Lisa Goldberg, RN PHD, Caritas Coach®
Associate Professor
Associate Director Undergraduate Student Affairs
School of Nursing, Faculty of Health
Dalhousie University
I am Lisa Goldberg (she/her/hers): a nurse educator, scholar, and leader in the areas of caring science, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA), and 2SLGBTQ+ health.
I am the Associate Director of Student Affairs in the School of Nursing, Dalhousie University. My passion for student-centric education, scholarly excellence, and nurse advocacy is driven by a commitment to redress systemic inequities experienced by historically and currently underrepresented communities. This is not surprising, given I navigate the academy through the intersectional identities of 2SLGBTQ+ and (dis)Abilities, albeit recognizing I am simultaneously privileged by my positionality of whiteness.
I began my career as a contemporary dancer, graduating from the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy (Michigan), and went on to complete two years of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (Ohio State University).
Recognizing a more academic path was my calling, I returned to Nova Scotia and completed two degrees in philosophy, BA (CBU, 1987); MA (1990, Dalhousie).
Exhausted from academia, I immersed myself in Japanese culture in the city of Tsu, Mie Prefecture, teaching English to young, enthusiastic, and delightful Japanese children—convinced I learned more from them then they from me. It is here where I fell in love with Hello Kitty, Studio Ghibli, and the music of Keisuke Kuwata, and his band, Southern All Stars.
My nursing journey began when I returned to Nova Scotia completing a nursing diploma from the Aberdeen School of Nursing (1993). The next four years were spent as a traveling nurse in Texas, Massachusetts, and Maine (perinatal health). I then returned to Nova Scotia and worked for two years in pediatrics (IWK) prior to graduating with my PhD (Nursing) from the University of Alberta (2004), where I continued to work as a postpartum casual nurse at the Misericordia Community Hospital.
Since arriving at Dalhousie in 2004, I have been a positive role model and leader in the major areas of queer birth, Caring Science, and EDIA.
As the lead investigator of an established qualitative research program, I have been the recipient of various educational awards and led local, provincial, and national research teams and mentored graduate students through innovative thesis scholarship, publication, and tri-council funding.
My work has fostered international partnerships with world renowned caring science scholars, including Dr. Jean Watson. Such partnerships have resulted in collaborative publications, an invitation to the Visiting Scholar Program at the University of Colorado (2016), and mentoring opportunities for graduate students to publish alongside Dr. Watson at the master’s and doctoral levels. I am also excited about my recent appointment (June 2022) as a Faculty Associate with the Watson Caring Science Institute (WSCI) and look forward to future collaborations as opportunities become available.
Currently I live with my fluffy black cat Miss Petunia in Halifax where I enjoy spending time with friends and family, especially my niece. Despite being vegetarian, I continue to eat far too much sugar.
A huge fan of all things related to tea, Harry Potter and wearing fun frocks, I live by choice without a car and only this year gave in and purchased a cell phone (2021).
I confess, I am loving Instagram where you can find me, along with Miss Petunia @teadrinkingprof
As a Certified Caritas Coach®, with expertise in Caring Science, queer birthing practices, and equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, I am delighted to be offering workshops to explore new ways of understanding how and why compassion is a necessary tool to work across difference to foster spaces and places of belonging for all to thrive.
Visit my website: lisasaragoldberg.com