From Northern Roots to the Global Stage: How Alumnus Rebecca Wakelin is Helping Educators Thrive
For Rebecca Wakelin, the path to becoming an educator, and ultimately a leader in higher education development, began unexpectedly. Raised in Northern Ontario, Wakelin’s childhood dream was to become a lawyer. However, while applying to universities, she included Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Education program as a fourth choice, influenced by her roommates pursuing teaching.
“When I received my acceptance letters, I realized teachers’ college was the most affordable option and would bring me closer to home,” Wakelin recalled. “Even though I didn’t intend to become a teacher, Nipissing’s reputation impressed me, and I decided to give it a shot. It turned out to be the greatest decision of my life. Nipissing helped me find my true calling.”
Wakelin’s time at Nipissing instilled lessons central to her work as an educational developer today. Tasked with helping higher education faculty strengthen their teaching skills, she credits Nipissing’s hands-on approach and expert faculty for shaping her philosophy.
“Nipissing has an outstanding reputation for developing educators. My peers have gone on to diverse and exciting careers, and Nipissing prepared us for roles far beyond K-12 classrooms. It certainly did for me! All my professors were experienced educators who could seamlessly translate theory into practice. I strive to do this in my work: model best practices for faculty and empower them to teach effectively.”
Wakelin’s career took a pivotal turn while working at an Ontario college, designing the country’s first Indigenous language diploma program. Collaborating with Indigenous language speakers to prepare them for the classroom sparked her passion for training educators.
“I was hooked from that day forward. Bringing together diverse perspectives to strengthen teaching practices was incredibly rewarding,” she explained.
Her desire to understand what makes great teachers led her to pursue Nipissing’s Master of Education program while balancing full-time work and raising two children as a single parent. “I needed flexibility and quality education. Nipissing offered both. It allowed me to dive deeply into my research while staying connected to my roots.”
Today, as a leader in faculty development at an international university, Wakelin has brought her expertise to a global stage. Living abroad and leading a diverse team has expanded her understanding of education across different systems.
“I’ve had the opportunity to bridge ideas from Canada, China, and the UK. This has deepened my knowledge and enriched my professional life,” she says.
Wakelin is particularly passionate about innovative teaching practices that bring people together, such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), where professors and students across the world collaborate on shared courses. She also explores storytelling as a powerful tool to engage learners, blending her hobby of fiction writing with her work.
To current Nipissing students interested in a similar path, Wakelin offers this advice: “Teach, teach, teach. This work is all about building trust and relationships. The more teaching experience you have, the more credibility and impact you’ll bring to the role.”
As Wakelin looks to the future, completing her PhD is next on the horizon. Her proposed research, “The Essential Ingredients to the BEST New Faculty Development Programs,” will build on more than 14 years of experience helping educators thrive.
From her beginnings at Nipissing to her global leadership in education, Rebecca Wakelin’s career highlights the power of passion, adaptability, and the enduring value of education.
Media Contact:
Khia Beauchesne
Communications Officer
Nipissing University
(705) 474-3450 ext. 4035
communications@nipissingu.ca