Rohan McCalla, PhD (he/him) on LinkedIn: View of Towards Integrated Mixed Methods Autoethnographic Approaches: A… (2024)

In the past year or so, I have found myself asking more questions about different aspects of the systems, processes, and the ways of doing some things in Canada. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) has also been on my mind a lot these days. I discuss this topic with students but more and more, I have started to question whether organizations mean it, in all its forms, or whether it is merely a formality in some quarters in Canada. More and more, I have started to question the number of Blacks, who get selected for full-time positions and or get promoted in Canadian institutions of higher learning. There is a voice in my head that is telling me that it cannot simply be my qualifications and experience that has earned me no response from some institutions that have placed advertisem*nts for full-time professors. In a few instances, I think I have been spot on with what they have asked for, but not even a call for an interview. I know it is not easy getting into all areas in academia, but... I really believe that aspects of the system are so broken and visible minorities, along with other groups of people are continuing to experience a lot of conscious and unconscious employment discrimination in Canada. Some of these acts of discrimination are things that some people will never find out about. I make no bones to tell my students that it makes no sense being naive; the reality is what it is. EDI is meant to help some of the discriminatory practices but we all have to question how much is it helping some of us. https://lnkd.in/ehyhTxdH

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Everyone, who knows me will know that I care a lot for all my students and want to see nothing but the best for them. About 25 years ago, a student encouraged me to formally study education, because she thought I would do well as a lecturer. I followed her suggestion and never looked back. That student helped me to recognize and pursue my calling. Last semester, I taught Applied Research to students at the University of the West, Mona and two of the 15 returned to say thanks. All these students had it in them to do research, but they may not have fully recognized it; I simply "pulled" it out of them.

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Join me on this chula chat for a talk on how I used mixed methods research.

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Here is an opportunity to learn more about mixed methods research. See you there.

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Last Friday, it was such a wonderful moment to see my mother on stage collecting an award on my behalf. I told her that this award really belonged to her. I was one of few recipients, who received the Dean's Award for Excellence for completing a PhD, in the year 2022/2023, with High Commendation. I am not a person, who gets excited about many things, but I was really glad that I was not on the island and so that gave her the opportunity to take the stage. Her taking the stage was a major symbol of accomplishment and I felt really overjoyed to see that. She had me as a teenager and that may have caused her to pause her formal education, much earlier than expected. When I found that out, I was ever so determined to achieve the highest level of education. I did this, so that she would have less regrets about not getting all the education she needed to advance her dreams. I watched her pursue so many jobs to see me get this far. For that, all the things that I have done and continue to do, remain a constant reminder of the sacrifice many parents make for their children/ wards. For these reasons, I try to take special interest in all my learners, because I know that their educational journey may not be theirs alone. My journey towards self-improvement has never been easy; I have doubted myself so many times. I have attempted to give up numerous times. I, however, caught up with myself and never lost sight of why I was pursuing higher education. People always laugh at me because I am always studying; but there is a reason. I believe that if I was pursuing education for myself in mind, I would have given up a long time ago; I do it all in honour and recognition of her.

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Reflection: Your latent abilities need responsibility in order to expose their possibilities. Please put them into action today.

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Donna Mertens remains a true inspiration.

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Remember this! You are not yet what you are supposed to be, although you may be pleased with what you are right now. You have so much more in you.

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This reminded me of growing up; it was a really nice feeling thinking back.

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