Dr. Florence Glanfield

Biography

Dr. Glanfield is currently Vice-Provost (Indigenous Programming and Research) and a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Department of Secondary Education. She is an Affiliated Faculty member with the Centre for Research for Teacher Education and Development at the University of Alberta. She earned her PhD in 2003 studying mathematics teacher understanding as an emergent phenomenon.

Dr. Glanfield worked at the University of Saskatchewan, College of Education (1999 - 2007) and began her tenure at the University of Alberta in July 2007.

Dr Glanfield is a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta, born and raised in Northeastern Alberta. Dr Glanfield’s research interests explore the experiences that individuals (teachers and learners) as well as collectives of learners / communities have with mathematics and learning mathematics. Dr Glanfield collaborates with colleagues and has engaged in research projects with Canadian Indigenous communities, urban Aboriginal youth, elementary & secondary mathematics teachers, and teachers and teacher educators in Tanzania and Rwanda. 

Two of Dr Glanfield’s current research projects are with colleagues across Canada around the ways in which Indigenous and ‘Western’ knowledge systems interact in mathematics and science education.

As Chair of the Department of Secondary Education (2012 - 2019), Dr. Glanfield began exploring pathways for Indigenous languages speakers to become certified teachers in the province of Alberta.

Dr Glanfield’s career has included opportunities to work with students and teachers in all regions of Canada, in the US, in Tanzania and in Rwanda; teach high school mathematics; work with the Alberta Ministry of Education to develop provincial mathematics curriculum, participate in implementation of provincial curriculum, develop student assessment materials; and organize national and international fora. 

Dr Glanfield’s been actively involved in, and has served in leadership roles with provincial (Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association), national (Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group), and international professional organizations (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, TODOS: Mathematics for ALL, and the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics). 

Dr. Glanfield's received the following awards:

2018Special Award Recognition from the Mathematics Council of Alberta Teachers’ Association

2017Kay Gilliland Equity Lecture Award, National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics

2014Iris Carl Leadership and Equity Award, TODOS: Mathematics for ALL 

1995Alberta Mathematics Educator Award, Mathematics Council of Alberta Teachers’ Association