About COLT

Vanessa Greening
Administrative Assistant

250-635-6511 Ext. 5451
vgreening@coastmountaincollege.ca

Vanessa Greening is a loving wife and a proud mother of two beautiful daughters and a grandmother to a sweet granddaughter. Vanessa is passionate when it comes to her family and therefore was a stay at home mom so she could raise her girls and spend as much time with them as possible.

Vanessa has worked as an Administrative Assistant and in managerial positions in administration for 16 years.

Vanessa continues to enjoy this path she has chosen, as she has had many great experiences working in this field. Vanessa has now been with the college in term positions for the past 4 years as an Administrative Assistant and it has been, by far, the best experience she has had. Vanessa looks forward to advancing her skillset while continuing to work with her colleagues on a full-time basis.

When Vanessa is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Vanessa loves going to the gym, walking, spending time with her fur babies, camping, or just sitting in the backyard by a campfire.

Veronica Chinchilla
Learning Technologist

250.635.6511 Ext. 5430
vchinchilla@coastmountaincollege.ca

Veronica Chinchilla holds a degree in Computer Science, has extensive experience in the customer service field.  Her principle belief of client relations is to treat others the way one would like to be treated, with respect, professionalism, and exceeding client expectations whenever possible. 

Veronica has been an instructor with CMTN's Career & College Prep program and has a full understanding of the challenges instructors may experience with technology.  

As Learning Technologist, Veronica will provide timely front-line support to our faculty, meeting their needs to deliver excellent educational experiences. She understands the impacts technology can have on the experience of our students and  will always respond quickly to requests with the students’ learning goals in mind.  

One of the challenges she has mastered is serving faculty and staff members across campuses, who require assistance within the same timelines for troubleshooting.  

Technology will continue to expand, and matching technology with our institutional needs will be the key to providing students with an experiential and transformative education.  

Veronica enjoys spending time outdoors with her friends, family and her little nieces and nephews.  

Adam Nash
Learning Transformation Specialist

250-635-6511 Ext. 5234
anash@coastmountaincollege.ca

The seeds of Adam’s career in learning began as a restless student, gazing out the window, longing for adventure… and the recess bell to ring. During this time, the curiosity and desire to explore and learn were often cultivated outside of the traditional classroom. These beginnings in learning fuel Adam’s advocacy and passion for experiential place-based learning and the continued transformation of educational systems today. 

Adam has a diploma in Ski Resort Management, a BA in Outdoor Leadership, and an MA in Environmental Education and Communication. This formal education helped to shape a strong foundation in experiential learning while at the same time engendered an openness to seeing educational possibilities both inside and beyond our classrooms with four walls.

Vocationally, beyond education and faculty development, Adam has global and diverse experiences teaching and facilitating groups, working with at-risk youth, and working toward positive social change.

When not on the clock, Adam can be found spending time with family. Also, he enjoys baking bread, biking, hiking, skiing, and questing to make and share a perfect cup of coffee.

Jenny Mao
Learning Transformation Specialist

250-635-6511 Ext. 5326
jmao@coastmountaincollege.ca

Jenny (Jing) Mao took on the role of Learning Transformation Specialist in 2023, bringing a wealth of experience in teaching and researching English as an additional language (EAL), with a specific emphasis on academic writing challenges faced by international students. Her dedication to supporting and empowering international learners to thrive in the Canadian post-secondary learning context is fueled by her passion for facilitating success.

Before joining CMTN, Jenny served in various capacities, including as an EAL tutor, curriculum designer, and sessional instructor and employment advisor in diverse working settings. Her academic journey includes the successful completion of a PhD in Curriculum Design and Instruction at the University of Victoria in 2021. Additionally, she holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics and a Bachelor's degree in English Education, accumulating ten years of teaching experience in a Chinese University.

Jenny's list of credentials includes TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Academic and Career Advising, Train the Trainer (a short Certificate for PIDP). She is currently immersed in ongoing learning in Intercultural Studies at UBC. Jenny's passion for exploring new areas, particularly in intercultural communications, EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), and her commitment to supporting others in achieving their goals, is evident in her continuous pursuit of learning and professional development.

Outside of work, Jenny and her family find joy in spending time in nature, whether hiking in forests, strolling along beaches, or practicing yoga. In her leisure time, she also enjoys immersing herself in a good book.

Danna Buick
Learning Transformation Specialist

250-635-6511 Ext. 5414
dbuick@coastmountaincollege.ca

Danna, an instructor and Learning Transformation Specialist has been at Coast Mountain College since 2015. With a passion for the beauty industry, she played a pivotal role in instructing the Hairstylist Foundations Program from its inception. Her commitment to student success is evident as she continuously strives to provide learning opportunities that aid learners apply their classroom knowledge to an authentic setting .

As a Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) specialist, Danna is a relationship builder and collaborator. She works to establish strong partnerships with organizations in the region and raise awareness of the talented student body at CMTN.

Danna's list of credentials includes a Red Seal in Hairstyling, a Vidal Sassoon Educator Certificate, a Provincial Instructor Diploma, a Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology, and a Master's Degree in Open, Digital, and Distance Education. Prior to joining CMTN, she owned and operated a successful business as a sole proprietor for many years.

Danna's dedication to the field of education extends beyond her work at CMTN. She has collaborated with others to create open educational resources that are housed in the BC Trades repository, accessible to all public post-secondary schools. She is also an active member of the Educational Technology Users Group and ACE-WIL BC.

When not working or learning, Danna enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and large dog, Cooper. A proud resident of Kitimat, she has raised her family there and is committed to giving back to her community.