Janice McKendrick

English, Composition & Rhetoric. Law & Public Policy. Public Administration. Political Studies. Island Studies. Global Issues. Transfusion Medicine.

Ms. Janice McKendrick is the founding Director for the Centre for Public Policy & Knowledge, and a Sessional Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island. She has presented research papers for professional organizations such as the Association for Donor Professionals (ADRP) and the International Small Islands Association (ISISA) Academically, Ms. McKendrick completed a Bachelor of Arts with first class distinction in both English and Political Studies in 2002. She earned a diploma in public administration at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2001. She went on to become the first student to complete the Master of Arts degree in Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island in 2006. Following the completion of her M.A., Ms. McKendrick continued to perform much needed recruitment and community development services in her health care profession. In 2008, Ms. McKendrick began teaching adult learners how to acquire academic credit for prior learning in the workplace using PLAR processes at the University of Prince Edward Island. This pioneer University 193 course transitions adult learners into the University of Prince Edward Island Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree program. As well, Ms. McKendrick’s certification as an ISTP trainer has led to her comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the theoretical principles and methodology associated with teaching adults workplace skills in professional and clinical environments. In previous teaching positions, Ms. McKendrick taught numerous small business development and accounting courses. As an Adult Training Instructor responsible for curriculum development, program revisions and course delivery in a broad range of learning environments and subjects, she acquired considerable experience teaching workplace training skills to adults from disadvantaged groups, graduate and undergraduate students, community volunteers and adult learners entering the workforce either for the first time or after an extended absence. For a pilot program she co-initiated, she taught intellectually and physically disabled adults how to read and write. She was a member of the Steering Committee responsible for publishing “Stepping Forward: Including Volunteers with Intellectual Disabilities” in 2006. As well, Ms. McKendrick served as a researcher for the Prince Edward Island Task Force on Student Achievement, a report that resulted in $13 million in funding for new K-12 projects. She has completed considerable research in public policy and legislation, making numerous presentations to Standing Committees and Legislative Hearings. She spearheaded the implementation of Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation in Prince Edward Island in the early 1990’s, and, as an elected Director for Parents Opposed to Government Waste in Education, reversed the government imposed, mandatory Textbook Fee. Another significant accomplishment for which Ms. McKendrick was primarily responsible was the changing of the Health Care Identification system from the previously used Social Insurance Numbers to numerical identifiers specific to healthcare. Ms. McKendrick’s current project involves writing a book entitled, “When Inspiration Whispers: The Mantra of the Academy.” Ms. McKendrick is particularly proud of her five adult children and eight grandchildren.