Dr. Pamela Farrell
Positions
Assistant Professor
Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Curriculum and Learning
Contact information
Background
Educational Background
Master of Education (Leadership) Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, 2026
Doctor of Education (Educational Research) University of Calgary, 2023
Master of Education (Special Education) University of Southern Queensland, Australia, 2009
Bachelor of Education York University, Canada, 2007
Bachelor (Educational Studies) University of Southern Queensland, Australia, 2006
Diploma in Adult Education St. Francis Xavier University, 2005
Federal Business Diploma (3 years) Accounting & Fiduciaries, KV Business School, Zürich, Switzerland, 1996
Specialized Teaching Qualification:
* Special Education (K-12) University of Toronto (OISE), 2007
* Health & Physical Education (7-10) University of Toronto (OISE), 2008
* Guidance & Counselling (K-12) Lakehead University, 2008
* Business Studies (11-12) University of Western Ontario, 2010
* Teaching English as an Additional Language Lakehead University , 2008
Biography
Originally from Zürich, Switzerland, Dr. Pamela Farrell is an assistant professor of education at the University of Calgary. In her role in teacher education, she combines special education and critical literacy expertise with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, inspiring the next generation of educators. Dr. Farrell's training in Teaching English as an Additional Language, Special Education, Physical and Health Education, Business Studies, and School Counseling, along with her knowledge in language and literacy education, enables her to draw on a wealth of professional experiences to support and mentor new teachers in their roles.
Dr. Farrell brings a wealth of expertise to her role with over 20 years of experience in K-12 education, adult education, executive leadership, project management, and diplomatic service. She fosters critical and reflective practices in her teaching, prioritizing the creation of culturally responsive and inclusive classrooms that recognize, value, and integrate neurodiverse learners into the educational process, ensuring that all students are respected and provided with equitable opportunities to engage meaningfully in their learning environment. By incorporating experiential learning and real-world applications, Dr. Farrell enables faculty of education students to connect theoretical knowledge with practical teaching strategies. Her courses often involve collaborative projects, case studies, and discussions that challenge students to think critically about creating equity and justice in education. She encourages her students to be lifelong learners who continuously seek ways to improve their teaching practices and positively impact their communities by incorporating critical and anti-oppressive approaches. Through her teaching, Dr. Farrell instills a sense of responsibility and empowerment in her students, inspiring them to become transformative educational leaders.
Dr. Farrell holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Research with a specialization in Language and Literacy from the University of Calgary, which informs her critical and anti-oppressive approaches to teaching. These approaches draw on transformative orientations such as critical pedagogy, antiracism, and disability studies. Her doctoral studies are further enhanced by her current pursuit of a graduate degree at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, where she continues to expand her leadership skills and educational strategies in higher education. She is a certified teacher in both Canada and Switzerland.
Before transitioning into education, Dr. Farrell spent three years in finance, accounting, and tax. Her career began in Switzerland's private banking sector, where she developed a comprehensive understanding of financial operations, significantly enhancing her problem-solving abilities. In Toronto, she served as the national learning and diversity coordinator at Ernst & Young, where she coordinated equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. This role provided invaluable insights into fostering inclusive environments and addressing systemic inequities, enabling her to implement innovative strategies that enhance learning outcomes for her students.
As a community leader, Dr. Pamela Farrell has successfully raised over $2.1 million in grants and donations, serving as the founder and volunteer Executive Director of GROW Community Food Literacy Centre—the first initiative of its kind in Canada. As an activist scholar, she actively challenges systemic inequalities by amplifying the voices and experiences of historically marginalized groups disproportionately affected by food insecurity, including women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, as well as persons with (dis)abilities. Her commitment to education and critical thinking empowers individuals and communities to engage in collective action, striving for a more just and equitable society.
Dr. Farrell's previous work as a researcher and project manager at Toronto Metropolitan University, alongside principal investigator Dr. Kilbride, with the CERIS Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement (York University and the University of Toronto) provided her with a unique understanding of the challenges faced by immigrant seniors. This $750,000 research project, conducted in 13 languages and funded by the Government of Canada, was instrumental in shaping strategies for building more inclusive societies.
Beyond her contributions across various fields, including business, non-profits, education, and community development, Dr. Pamela Farrell serves as the Honorary Consul of Switzerland to the province of Alberta. Her appointment by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, approved by Global Affairs Canada, highlights her commitment to international cooperation. In this diplomatic capacity, she strengthens bilateral relations between Switzerland and Alberta, working within the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations framework. Dr. Farrell actively fosters collaborations in trade, technology, innovation, tourism, science, education, and culture.
