Bluma Litner, PhD

Dr. Litner, a full professor, has been a faculty member at Concordia since August, 1989.  She previously taught in the French Studies Department at Loyola College which she also chaired.  Prior to joining Concordia’s AHSC Department, she served as Assistant Dean of Students in charge of promoting educational innovation and self-directed learning outside the classroom.  With a background of professional training in human relations and organization development, Dr. Litner has consulted widely in both the public and private sectors and conducted extensive training in team and leadership development as well as change management.  She has also served as a resource person for her colleagues in the academic community in developing teaching skills to promote inclusivity in the classroom.  Dr. Litner’s scholarship centres on issues and processes of empowerment for marginalized groups for which she has received external funding.  Her specific interests focus on the provision of learning disabled youth with a successful educational experience, particularly those with ADHD.  She has served as a judge in several national teaching award competitions and has herself been the recipient of four teaching awards, including a National 3M Teaching Fellowship awarded for excellence in university teaching and leadership in education.

Education

PhD     University of Toronto (OISE)

M.A.    Middlebury College and the University of Paris at the Sorbonne

B.A.     Honours French McGill University

Research grants

Inclusive Teaching.  Grant from Concordia University. Co-Investigators:  E. Sacca, T.Waugh, R. Swedburg.

Les processus de prise de décision et la consolidation d'équipe à la maison mère SNJM. Maison Mère des Sœurs des Saints Noms de Jésus et de Marie.  Contract research. Co-Investigator:  G. Guérard.

Learning Disabled Students in University:  Narratives of Successes.  Grant from Concordia University.  Co-Investigator:  G. Guérard & V.Mann-Feder

Courses

AHSC 230
Interpersonal Communications & Relationships

AHSC 423
Organization Development I

AHSC 425
Organization Development II

Litner, B. & Mann-Feder, V. (2009). Resilience and Sense of Self in Youth with ADHD. Relational Child and Youth Care Practice, Volume 22 (3) 35-39.

Litner, B. (2008).  Present but absent.  In B. Warland (Ed.), Silence in teaching and learning:  Conversations we never had.  Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and 3M Canada, 47-51.

Litner, B. & Mann-Feder, V. (2006).  Working with Diversity in Groups to Create Inclusive Learning Environments.  The International Journal of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, 5(6), 36-41.

Recent conference presentations

Litner, B. (2009). ADHD: Exploring Myths, Misconceptions, and Misinformation. Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families. June 2009.  The Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health.  Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.

Litner, B. (2009). Dispelling the Myths about ADHD.  9th triennial Child and Youth Care Conference May 2009.  Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Litner, B. (2008). ADHD:  The dilemma for fathers. Father Involvement Research Alliance Conference: Diversity, Visibility, Community, November 2008 (FIRA).  Toronto, Ontario.