Education
EdD (2017), Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education, Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.
Dissertation: School Administrators’ Insight and Self-reflection: An Exploration of the Influence of Expressive Writing and the Lumina Spark© Inventory on Self-awareness
BEd (2007), Education, Charles Sturt University.
MA (1994), Music Performance, McGill University.
BMus (1990), Music Performance (Academic Gold Medal), Western University.
Courses
- Multicultural Education in Global Context (PJI) (EDU-323)
- Social Foundations and Introduction to Teaching (EDU-303)
- Engaging Literacy in the Primary Grades (PJ) (EDU-421)
- Engaging Literacy in the Junior Grades (PJ) (EDU-422)
- Development and Learning (EDU-301)
- Engaging Literacy in the Junior Grades (JI) (EDU-423)
- Engaging Literacy in the Intermediate Grades (JI) (EDU-424)
- Professional Teaching Seminar and Reflective Practice (EDU-488)
About
Lisa Devall-Martin’s enthusiasm as a faculty member in Redeemer University’s School of Education stems from her expertise as an elementary school teacher and school administrator in Ontario, Canada. Her expertise was developed over two decades in the public education system while completing her doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University in entrepreneurial leadership in education. Locally, as a university professor, she is committed to ensuring her teaching is innovative through purposefully designed transformative learning experiences based on the most recent research in education. Lisa’s passion to disrupt poverty through education is evident in her local commitment to Ray of Hope (Kitchener, Ontario). Globally, Lisa develops collaborative global partnerships in education as the president of Education-4-Change (Somali Region, Ethiopia) to address a variety of barriers prohibiting girls and youth from attending school. In addition, she is a strong advocate for sustainable soul-care as a pathway to Christian educators’ holistic well-being. Lisa’s research, presentations, and writing cover a variety of topics including emotional labour in teaching, pedagogical innovation, educational leadership, and comparative and international education. Lisa loves walking with her dogs (Sherlock and Watson), cooking for her family, and writing/reading in many forms.
Research Interests
- Exploring educators’ identity, and professional capacity-building; specifically, emotional labour in education
- Elementary pre-service teacher preparation, professional development, and scholarship
- Global equitable access to education; comparative and international education research
Selected Research Publications
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Leading Under Pressure: Expressive Writing as a Pathway to Resilience in School Leaders.” In The Emerald Handbook of Wellbeing in School Leadership: Initiatives, Practices, and Structures to Support Flourishing in Schools, 2026 in-press.
McHolm, Sharlene, and Lisa Devall-Martin. “Advancing Gender Equality and Educational Access through Community-Driven Research Initiatives in Ethiopia.” Research in Educational Policy and Management 8, no. 1 (2026).
Devall-Martin, Lisa, and Michelle C. Hughes. “A Collaboration: Exploring, Discussing, and Practicing the Pause.” International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal, 20, no. 2 (2025).
Ross, Nancy, Heather J. S. Birch, Lisa Devall-Martin, et. al. “Wired to Flourish in Community: An Affinity Space for Christian Female Scholars.” Christian Higher Education, 25, no. 5 (2025).
Devall-Martin, Lisa, and Matthew Schonewille. “SPARKing Transformation: Redemptive Adaptive AI Courseware for Student Achievement.” Christian Educators Journal 64, no. 4 (2025).
Devall-Martin, Lisa, and Sharlene McHolm. “Building Bridges Between Policy and Praxis: A Comparative and Environmental Scan of Inclusive Education in Ethiopia and Canada.” Exceptionality Education International 34, no. 1 (2024).
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Sparking Pre-service Teachers’ Self-Awareness through a Strengths-Based Psychometric Tool: A Pilot Study in a Christian University.” International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal 19, no. 1 (2024).
Lee Sinden, Jane, and Lisa Devall-Martin. “Emotions Are Not in the Way, They Are the Way: Abolishing Unhealthy Beliefs about Emotion and Cultivating the Spiritual–Emotional Development of Athletes.” Religions 15, no. 270 (2024).
Book Reviews
Devall-Martin, Lisa. Review of Wise Minds Wanted: Calling for Intellectual Virtue in a Post-Truth Era, by Thiessen, E. J. International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal 20, no. 1 (2025).
Devall-Martin, Lisa. Review of Leadership for Inclusive Schools: Cases for Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs, by Sider, S. & K. Maich, International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal 17, no. 1 (2022).
Expert Commentary
Sider, S. & Maich, K. Leadership for inclusive schools: Real cases from real leaders to engage principals in professional learning for supporting students with special education needs. Rowman and Littlefield, 2022.
