Dr. Rosemary C. Reilly, CCFE

Full Professor, Applied Human Sciences

Contact information

Email:

rosemary.reilly@concordia.ca

Biography

After many years working with children in cooperative day care and nursery school settings, Rosemary C. Reilly went back to Concordia University in 1987 to obtain a certificate in Family Life Education. This certificate proved to be a turning point in her career, from working with young children to working with families and organizations. Dr. Reilly has been associated with Concordia University ever since both as a part-time faculty member, and since 2003, as tenure-track faculty. Her particular research interest is exploring the impact of using learning as a lever for change at an individual, organizational, or community level. As well, Dr. Reilly has presented and published in the areas of social creativity, the development of learning communities, trauma, and qualitative changes in thinking patterns as a result of collaboration in groups. She has presented at both national and international conferences and functions as a peer reviewer for several international journals, and a prestigious national conference. Dr. Reilly employs an experiential approach to learning, while emphasizing the whole person in this process-- the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual parts of the participant. She spends a portion of her time working with culturally diverse groups in schools, social service agencies, and community organizations.

Education

PhD Educational Psychology [major: Instructional Psychology; double minor: Family Life Education and Gender in Education], McGill University, Montreal
MEd Educational Psychology [concentration: Human Relations and Family Life], McGill University, Montreal
Certificate in Family Life Education, Concordia University, Montreal
BA Double Major in Child and Abnormal Psychology, McGill University, Montreal

Research interests

Impact of trauma on community
Arts-based research methodologies
Qualitative research methodologies
Post traumatic growth
Collaborative creativity
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Contemplative practices in higher education
Participative or community-engaged research practices
Resilience as a creative response
Learning communities as complex systems
Transformative learning and change processes
Creative and innovative teaching

Professional affiliations

2015 Member Scholar Academic, International Institute for Qualitative Methodology, University of Alberta, Edmonton;
2010 Member Scholar, International Institute for Qualitative Methodology, University of Alberta, Edmonton
2009-2013; 2015 to present Affiliate member, Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling, Concordia University;
2000 FRP Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Certified Family Educator

Awards and Appointments

2017 President's Excellence in Teaching Award: Category- Excellence in Teaching, Full-time Faculty, Concordia University

2016 Recipient of the SALTISE Best Practices & Pedagogical Innovators Award- University Level

2014 Interim Academic Director, Centre for Teaching and Learning, Concordia University

2014 Recognition by the Concordia Women's Caucus at their annual luncheon
2014 Provost Fellow award: For service to the University
2013-2014 Provost Fellow: Faculty Development, Women Faculty, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, Concordia University
2012-2013 University Teaching Fellow, Centre for Teaching and Learning, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs, Concordia University
2011 CCFE (emeritus) status: For significant contribution to the field of Canadian family life education, The Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs
2011 Recognition for Lifetime of Service to Family Life Education, Association of Family Life Educators of Quebec
2009 Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Concordia University

Wordle of research publications

Teaching activities

Courses

AHSC 620 Individual Learning and Change
AHSC 698 Masters Project

Publications

Recent refereed journals (selected)

Yuen, F., Reilly, R. C., & Sjollema, S. (in press). Leisure and trauma-informed practice. Leisure Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2023.2228508

Reilly, R. C. (2022). Improving cohort functioning: Arts-based methods as data collection and intervention in a higher education action research project. The Canadian Journal of Action Research, 22(3), 69-90. https://journals.nipissingu.ca/index.php/cjar/article/view/585

Howard, A.-L.,, Manolson, S., Robertson, C., Trull, A., & Reilly, R. C. (2022). Living la vida loca: The ups and downs of learning in a cohort system. Transformative Dialogues: Teaching and Learning Journal, 15(1), 98-116. https://doi.org/10.26209/td2022vol15iss11607

Reilly, R. C., Lee, V., Laux, K., & Robitaille, A. (2021). Creating doorways: Finding meaning and growth through art therapy in the face of life-threatening illness. Public Health, 198, 245-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.07.004

Reilly, R. C. (2021). Reclaiming my sister, Medusa: A critical autoethnography about healing from sexual violence through solidarity, doll-making, and mending myth. Cultural Studies <=> Critical Methodologies, 21(1), 80-87. https://doi.org/10.1177/1532708620931132

