Fair, equitable, and collaborative approaches to managing complex conflicts and complaints. JE provides a range of custom contract conflict management services to institutions, organizations, and associations (independent and impartial Ombuds services, internal assessments/audits, development of complaints-handling policies/processes, training, coaching).Fair, equitable, and collaborative approaches to managing complex conflicts and complaints. JE provides a range of custom contract conflict management services to institutions, organizations, and associations (independent and impartial Ombuds services, internal assessments/audits, development of complaints-handling policies/processes, training, coaching).

Professor Epperson’s research interests involve three central topics: ombudsman practice and the growth of the ombuds profession as an effective approach to managing organisational conflict, public sector governance and the development of fair and equitable policies and procedures, and issue representation and (re)framing in public policy debates—in particular, debates on health care, higher education, and minority rights (ethnic, gender/LGBTQ+, and linguistic minorities). He is passionate about the ombuds profession and the development of effective systems to mitigate and equitably manage conflicts. He is currently working on a university-funded project seeking to advance best practices in organisational conflict management and ongoing training and support for ombuds and other conflict resolution practitioners. Professor Epperson is a practicing ombuds and conflict resolution consultant in Europe and Canada and has done ombuds consulting work in the United States. He is a member of the European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education (ENOHE), the Association of Canadian College and University Ombuds (ACCUO), and the International Ombuds Association (IOA).

Advancing principles of fairness, equity, and respect at the University of Luxembourg, I work to ensure that faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly. I seek to strengthen the collegial relationship between students and the institution, fostering a greater sense of community. This position demands communication, conflict resolution, and mediation skills as well as effective collaboration with colleagues across the institution. The position also involves conflict resolution research, policy research, and teaching.

Current project focuses on the rise of far right political parties and internal conflict on the political right in Canada.

Advancing principles of fairness, equity, and respect at the University of Alberta, I work primarily with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and medical residents to ensure that they are treated fairly in their interactions with the university. I seek to strengthen the collegial relationship between students and the institution, fostering a greater sense of community. The Graduate Ombudsman position demands communication, conflict resolution, mediation, and investigation skills, as well as effective collaboration with the key campus stakeholders.

Advancing principles of fairness, equity, and respect at the University of Alberta, I work primarily with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and medical residents to ensure that they are treated fairly in their interactions with the university. I seek to strengthen the collegial relationship between students and the institution, fostering a greater sense of community. The Graduate Ombudsman position demands communication, conflict resolution, mediation, and investigation skills, as well as effective collaboration with the key campus stakeholders.

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students, the University Ombudsman and Director of the Office of the Student Ombuds (OSO) is responsible for the direction, development, and management of ombuds/advisory and mediation/restorative services to undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, medical residents, applicants to University programs, and student groups. This encompasses all academic and non-academic grievances on campus, including discrimination, harassment and sexual violence allegations. The OSO remains at arms-length from the Dean of Students portfolio and all university faculties, student and staff associations in order to ensure that all casework and client records are confidential to maintain the office’s independence.The University Ombudsman and Director of the OSO:-Develops office protocols and procedures for the OSO including recordkeeping, collection of statistical data, retention and disposal of OSO records, budgetary decisions, and writing of annual statistical reports;-Supervises the OSO permanent ombuds staff and office interns-Manages the Ombuds Internship Program (training, mentoring, and assessment)-Provides Ombuds’ expertise on academic and non-academic grievances as per the Office of the Student Ombuds mandate and to ensure due process to clients -Provides mediation services, restorative practices, and administrative investigations as required by the Office of the Student Ombuds mandate-Ensures OSO staff follow process and protocol required at formal University Administrative Tribunals-Ensures OSO staff engage in educational outreach with faculty, the University and professional affiliate organizations

As Academic Coordinator, I am responsible for overseeing the teaching, administration and maintenance of approximately one-half of the courses in Athabasca University’s B.A. Program in Political Science, including POLI 278, 309, 325, 330, 355, 390 and 470. Coordinator duties include supervising and monitoring the performance of course tutors (who teach and consult with students and mark their assignments), the handling of student issues as they are brought forward by students, tutors, or the institution (e.g. grade appeals, course credit challenges, academic misconduct cases, transfer credit requests), and service to the Centre for administrative and policy purposes (e.g. attending meetings held by the Centre and by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences). My duties include online/remote political science course delivery, program and course development, university committee and administrative service, and tutoring undergraduate students in several courses.