In addition, Dr. Farrell serves on the Calgary Consular Corps executive board, highlighting her leadership and commitment to international diplomacy. In this role, she collaborates with consular officials from over 40 nations to promote international cooperation and cultural exchange, leveraging her expertise to strengthen diplomatic relations. Her leadership within the consular community is marked by initiatives fostering collaboration and understanding, demonstrating her ability to lead across diverse settings. This experience enriches her work in education, providing her with a broader perspective on global issues and enhancing her capacity to mentor future leaders.
Research
Areas of Research
- Food Literacy Education
- Special Education and Inclusive Practices
- Community-based Interventions to Food Insecurity
- Pre-Service Teacher Education
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Education
- Educational Leadership (Higher Education)
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 465 | Field Experience II | Winter 2025 |
| EDUC456 | Assessment | Winter 2025 |
| EDUC 440 | Field Experience | Fall 2024 |
| EDUC 430 | Pragmatics of Learning and Teaching | Fall 2024 |
| EDUC 420 | Issues in Learning and Teaching | Fall 2024 |
| EDUC 525 | Ethics and Law in Education | Summer 2024 |
| EDUC 445 | Individual Learning: Theories and Applications - ECE/Elementary | Winter 2024 |
| EDUC 445 | Individual Learning: Theories and Applications - Secondary | Winter 2024 |
| EDUC 465 | Field Experience II | Winter 2024 |
| EDUC 565 | Child Development from K-12 | Winter 2024 |
| EDUC 535.02 | Elementary English Language Learners | Fall 2023 |
| EDUC 201 | Introduction to Educational Studies | Fall 2023 |
| EDUC 201 | Introduction to Educational Studies | Summer 2023 |
| EDUC 420 | Issues in Learning and Teaching | Fall 2022 |
| EDUC 535.02 | Elementary English Language Learners | Fall 2022 |
Projects
Dr. Farrell is the founder and executive director of GROW, Canada's first community food literacy centre in Niagara Falls, Canada. Her research explores the intersection of sociocultural factors and food literacy, including critical food literacy, food citizenship, and food security. As one of the few scholars investigating food literacy from a socio-cultural lens, her work expands our understanding of how sociocultural influences impact the food literacies of low-income residents living in food deserts, shedding light on the challenges they face in accessing nutritious food.
Her philanthropic and community work focuses on developing interventions that address disparities and promote health equity. Through knowledge translation, Dr. Farrell effectively bridges the gap between research, practice, and policy, working closely with all levels of government and businesses to secure over $2.1 million in grants and donations. Her community work centres around understanding health disparities and social determinants of health (including racism), and promoting education and social equity within the food system. Her work aims to dismantle systems of power that perpetuate inequality by amplifying the voices of historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups, including females, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, and persons with disabilities. To create more inclusive and dignified communities, Dr. Farrell adopts an activist-scholar approach to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, particularly by addressing systemic barriers faced by overrepresented single women-led households disproportionately affected by food insecurity.
Her programs empower and support community members in poverty by offering opportunities to learn and develop essential food literacy skills while seeking to dismantle systems of power that perpetuate inequality. As Niagara’s only low-cost, heavily subsidized year-round market, thousands of individuals have been served, enabling them to put their food literacy skills into action. These impactful initiatives have reached over 35,000 service points since 2020, demonstrating their broad reach and community need. Her work has garnered praise from academics, food security experts, and chronic disease prevention specialists in Public Health, serving as a successful community-based prevention model for combating food insecurity and chronic health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Farrell's research, including her forthcoming publication in the Encyclopedia of Food and Society, challenges the traditional and narrow definitions of food literacy. She argues for a broader understanding of food literacy as a social practice grounded in literacy studies, highlighting the historical, cultural, social, and contextual nature of food literacy education and practices. By considering these factors, Dr. Farrell’s work is inclusive and enhances our comprehension of critical food literacy and practices, addressing the contextual and sociocultural aspects that shape an individual’s food literacy.
For more information on GROW, please watch this two-minute video. Pam Farrell: GROW Community Food Literacy Centre | Women of Worth - YouTube
Dr. Pam Farrell currently serves as the Hon. Consul of Switzerland for the province of Alberta. Her appointment was approved by The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern and Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Dr. Farrell's consular duties encompass a wide range of responsibilities primarily focused on fostering strong diplomatic relations and enhancing bilateral ties, with specific attention to trade, technology, innovation, tourism, science, education, and culture between Switzerland and Alberta.
One of her key focus areas is collaborating with educational institutions to foster learning, growth and innovation that will strengthen partnerships between Swiss universities and academic institutions in Alberta. Dr. Farrell is dedicated to promoting and building upon existing agreements and facilitating collaborations in international research and knowledge exchange. Through these efforts, she seeks to foster cross-cultural and interdisciplinary interactions, aiming to enhance the global reputation and internationalization efforts of participating academic institutions.
As the official representative of Switzerland in Alberta, she plays a crucial role in promoting and supporting Swiss interests within the province. Additionally, Dr. Farrell extends emergency consular support on a bilateral basis to citizens of Liechtenstein who may require assistance.