Conference Contributions
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “From Stress to Strength: Investigating Expressive Writing as a Reflective Intervention for School Leaders’ Well-being.” Principal presentation at the Well-being in Education Conference, Wilfrid Laurier University, October 2025.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Imago Dei Praxis: A Transformative Truth Celebrating ‘We Teach Who We Are’ (P/J).” Principal presentation at the Edvance Annual Gathering, Redeemer University, October 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Imago Dei Praxis: A Transformative Truth Celebrating ‘We Teach Who We Are’ (J/I).” Principal presentation at the Edvance Annual Gathering, Redeemer University, October 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Imago Dei Praxis: Celebrating “We Teach Through the Lumina Spark© Experience.” Principal presentation, invited by Edvance Annual Gathering, Redeemer University, October 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Research in Trends Impacting Public School Leaders.” Principal presentation, invited by Edvance Leadership Team for Retreat, August 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Research in Trends Impacting Public School Leaders.” Principal presentation, invited by Edvance Leadership Retreat, August 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. and McHolm, S. “Building Bridges Between Policy and Praxis: An environmental and policy scan of inclusive education in Ethiopia.” Presentation at CSSE Conference – Comparative and International Education, Montréal, QC, June 2024. Paper accepted for presentation.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Imago Dei Praxis: Gaining insights into the transformative relevance and value of Lumina Spark© Experience with pre-service teachers in a Christian university.” International Christian Community of Teachers Education (ICCTE), Gordon College, Wenham, MA. Harro Van Brummelen Scholarship 2022 presentation, May 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Imago Dei Praxis: Why does it matter in teacher education?” Chaired roundtable discussion during the International Christian Community of Teacher Educators (ICCTE) conference, Gordon College, Wenham, MA, May 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa., Heather J. S. Birch, and Mary Draper. “EmpowerHER: A Collaborative Journey in Faith-centered Research and Writing to Promote Leadership.” Paper research presented at Advancing Women in Leadership through the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities, Taylor University, May 2024.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Saving Face: Moving Beyond Overextended School Leadership.” Paper virtually presented at Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). Annual Congress, May 2022.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Sparking School Administrators’ Self-awareness: A Purposeful Innovation Leading to Understanding Imago Dei and Meaningful Transformation.” Paper presented at the meeting of the International Christian Community of Teachers Education (ICCTE). George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, US, May 2022.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Emotional Labour in Teaching: Support for a Reality Check in the Profession.” Research presented at the meeting of the International Christian Community of Teachers Education (ICCTE). George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, US, May 2022.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Leading in a Time of Crisis.” Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference through invitation of Commonwealth, Council of Education Administration and Management (CCEAM), June 2022.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Well-being through Wordles: Ontario School Administrators’ Self-awareness Increases Through Expressive Writing.” Poster presented at the meeting of the International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI), Stavanger, Norway, January 2019.
Devall-Martin, Lisa. “Saving Face: Moving beyond overextended school leadership.” Innovation session presented at the meeting of the International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI), Stavanger, Norway, January 2019.
Research Funding and Awards
[co-researcher] Devall-Martin, L., McHolm, S., & Gebrewold, A.T. Erasing the Stigma for Good: A Social Behaviour Change Communication Strategy, Education 4 Change/USAID/Research Triangle Institute Project, Somali Region, Ethiopia, 2024-2026
SSHRC Explore Grant. The Lumina Spark Effect: Gaining Insights into the Transformative Relevance and Value of the Lumina Spark Experience with Teacher Candidates, 2022
[Recipient] Harro Van Brummelen Memorial Scholarship, awarded by The International Christian Community of Teacher Educators (ICCTE), 2022
[Recipient] Award in Teaching Excellence at Western University, London, ON, 1997/98
[Recipient] Bachelor of Music (Honours) – Academic Gold Medal at Western University, London, ON, 1990
Media Appearances
- Faculty Profile: Academics, Resound, 2022.
Professional Engagements
Contract Faculty Teacher: Extended Literacy (J/I). Wilfrid Laurier University—Faculty of Education, Brantford, ON (2025, Fall).
Guest Lecturer: Teachers as Learners in a School Culture. Presented at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON (2018, May)
Professional Development Series: Administrator Mentorship Programming: The Framework and Impact at the Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo, ON (2018, April)
Professional Development Series: Building Leadership Development Systems: Valuing Diversity. Elmhurst Inn & Spa, Ingersoll, ON (2018, March)
Presentation: Leadership Development: Strengths-based Training for Optimal Well-being and Engagement at Waterloo Region District School Board, Waterloo, ON (2017, November).
Presentation: LuminaSpark© Leadership Development Tool at the Waterloo Region District School Board Leadership Steering Committee, Waterloo, ON (2017, October)
Guest Lecturer: Teachers as Learners in a School Culture at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON (2017, October)
Presentation: School Administrators’ Insight and Self-reflection: Can it be measured? Lumina Learning Canada Conference, Old Mill, Toronto, ON and Laurentian Senior Public School, Kitchen er, ON. (2017, September)
Certification: Lumina Learning Canada – Lumina Spark Practitioner, Port Perry, ON (February 2015)
Expert Panel Guest: Designing Effective Interventions. Panel Participant Doctoral Students at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (2016, August)
Expert Panel Guest: Doctoral Expectations and Strategies for Success. Panel Participant Doctoral Students at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.(2015, August)
Professional Memberships and Associations
- Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE)
- Canadian Association for Teacher Education (CATE)
- Centre for Leading Research in Education (CLiRE: Wilfrid Laurier University)
- Comparative and International Education Society of Canada (CIES)
- International Christian Community for Teacher Educators (ICCTE)
Board Service
- Institute for Christian Studies (ICS): Research Ethics Board (REB; 2021-24)
- Ray of Hope: Board Director (2019-2022)
- Education for Change: President (2017-Present)