“Programmatic Action in Times of Austerity“ (ProAcTA) is a joint French-German research project on comparative health policy. Our study examines the role of programmatic elites who shape policy content and reform in France, Germany, the United Kingdom (England), and the United States. This research project is generously funded by the French Agence Nationale de Recherche (ANR) and the German Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

This course examines the ways in which the Canadian constitutional order and institutional framework structure the political system and shape processes of governance. Topics include: Canada’s political culture, the constitution and its evolution, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federalism and the division of powers, Official bilingualism, Aboriginal governance, the institutions of the parliamentary system (including the Crown, the executive, House of Commons, and Senate), and political parties and the electoral system. The course further explores the Canadian health and social policy regimes, the natural resource economy, and Canada's possible transition to a knowledge economy.

J'ai travaillé avec Professeur Frédéric Boily en tant qu'assistant de recherche. Notre projet comparait les discours des partis politiques de droite en France et au Canada.Working with Professor Frédéric Boily, our project examined political discourses of right wing political parties in recent French and Canadian election campaigns.

Designed to present a critical overview of the social, cultural, and political-economic context of Canadian federal politics, POL S 225 helps prepare students for advanced undergraduate courses in the field. Topics include: Canada’s social movements and political activism, Canada’s political cultures, the legacy and consequences of the country’s colonial history, Canadian politics and the media, citizenship and identity (with particular focus on Québécois nationalism and indigenous conceptualizations of citizenship and belonging), regionalism, political engagement and interest groups, Canada’s role in the world, and Canadian political economy.

This course examines the ways in which the Canadian constitutional order and institutional framework structure the political system and shape processes of governance. Topics include: Canada’s political culture, the constitution and its evolution, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federalism and the division of powers, Official bilingualism, Aboriginal governance, the institutions of the parliamentary system (including the Crown, the executive, House of Commons, and Senate), and political parties and the electoral system. The course further explores the Canadian health and social policy regimes, the natural resource economy, and Canada's possible transition to a knowledge economy.

As a Research Assistant for the Graduate Professional Development Advisory Board of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, I reported to the Dean and the Outreach Director. Our working groups explored engagement with employers about graduate education and ways to expand opportunities for graduate students in the business, government, and non-profit sectors. In this role, I gained extensive knowledge of career paths for graduate students outside of academia as well as global trends in the development of industrial and collaborative PhD programs.

As President of the GSA, I represented graduate students at the University of Alberta, advancing their interests to the university administration, the Board of Governors, and the Government of Alberta. I served as an active member on numerous university, Board of Governors, and Graduate Students' Association committees and working groups of the Alberta Ministry of Enterprise and Advanced Education. I further represented the University of Alberta GSA as a Board Member of the Alberta Graduate Council (AGC), until October 2013. I collaborated with provincial colleagues in the effort to form a new advocacy organization--the Alberta Graduate Provincial Advocacy Council.

As the Vice-President Labour and Executive Vice-President of the GSA, I represented graduate students at the University of Alberta, assisting them with labour-related concerns. My responsibilities included strategic planning, policy analysis and development, and conflict resolution in labour cases. I served on a number of University of Alberta committees and as an External Member on the University of Alberta Board of Governors, where I sought to advance graduate students' collective interests. I also served as a Board Member and Registered Lobbyist for the Alberta Graduate Council (AGC), where I advocated on behalf of graduate students to the Government of Alberta.

Dissertation:Media representations of health care reform in the United States (2002-2012): Policy narratives, media frames, and legislative outcomes.

Sciences Politiques 320, Les politiques de la santé au Canada, traite du développement du système de santé canadien, ses composantes législatives et philosophiques ainsi que son financement et son organisation; l'étude comparative des défis au système de santé canadien posés par les enjeux financiers, l'accès universel et les modes alternatifs.Political Science 320, The Politics of Health Care in Canada, examines the development of the Canadian health care system, including its legislative components, philosophical underpinnings, financing, and administrative organization. The course proceeds as a comparative study of challenges such as the financial stakes in the system, universal access, and alternative modes of health care delivery.

I worked as a Teaching Assistant for Professor John Church. My responsibilities as a TA required broad knowledge of the development and challenges of the Canadian health care system. My duties included marking and monitoring exams and assisting students as needed with health care policy questions.

As a Research Assistant for Dr. Janine Brodie, Distinguished University Professor and Canada Research Chair (Political Economy and Social Governance), my duties included research of primary and secondary sources for articles and books, editing an introductory political science textbook, and translation (French-English).

J'ai travaillé avec Professeur Frédéric Boily en tant qu'assistant de recherche et coauteur. Notre projet explorait la perception du Québec (peuple, gouvernement, et nation) dans les médias albertains.I worked with Professor Frédéric Boily as a research assistant and coauthor. Our project explored the perception of Quebec (people, government, and nation) in the Alberta media.

While pursuing my Master of Public Administration (MPA), focusing on administration and policy development in the public health and social service sectors, I worked at the South Carolina Department of Social Services, where I had the opportunity to scrutinize social policy as both a researcher and practitioner. This position demanded conflict resolution and management skills in a fast-paced environment.