New Webinars on Toronto Metropolitan University’s Thriving in Action Program
Join The Best Practices Network for two webinars spotlighting Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Thriving in Action (TiA) program.
TiA was developed by Dr. Diana Brecher (Clinical Psychologist) and Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer (PhD) and has been peer-reviewed and rated as a “Best” practice for the Best Practices Library. TiA guides learners through key habits, mindsets, and tools for personal and academic resilience, drawing from Positive Psychology practices, CBT insights, and wholistic learning strategies. TiA is an upstream, early alert program for equity-deserving students who struggle academically and personally.
Session 1: Cultivating Campus Flourishing: The Thriving in Action Story
Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
In this session, Dr. Brecher and Dr. Shaffer will share the evolution of TiA, showcasing how thoughtful conversations between colleagues blossomed into a framework supporting diverse learners across Canada. Attendees will discover TiA’s approach that combines the Five Factor Model of Resilience with the Five Features of Wide Awake Learning, and creates spaces where all identities and learning paths are honoured. Dr. Brecher and Dr. Shaffer will illustrate how TiA fosters both academic success and personal flourishing through research findings and student voices—delving into how these elements might enrich attendees’ own educational context.
Access the webinar recording here
Session 2: Perspectives on Implementing The Thriving in Action Program in Campus Settings
Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 | 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
In this session, a panel of representatives will share their experiences in their adaptation and adoption of TiA at their institution. Panelists will include Caiti Casey from Windsor University, Emily Appleyard and Jennifer Babin from Niagara College, Breanne Molnar from The University of British Columbia, and Lisa Steffensen from Roane State College (Tennessee). Venus Bali, currently a TiA learning strategist at TMU, will also share how she implemented TiA at Mount St. Vincent University. This session will focus on the implementation of TiA, highlighting barriers and facilitators to program adoption.
Zoom details will be emailed to registrants closer to the webinar date. Please check spam/junk folders for an email with the Zoom details.
Please contact info@bp-net.ca with any questions.
Presenters:
Dr. Diana Brecher, (she/her) a clinical psychologist, began her work at the TMU Counselling Centre in 1991. She served as the clinical director from 1994 to 2011 and is also an adjunct faculty member in the TMU Psychology Department and the MBA program. In 2016, she launched the ThriveTMU initiative, incorporating best practices from the emerging field of Positive Psychology. Her Thriving in Action program, co-founded with Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer, aims to enhance postsecondary student mental health by integrating positive psychology interventions and holistic learning strategies. This work has recently received Best Practices designation and Health Equity Icon from the Best Practices Network.
Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer (she/her) is the Founder of Awakened Learning, providing holistic learning strategies to students, parents, and educators. A TEDx speaker, 2x best-selling author of “Feel Good Learning” and “Raising Well Learners,” award-winning edu-entrepreneur, and Adjunct Faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching their popular “learning+happiness” course, Deena is driven to create less suffering in learning and teaching. She was a two-term President of the Learning Specialists Association of Canada, a former learning strategist for students with disabilities and a skilled certified high school teacher. In celebrated collaboration with Dr. Brecher, Deena is the co-founder of the now international Thriving in Action academic resilience intervention and co-author of Thriving in Action Online. Deena holds a doctorate in transformative learning strategies, is a trained yoga and mindfulness meditation teacher, a published poet, and a keynote speaker on well-learning. Deena’s most recent project is launching Lived Wisdom, a low-cost, high-impact micro-speaking agency by and for game-changing educators. Deena’s ideal day is spent outdoors getting muddy with her family.