – clearly illustrates the kind of high-level academic engagements embraced by our faculty and we are proud to see their work rewarded through this grant.”
