{"id":160,"date":"2016-03-01T19:51:18","date_gmt":"2016-03-02T00:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faculty.nipissingu.ca\/rvernescu\/?page_id=160"},"modified":"2023-11-02T19:49:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T23:49:44","slug":"dr-vernescu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.nipissingu.ca\/rvernescu\/dr-vernescu\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BW\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Vernescu joined the School of Human & Social Development at Nipissing in 2011. She is Chair of the Child & Family Studies Program (CHFS), and is cross-appointed with Psychology (Faculty of Arts & Sciences). As the Applied Psychology Coordinator she has developed and leads the\u00a0<\/span>Applied Behaviour and Research Certificates<\/a><\/span>,<\/span> anchored jointly to CHFS and PSYC. She has been an Adjunct Professor with the Department of Psychology<\/a><\/span>\u00a0at Memorial since 2008.<\/p>\n

With a background in cognitive and behavioural sciences, clinical-developmental psychology, and applied research & evaluation, she has explored synergies between academic and community sectors for close to 20 years. As a behavioural scientist and practitioner with a focus on improved outcomes, her professional experience ranges from front-line and clinical services, to team development and performance management, to systems level integrated strategic-operational planning, organizational improvement, and outcomes management.\u00a0 Dr. Vernescu bridges the science and practice of behaviourism not only in her work with neurodevelopmental exceptionalities, but also in her evaluation practice with programs, organizations, and broader systems.<\/p>\n

Academic and Professional Interests:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Her academic interests and professional activities span\u00a0a wide continuum, fuelled by an intrinsic curiosity for knowledge and scaffolded by some of the greatest minds in their respective fields; the late\u00a0Dr. Patricia Canning (an international leader, her work focused\u00a0on improving the lives, services, education, health, and social programs, for marginalized and vulnerable children, families, and communities); Dr. Mary Courage<\/a><\/span> (cognitive sciences, information processing); Dr. Kim Kerns<\/a><\/span>\u00a0(clinical neuropsychology, neurodevelopmental disorders); Dr. Ted Rosales (FASDs\/ARNDs, neurodevelopmental disorders);\u00a0Dr. Mark Howe<\/a><\/span> (cognitive science, memory, and information processing and decision-making); Dr. Mike Rabinowitz (cognitive development, mathematical modelling, program development, and process evaluation); Melba Rabinowitz (vulnerable families and communities, program evaluation); Dr. Al Kozma (applied behaviour analysis); Dr. Abe Ross (applied research and evaluation); and many moons ago, key individuals who encouraged her interest graduate studies: Dr. Susan E. Bryson<\/a><\/span> (ASDs, neurodevelopmental disorders); Dr. Bill Thompson<\/a><\/span> (music cognition).<\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a>“I have been fortunate in my academic and professional path\u00a0to be mentored by most generous and analytic thinkers, creative and prolific researchers, and exemplary practitioners, who not only\u00a0supported and scaffolded my learning … but succeeded in fuelling a\u00a0drive\u00a0to ask the tough questions, to refuse to take no<\/em> for an answer, to think outside the box when solutions may seem improbable and hurdles insurmountable, to worry less\u00a0about the\u00a0answer<\/em> and focus more on the process<\/em> .. the “means and not\u00a0just the end”.<\/em>\u00a0This has translated into a focus on continuous quality improvement in every facet of my work and life; guiding my pedagogy, my research, and my beyond-academia professional endeavours .. As a society, we are far too concerned with outputs,<\/em> when it is the process<\/em>, the implementation<\/em>, that will set the stage for improved outcomes<\/em>. As a culture, we often forget to ask the process-level questions that inevitably make or break the objectives and goals we set for ourselves, our students, our programs, our communities … We blindly ask\u00a0output<\/em>\u00a0questions (‘what’ have we achieved?<\/em>), without the requisite process-based<\/em> questions\u00a0(‘how’ did we get there?)\u00a0<\/em>and if necessary, what can we\u00a0do differently to improve?<\/em>\u00a0… how can we improve<\/em> delivering the programs and services we seek to deliver? regardless of sector, from the not-for-profit to the corporate arena… this, in turn, leads to enhanced and sustainable<\/em>\u00a0outcomes,<\/em>\u00a0for\u00a0those for whom\u00a0it matters most:\u00a0the individual, the family, the community, the organization … the end-user of services, products, interventions and supports, or knowledge … “<\/span><\/p>\n

Education:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BA, Sp.Hon., York University
\nMSc, Memorial University
\nPhD, Memorial University<\/p>\n

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Primary Contact:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

email: rvernescu@nipissingu.ca<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

photo credit: ‘amaguk inn nunatsiavut territory’ \/\/ rvernescu<\/sub>
\n photo credit: ‘raven’ \/\/ unknown<\/sub><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Vernescu joined the School of Human & Social Development at Nipissing in 2011. She is Chair of the Child & Family Studies Program (CHFS), and is cross-appointed with Psychology (Faculty of Arts & Sciences). As the Applied Psychology Coordinator … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":502,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-160","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t