Gale, K., Wyatt, J., Smart Guillion, J., Hou, N., Jeansonne, C., Linnell, S., Reaves, M. A., Reilly, R. C., & Rhodes, P. (2019). Deleuze and collaborative writing in the dance of activism. International Review of Qualitative Research, 12(3), 323-338. https://doi.org/10.1525/irqr.2019.12.3.323 Available https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/986063/

Reilly, R. C. (2019). Entanglements across Time-Space: An ekphrastic poetic response to Craft, relational aesthetics, and ethics of care by Belinda MacGill. Art/Research International: A Transdisciplinary Journal, 4(1), 436-438. http://dx.doi.org/10.18432/ari29458 Available https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/985322/

Fitzpatrick, E., & Reilly, R. C. (2019). Special issue editorial- Making as method: Reimagining traditional and Indigenous notions of "craft" in research practice. Art/Research International: A Transdisciplinary Journal, 4(1), i-xvi. https://doi.org/10.18432/ari29464 Available https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/985321/

Reilly, R. C., Lee, V., Laux, K., & Robitaille, A. (2018). Using found poetry to illuminate the existential and posttraumatic growth of women with breast cancer engaged in art therapy. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 15(2-3), 196-217.https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2018.1429863

Reilly, R.C. (2013). Me and Goldilocks...Searching for what is "just right" in trauma research: An autoethnography. The Qualitative Report, 18(93), 1-11. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol18/iss47/1

Reilly, R.C. (2013). Found poems, member checking and crises of representation. The Qualitative Report, 18(Art.30), 1-18. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol18/iss15/2

Reilly, R.C. (2011). "We knew her..." Murder in a small town: A hybrid work in three voices. Qualitative Inquiry, 17(7), 599-601. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800411413997 Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/7661/

Reilly, R.C., & D'Amico, M. (2011). Mentoring undergraduate women survivors of childhood abuse and intimate partner violence. The Journal of College Student Development, 52(4), 409-424. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2011.0046 Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/7797/

Reilly, R.C., Lilly, F., Bramwell, G., & Kronish, N. (2011). A synthesis of research concerning creative teachers in a Canadian context. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27, 533-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2010.10.007 Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/6933/

Recent refereed chapters (selected)

Reilly, R. C. (2023). Using arts-based educational research to interrogate learning in cohorts: Shifting dynamics and repairing disrupted relationships. In H. Mreiwed, M. Carter, S. Hashem, & C. Blake-Amarante (Eds.), Making connections in and through arts-based educational research (pp. 241-255). SpringerBriefs. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8028-2_18

Reilly, R. C., & Kay, L. (2022). Getting back to a "new normal": Grief leadership after a fatal school shooting. In G. Crews (Ed.), Impact of school shootings on classroom culture, curriculum, and learning (pp. 113-139). IGI Global. https://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-5200-1.ch007

Reilly, R. C. (2020). The murder next door: Developing healing responses and building community following trauma using research-based theatre. In H. Mreiwed, M. Carter, & C. Mitchell (Eds.), Art as an agent for social change (pp. 44-54). Boston: Brill/Sense. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004442870_005

Reilly, R. C. (2020). Pay attention to what is behind the curtain: Interrogating whiteness using contemplative practices in graduate management education. In E. Sengupta & P. Blessinger (Eds.), Civil society and social responsibility in higher education: International perspectives on curriculum and teaching development. Bingley, UK: Emerald Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120200000021005

Timm-Bottos, J., & Reilly, R.C. (2015). Neighborhood art hives: Engaging communities in teaching and learning. In O. Delano-Oriaran, M. Parks, & S. Fondrie (Eds.), The Sage sourcebook of service-learning and civic engagement (pp. 179-184). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483346625.n34 Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/980169/

Reilly, R.C. (2015). Arts-informed learning methods in non-arts classroom: Creating multiple ways of knowing and increasing creative thinking in graduate education. In K. Coleman & A. Flood (Eds.), Capturing creativity: The link between creativity and teaching creatively(pp. 48-72). Champaign, IL: Common Ground. Corpus ID: 159031877 Available https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/983316/

Refereed Conference Abstracts

Lee, V., Finestone, J., Rossiter, H., & Reilly, R. C. (2018). When third spaces become therapeutic: The value of complementary therapies and the search for meaning in tertiary care cancer. The International Journal of Whole Person Care, 5(1), 40-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.26443/ijwpc.v5i1.156

Reilly, R. C., Lee, V., Laux, K., & Robitaille, A. (2017). Creating doorways: Finding existential meaning and growth through the creative arts in the face of life-threatening illness. Creative practices for improving health and social inclusion (pp. 279-289). Published proceedings of the 5^thInternational Health Humanities Conference. Seville, Spain: University of Seville. Available https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/983301/

Recent publications in professional periodicals (selected)

Reilly, R. C. (2010, Spring). The parent job description: An experiential family education activity. Play Parenting: FRP Canada Newsletter, p. 5.

