Researcher Profiles

Alan C. Wiebe

Alan C. Wiebe – Mentorship and Outreach Coordinator, Faculty of Education

Can you share a brief description of your current research.

I am currently connecting Education students to various service agencies and educational settings to serve as mentors with youth who may be deemed “at risk” of dropping out of school or making poor lifestyle choices. These settings are located in and around the University of Winnipeg. The mentors record their experiences working with these young people for the purpose of determining strategies that work when forming relationships with relationship reluctant youth.

In what ways could this research affect the average person?

By helping youth begin making positive goals with the assistance of a mentor we hope the community can benefit by seeing youth make more positive life choices."

For you personally, why do you want to do this kind of research?

I believe that our future teachers from the Faculty of Education can develop positive strategies for relationship development with youth and become better and more effective teachers.

What kind of student involvement do you have in this research?

I have a cadre of up to 40 Faculty of Education students working with youth in different settings. The students complete journal entries about the experiences they have with youth. These journals are also required in order for the student to acquire university course credit toward their Bachelor of Education.

What would you say to students who may be interested in this field of study?

Interested students make an appointment with me to take part in an interview and discussion about the level of their involvement, and which youth population they would most like to work with.