Island WISE: Promoting Young Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Across Cape Breton Island
Meet our Team
Our team strives to inspire young women in STEM by leading by example. We are professional teachers, scientists, and administrators balancing home and work life challenges.
Stephanie MacQuarrie
Dr. MacQuarrie is an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at CBU and Associate Dean of the School of Technology and Science. She obtained her BSc from Mount Allison University in 1996. She continued to pursue chemistry in graduated school at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where she earned her PhD in organic chemistry in 2005. In 2005 she accepted a post-doctoral position in Dr. Crudden’s group at Queen’s University. Stephanie’s research includes finding high valuable applications for waste products, reducing the total carbon footprint of advanced materials and the development of functional materials for electronics, catalysis and absorption. Her research program is funded through NSERC DG (now in her 10/ 13 years funded) as well as industry partnerships (Engage grants, PnI vouchers). Stephanie has Adjunct status at Memorial University where she supervises graduate students in both Chemistry and Engineering. Stephanie started the CBU WISE program in 2009 when she started at CBU and with the collaboration of excellent co-applicants they have developed a comprehensive and far-reaching set of initiatives funded through NSERC PromoScience (Island WISE) aimed at encouraging and promoting interest and public awareness as well as growing a sense of wonder about science in young girls in rural communities.
Loree D'Orsay
Loree D’Orsay is a Professional Engineer and an Instructor in the Engineering Department at CBU. Loree is currently completing her Master of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering at Dalhousie University. She has 8 years of industry experience in the petroleum and energy sectors and is a passionate promoter of women in STEM. Loree started volunteering in STEM outreach in 2012. In 2016, Loree and her partner took a 10-month sabbatical to sail from Vancouver to Cape Breton via the Panama Canal on their 42’ sailboat. In 2017, Loree started teaching at CBU, and she is now the proud mother of one (soon to be two). She is the developer and coordinator of the annual program called GirlSTEM Saturdays since 2018.
Katherine Jones
Katherine Jones is an Associate Professor in Biology at CBU and specializes in Aquatic Ecology as well as Science Outreach for children. Jones was awarded the 2010 NSERC Award for Science Promotion and the 2010 Halifax Discovery Centre Science Champion Award. These days she is developing a WISE board game to be played at workshops on Grit and Resilience for teens. She happily tests out her outreach activities on her three curious and adventurous children.
Judy Maclnnis
Judy MacInnis is a Senior Lab instructor in the Department of Chemistry at CBU and a Transmission electron microscope (TEM) technician.
Judy is a native of Cape Breton. She has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from St.F.X University in Antigonish N.S. as well as a B.Sc and B. Ed (Math/Science) with distinction from Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B. In 2104 she was awarded the CBU Exceptional Lab/Clinical Instructor Award. During her time at CBU part of her job has included introducing students to the use, maintenance and trouble shooting that is required for the operation of various analytical instruments within the undergraduate chemistry program.
Judy is very active in chemistry outreach since she started at CBU over 20 years ago including developing chemistry kits that allow the Chemistry Magic show to be taken out into the community. Judy is very passionate about promoting women in STEM and diversity, equity and inclusion in Chemistry. She is an ambassador for the BrainSTEM Alliance in Cape Breton, assists with GirlSTEM Saturday’s and is a member of the STEM organization at CBU – Island WISE.
Christina Phillips
Dr. Christina Phillips is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education and Health at Cape Breton University. She is a former Ontario secondary science educator, specializing in biology and chemistry pedagogy. Her current research focuses on interfaculty collaborations in STEM education, environmental education and more inclusive practices in STEM education.
Christina's research interests include science education; environmental education; STEM+ education; inclusive & critical practices in science education; interfaculty collaborations & collective decision-making approaches; teacher education & practicum experiences.
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She obtained her PhD from OISE/University of Toronto, Masters of Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto, B.Ed. from York University and B.Sc. Hons Biology from St. Francis Xavier University.
Brittney Melnick
Brittney Melnick is a high school mathematics/science teacher in the Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education and a mathematics lab instructor at CBU. She has been a part of the WISE program at CBU in various roles, starting from 2010, when she participated in the first event ever held while she was still in high school, and most recently has been the Camp Coordinator for the weeklong summer camp hosted at CBU for the last three years.