Supported by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver, the consulate in Calgary actively promotes and seeks opportunities to expand existing bilateral agreements. Their efforts extend beyond academic and scientific collaborations to encompass various sectors, including business, agriculture, and other areas of mutual interest. The ultimate goal is to foster a productive and cooperative relationship between Switzerland and Alberta, facilitating growth and development in both regions through enhanced cooperation and exchange of ideas.
The project aims to conduct an environmental investigation of food-housing security at UCalgary in collaboration with the GSA Food-Housing Working Group and Nourish2Flourish Working Group. The investigation will assess students' experience with housing in Calgary, considering rental rates, availability, and quality's impact on food security levels. It will also examine students' food environment, including access to food charity programs and food literacies. The collected data will be used to quantify student budgets, assess housing quality, understand food literacy practices, and identify correlations between housing situations and food security rates. The research will take place over the 2023 Summer and Fall semesters, with data analysis and dissemination of information to stakeholders following the survey. The goal is to equip the working groups with data to respond strategically to rising rates of insecurities faced by UCalgary students.
GROW-on-the-GO is Canada's first electric mobile market truck, an innovative program designed to serve high-risk populations, including seniors, Indigenous communities, and elementary schools. This initiative, part of the GROW Community Food Literacy Centre, aims to improve health outcomes and reduce chronic disease risks among low-income individuals managing conditions like Type 2 diabetes. Following extensive geographic mapping and planning, the mobile market truck enhances access to fresh, nutritious food through low-cost markets and offers subsidized options for low-income communities. By ensuring that groceries, fresh fruits, and vegetables remain accessible and affordable, this program serves as a preventative model that significantly impacts community health, helping to prevent illnesses that could otherwise incur substantial human and economic costs.
Awards
- Distinguished Graduate Speaker, University of Calgary. 2024
- Top 25 Women of Influence, Women of Influence+. 2024
- President's Award for Excellence, University of Calgary. 2023
- Alumni Award of Excellence - Distinguished Alumna , St. Francis Xavier University. 2023
- Volunteer Excellence Award, University of Calgary, Graduate Students' Association. 2023
- Alumnus of the Year Award in Education , University of Southern Queensland. 2022
- Graduate Sustainability Award for leading sustainability in communities ($1,500), University of Calgary. 2022
- L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth - National Award Program ($10,000), L’Oréal Paris. 2022
- RBC Top 75 Canadian Immigrant Awards , Canadian Immigrant. 2022
- Volunteer Award, City of Niagara Falls, Ontario. 2022
Publications
- Getting Your Work Published: Advice for New and Developing Scholars. Campbell, H., Farrell, P., Morrison, L, & Raza, K.. Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education. 44-52. (2022)
- Conceptualizing Food Literacy: A Literature Review. Farrell, P. Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education. 126-134. (2022)
- Food Literacy as a Social Practice (forthcoming). Farrell, P.. The Elgar Encyclopedia of Food and Society. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. .
- Food Literacy: It is what we do with food and why we do it. In J. Sumner (Ed.). Food Literacy (in press). Farrell, P.. Toronto University Press.
- Foreword. In Strategic Cooking: Not a Cookbook (in press). Farrell, P.. Andy Fairchild Publishing, Inc. . pp. xi-xv.
- Speaking with Immigrant Seniors and Families who Sponsored a Senior. Kilbride et al.. Government of Canada. (2011)
More Information
Conferences
Farrell, P. (2023, May 31). Food Literacy as a Social Practice. Canadian Association for Food Studies. Congress 2023 of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Farrell, P. (2023, February 11). Food Literacy as a Social Practice. Peer Beyond Graduate Research Conference. University of Calgary.
Farrell, P. (2021, March 11). You Eat What You Are: Sociocultural Factors That Influence and Inform Food Literacies [Conference Session]. Tapestries of Learning Symposium, University of Calgary.
Farrell, P. (2010, March 8-11). Speaking with Immigrant Seniors and Their Families [Conference Session]. Immigrant Settlement and Adaption Program Conference, Toronto, ON, Canada. Government of Canada- Immigration and Citizenship Canada.
Committee Involvement
Co-Chair "Nourish to Flourish"
Support increased access to nutritious food and food literacy programming and work reduce stigma and shame associated with food insecurity within our student community.
Past Chair Food Security/Housing Working Group Graduate Students’ Association
Explore and investigate the complex issues of food-housing (in)security as experienced by students at the University of Calgary. Identify short and/or long-term supports towards food-housing security on campus.
Member of the Food Studies Interdisciplinary Research Group
A CIH Working Group which aims to build and foster a network of food studies scholars at the University of Calgary from diverse disciplines across the campus: anthropology, communications, geography, history, planning, public health and education.
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