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Alumni Profiles

Heather Johnston

Over the last twenty years, I have lived and worked in Canada, the U.S., Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. The Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations (MAIR) Program gave me a solid academic backing to my experience, and helped me translate that experience into my professional life. The fact that a master’s degree exists in this area gives credibility to the work that I do, and the knowledge I have. Personally, it has helped solidify my beliefs in the impact of culture on our daily lives.

I am presently working as an Intercultural Learning Specialist at The Centre for Intercultural Learning, based at the Canadian Foreign Service Institute in Ottawa. We are part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for Canada. We offer training to Canadian diplomats, the Canadian International Developmental Agency (CIDA), NGO’s, and various private sector clients.

Dean A. Hipple

I was born in the U.S. and have lived and worked in France since 1981. Five years ago (1999), I created the first intercultural research and training center (CRFI) at the largest university in France. In January 2000, I started the Winter Institute of Intercultural Communication (WIIC) – a week long seminar which brings together over 150 participants and trainers from Europe, Japan, and North America. I am presently director of the international department of the telecommunications school at the state university in Lille, France.

I completed the MAIR Program in 2003. Throughout all of my work, the directors, faculty, and entire MAIR staff, have constantly supported me with their knowledge, care, and expert guidance. With their help, I have been able to broaden my worldview, and transform my teaching into a theoretically founded, deliberately developmental program, sequenced for success in understanding across cultures.