Reilly, R. C. (2010, Winter). Traumatized neighborhoods and communities: How family educators can help. Play Parenting: FRP Canada Newsletter, pp. 1, 5-6. Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/6531/

Conference Presentations

Recent international peer-reviewed conference (selected)

Reilly, R. C. (2023, June 13). Trauma-sensitive and compassionate teaching in higher education: Legacies from a global pandemic. Poster presented at the Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference 2023, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Reilly, R. C. (2023, May 19). The tarot as a force for resistance. Paper presented at the Autoethnography SIG at the 19th International Conference for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Reilly, R. C. (2023, May 17). The (Un)Expected Project: Narratives and art making in the face of grief due to infertility peri-natal. and post-natal loss. Paper presented at the Arts-Based Research SIG at the 18th International Conference for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Reilly, R. C. (2022, May 21). The murder next door: Using research-informed theatre to shape public policy around grief leadership. Paper presented at the 18th International Conference for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Reilly, R. C. (2022, May 20). Collective collaging: Shared sense making and group intervention through collage. Paper presented at the 18th International Conference for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Reilly, R. C. (2018, May). Pagan babies and other lessons in my white settler colonial education. Paper presented at the 14th International Conference for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Reilly, R. C. (2018, April). Using paper and cloth dolls to interrogate whiteness, gender, and professional identity in graduate education. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association, New York.

Lee, V., Finestone, J., Rossiter, H., & Reilly, R. C. (2017, October). When third spaces become therapeutic: The value of complementary therapies and the search for meaning in tertiary care cancer patients. Paper presented at the Second International Congress on Whole Person Care, Montreal.

Reilly, R. C. (2017, May). Embodying the work of my grandmothers: Data representation and reflection through doll-making. Paper presented at the 13^th International Conference for Qualitative Inquiry, Champaign-Urbana, IL.

Reilly, R. C. (2016, October). The use of doll-making for interrogating and communicating data about difficult but courageous lived experiences. Paper presented at the Artful Inquiry Symposium 2016, Montreal.

Reilly, R. C. (2016, October). Spiritual mapping as a contemplative practice: Crafting direction towards service. Poster presented at the 8th Annual Conference of the Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education, Amherst, MA.

Recent invited presentations (selected)

Reilly, R. C. (2018, December). The murder next door- A research-informed reader’s theatre performance: Developing local governmental responses and policies to trauma in communities. Invited presentation for the Brown Bag Lunch Research Seminar in the department of Applied Human Sciences, Concordia University, Montreal.

Lee, V., Laux, K., Reilly, R. C., & Robitaille, A. (2018, April). Art therapy as an intervention for breast cancer patients: Clinical implications for improving quality of life. Invited presentation for the PERFORM Colloquium series, Concordia University, Montreal.

Reilly, R. C. (2017, August). Mind, body, brush: An introduction to the meditative process of Chinese / Japanese brush painting. A contemplative arts session for the 13th Annual Summer Session on Contemplative Learning in Higher Education, sponsored by The Centre for Contemplative Mind in Society, Northampton, MA.

Reilly, R. C. (2017, August). Contemplative Poetry Writing: Tapping into our inner reality about teaching contemplative practices. A contemplative arts session for the 13th Annual Summer Session on Contemplative Learning in Higher Education, sponsored by The Centre for Contemplative Mind in Society, Northampton, MA.

Reilly, R.C. (2013, April). Family Creativity. Suzuki Family Conference, Ottawa, ON.

Reilly, R.C. (2011, April). Enriching your skills as a parent educator. FRP Canada National Conference, Montreal, QC.

Arts-informed research events and products

Films
Us, connecting through art: Art, adversity, and resilience. (2018). A film describing a knowledge dissemination project about the use of art therapy in a tertiary cancer care centre. Available https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/985044/

Reilly, R. C. (2014, October). La Ruche d'Art: A hyper modal third space diary using arts-based methods. A film presented during the session Neighborhood art hives: Engaging communities in teaching and learning at the 15th annual conference of the Engagement Scholarship Consortium, Edmonton, AB.

