Lianne shares how she was born in Calgary, Mohkinstsis, and her parents were from Southern China. She notes her mom told her she was the first Chinese woman to graduate from the Computer Science program and is a trailblazer. She conveys that she finds meaning in working with ethno-cultural youth due to experiences from her upbringing. She voices the importance of enacting compassionate accountability in that talking about anti-racism, while important, is not enough; we need to hold ourselves and systems accountable to cultivate critical hope.
Lianne currently leads the ConnectED Parents project at Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence (UCalgary), where she is leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative approach supporting parents/caregivers to prevent adolescent dating violence. Since 2006, Lianne has been a driving force behind community programs and systems-change that prioritize the wellbeing of children and youth from diverse backgrounds. Early in her career, Lianne engaged in frontline work in after-school programs, subsequently managing the C.A.R.E. for Ethno-cultural Children & Youth initiative at the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary. She later took on leadership roles in managing undergraduate programs and research projects at the Werklund School of Education’s Youth Leadership Centre. Lianne’s research interests span critical service-learning, equity literacy in teacher education, as well as preventing adolescent dating violence through promoting healthy youth relationships. Beyond her professional pursuits, Lianne finds joy in family and friends, culinary adventures, and quality time with her dog, Bruno. Lianne holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Research, complemented by Bachelor’s Degrees in Education, Economics &Society, and English.
