The Okanagan School of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. David Trumpower to the position of Director of Undergraduate Programs.
Dr. Trumpower brings a wealth of experience, and passion and commitment for innovative teaching.
“I am excited to embark on this new chapter at UBC Okanagan,” says Dr. Trumpower. “I look forward to contributing to the undergraduate program and collaborating with a vibrant academic community.”
His passion for teaching and unraveling the complexities of learning emerged early in his career. Starting as a physics major in his undergraduate program, he found his path diverging into psychology as he was drawn to the science of behavior and how people learn. This led him to switch majors and eventually pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology, delving deeper into understanding how individuals grasp challenging subjects.
“I’ve always been really interested in how people learn, especially in subject areas that people find difficult — or even scary,” he says. “My Ph.D. focused on how people learn physics and I’ve since extended that to explore how people come to understand statistics.”
His interest in statistics education and alternative assessment methods have become focal points of his research as he aims to demystify challenging subjects and provide meaningful learning experiences. His interests align with the university’s commitment to providing a dynamic and engaging undergraduate experience.
“One aspect of working in higher education that I really enjoy, is applying what I learn in my research into the classroom,” he says. “A lot of my research is related to teaching and learning, and as I often teach subjects that can be a little intimidating to some people, like statistics, I can teach it in a way that creates positive learning experiences.”
Dr. Trumpower is joining the School after being part of the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa for 17 years, and in the role of Teacher Education Program Director since 2019. While at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Trumpower was a member of the working group that was responsible for re-envisioning the program, and he was guided the program through its re-accreditation process with the Ontario College of Teachers. He also played a role in advancing inclusion at the Faculty, including creating required courses on Indigenous education and inclusive education, and introducing bi-weekly workshops on equity, diversity and inclusion, human rights, and mental wellbeing.
Beyond academic life, he is excited to explore the Okanagan’s four-season playground, including snowboarding, trail running and rock climbing. He is also eager to learn more about the history and people of the Okanagan Valley and build relationships within the community.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Trumpower to UBC and the Okanagan Valley.