Also shown at the The Expressive Therapies Summit, November 9th, 2014 in New York City. Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/982343/

Poetry
Reilly, R. C. (Ed.). (2017). Emergence from the rubble...: The found poems and artwork of women living through breast cancer engaging in art therapy (a chapbook). Montréal: Self-published. DOI: 10.11573/spectrum.library.concordia.ca.00982600 Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/982600/

Reilly, R. C. (Ed.). (2017). Émerger des décombres…: Œuvres et poèmes retrouvés créations d’art-thérapie de femmes vivant avec le cancer du sein (a chapbook). Montréal: Self-published. DOI: 10.11573/spectrum.library.concordia.ca.00982602 Available http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/982602/

Research performances

The murder next door- A research-informed reader's theatre performance

June 9, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 2022: Performed at the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival.

January 10, 15, 17, 2020: Performed at 4^thSpace at Concordia University, Montréal.

December 6, 2018: Performed at the Brown Bag Lunch Research Seminar in the Department of Applied Human Sciences at Concordia University, Montréal.

October 13, 2018: Performed at the Artful Inquiry Symposium 2018, Montréal.

Curation and exhibition for research knowledge dissemination

Peace

January to June 2018: An art exhibition about peace made by and for people who have been touched by cancer. In cooperation with CanSupport and RBC Art & Heritage Centre. Location: Cedars Cancer Centre of the MUHC.

Hope: The thing with feathers that perches in the soul

June to December 2017: An art exhibition about hope and resilience made by and for people who have been touched by cancer. In cooperation with CanSupport and RBC Art & Heritage Centre. Location: Cedars Cancer Centre of the MUHC.

L'Amour / Love: Love as a central part of our lives

February to June 2017: An art exhibition about love made by and for people who have been touched by cancer. In cooperation with CanSupport and RBC Art & Heritage Centre. Location: Cedars Cancer Centre of the MUHC.

The art of adversity

September to December 2016: Artwork made by and for people who have been touched by cancer. In cooperation with CanSupport and RBC Art & Heritage Centre. Locations: La Ruche D'Art, Cedars Cancer Centre of the MUHC, and the Benny Library.

Research activities

Research grants

As Primary Investigator

2023 The (Un)Expected Project: Art making and loss. Experiential Learning Grant.

Total awarded: $2000.00

2020 Visual tools as a mode of organizational communication: The impact on engagement, productivity, leadership, and organizational learning. Luc Beauregard Centre of Excellence in Communications Research.

Total awarded: $7862.50

2017 Using research-informed theatre to develop local governmental policies and responses to trauma in communities. SSHRC Insight Development grant.

Total awarded: $59,386

2016 The power of art to promote psychological and existential growth during adversity. SSHRC Connections grant.
Total awarded: $37,067; funds pledged from other sources $22,818.

2015 Third spaces as healing places: Promoting healing and resilience in individuals and in wider communities through art making. CHRCS research partnership grant.
Total awarded: $3500

2011-2012 The impact of arts-based management educational strategies on organizational consulting practices. Organizational Development and Change Endowment Fund: Academy of Management.
Total awarded: $1000.00

2006–2010 The impact of context and domain on the process of social creativity and expertise development. Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC).
Total awarded: $39,600.00.

2006–2009 Community resilience: Neighbourhood residents creating a livable balance after a traumatic event. Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
Total awarded: $53,971

As Co-Investigator

2020 A toolkit for optimizing intervention. In partnership with the Amal Centre for Women. The SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation.

Total awarded: $4815

2019 Engaging performance audiences as listeners of a restorative justice encounter. SSHRC Partnership Engage grant.

Total awarded: $23,526

2015 The art of healing: Exploring the use of art therapy in oncology nursing practice to enhance whole person care. Quebec Nursing Intervention Research Network (RRISIQ).

Total awarded: $13,593

2012-2013 Researching arts-based storefront learning: Teaching in community. VPRGS Stream 2 (Team) Seed Funding Program: Faculty of Fine Arts.
Total awarded: $12,080.00

2010-2012 Jeunes, agents multiplicateurs pour une culture environnementale dans le quartier Parc-Extension. Fonds des services aux collectivités, Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport.
Total awarded: $32,900.00.