RSF investment in senior research management

Avery brings over 25 years of experience in education, having held a range of teaching and leadership roles in Canada and internationally. As Dean of Academic Development and Research, he has strengthened Vanier’s research ecosystem by supporting faculty researchers, cultivating strategic partnerships, and advancing initiatives that directly enhance student learning and success.

As a researcher, Avery's areas of expertise include transversal skills development, competency-based education, artificial intelligence literacy, serious games and gamification, experiential learning, and innovative pedagogical approaches such as ‘gamejams’. His projects have secured funding through different grants including Entente Canada-Québec, NovaScience, the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT), and the Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur (MES).

"At Vanier, our goal is to create opportunities where research directly improves students' educational experiences, strengthens their transversal competencies, and prepares them to thrive in a rapidly changing world,” says Avery. “One of the most rewarding aspects of this role is helping faculty transform innovative ideas into funded projects that generate meaningful learning opportunities for students."

Working closely with Research Officer, Dr. Angela Vavassis, Avery has helped ensure that faculty are supported at every stage of the research lifecycle—from proposal development to project implementation and reporting.

“I enjoyed working with Avery, both in his faculty researcher and senior research administrator roles,” states Angela. “Whether he is developing and conducting his own project, providing administrative support to faculty researchers, or contributing to larger institutional initiatives, he is driven by the prospect of enhancing both student success and community impact. Avery is also an ambitious innovator and an exceptional collaborator, who does not hesitate to propose and pursue transformative ideas.”

Through the support of the Research Support Fund, Vanier College continues to strengthen its capacity to develop innovative research initiatives, support faculty researchers, and create transformative learning opportunities that benefit both students and the broader community.

Investment area: Management and administration

Investment year: 2025-26