2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS | Conseil d'administration
Rebecca Maymon
President | Présidente
Academic Associate, Graduate Education
Faculty of Science, McGill University
Rebecca Maymon is an Academic Associate in Graduate Education at McGill University's Faculty of Science, where she works to support graduate education initiatives, including professional skills and career development. She earned her M.A. and PhD at McGill University in Educational Psychology, Learning Sciences, with a research focus on motivation and student support in higher education. Following her work in the private sector as a recruiter and headhunter of PhDs and scientists, Rebecca brings knowledge of research in professional skills and PhD career outcomes to her work in creating opportunities for highly skilled graduates to engage in meaningful careers through a variety of roles.
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Catherine Maybrey
Vice-President | Vice Présidente
Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs and Research Training
McMaster University
Catherine is the Coordinator, Postdoctoral Affairs and Research Training in the School of Graduate Studies at McMaster University. She has worked with graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in different roles at McMaster since 2010, with a focus on careers and professional development.
Julie Jonkhans
Past-President I Présidente sortante
Training and Research Manager
BioCanRx
Julie Jonkhans is the training and research manager at BioCanRx where she manages training and research programs and fosters strategic partnerships.. As an advocate for showcasing the value of the PhD, she designs and facilitates programming to help individuals expand upon their expertise and cultivate best practices in research. Julie holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Western University.
Katie George
Membership Manager | Gestionnaire des adhésions
Program Manager, McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program
McMaster University
After 16 years of experience teaching in higher education and working clinically within the field of brain injury rehabilitation, Katie jumped into the world of postdoctoral education. In her recent appointment as Program Manager at the McCall MacBain Postdoctoral Fellows Teaching and Leadership Program (out of McMaster University), she applies her skills in cognitive science, educational principles and leadership to each incoming cohort. Creating a cohort community of postdocs has been one of the most enriching aspects of this new appointment. She looks forward to what each new academic year brings and how the program can help to shape and evolve the ever-changing world of postdoctoral training.
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Joel Rodgers
Operations Manager | Gestionnaire des opérations
Coordinator, Graduate Student Professional Development
Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto
operations.manager@gpdn-rpesp.ca
Joel Rodgers, PhD, coordinates graduate student professional development in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto, where he has held several roles supporting graduate student development over the past decade. In addition to developing programming, he works directly with graduate units to create new professional opportunities for Arts & Science graduate students. Outside of his graduate role, he regularly teaches undergraduate courses in English literature at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.
Aline Medeiros Ramos
Director at Large | Directrice générale
Graduate Research Scholarship Coordinator at the Academic Affairs and Experience Directorate
Montreal Polytechnique
aline.medeiros-ramos@polymtl.ca
Aline Medeiros Ramos is the graduate research scholarship coordinator at Polytechnique Montréal, brings a wealth of experience from diverse roles across over half of Quebec's universities. Aline holds a PhD in philosophy from the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her enthusiasm for her #alt-ac job is matched only by her dedication to collaborate with peers across Canada. In addition to being fully bilingual (English/French), Aline speaks six other languages. Outside of work, you will find her practicing some of them.
Joanne Lieu
Director at Large | Directrice générale
Graduate Professional Development Coordinator
University of Toronto
Joanne Lieu is the Graduate Professional Development Coordinator at the University of Toronto’s Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education & Practice. In this role, she supports U of T Engineering graduate students in building professional skills through diverse programming. She supports initiatives such as the OPTIONS program and PPIT, which provide students with opportunities to explore career pathways, enhance leadership abilities, and develop transferable competencies. Her work focuses on fostering growth beyond academics, helping students prepare for success in both industry and academia.
Jenny Richmond-Bravo
Director at Large | Directrice générale
Graduate Professional Development Coordinator
Western University
Jenny Richmond-Bravo coordinates the Own Your Future program with Western University’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, supporting graduate students to envision multiple paths to career success within and beyond academia. Jenny holds an EdD in Educational Leadership from Western, and an M.Ed. in Adult Education and Community Development from U of T, OISE. As a scholar-practitioner, Jenny aims to engage graduate students in identifying and articulating their transferable skills for a variety of impactful career possibilities. Follow Jenny on LinkedIn here!
Stacia Heaton
Director at Large | Directrice générale
Manager, Graduate Student Success
Brock University
Stacia Heaton, MEd, oversees the graduate student experience from acceptance to convocation at Brock University. Guided by a passion for curriculum design, experiential learning, and reflective practice, she creates opportunities that support students’ academic and professional success. Her current priorities include building a holistic onboarding experience for new students, promoting professional development through workshops and events, and designing supervisor training resources. Stacia has a collaborative approach and is dedicated to fostering meaningful partnerships that enhance the overall graduate student experience.
Kala Hirtle-Clarke
Director at Large | Directrice générale
Graduate Professional Development Coordinator
Dalhousie University
Graduate and Postdoctoral Development Network | Le Réseau pour le Perfectionnement aux Études Supérieures et Postdoctorales