About COLT

Vanessa Greening
Administrative Assistant

250-638-5451
vgreening@coastmountaincollege.ca

Vanessa Greening is 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.

Vera Liubomudrova
Learning Technologist

250.638-5430
VLiubomudrova@coastmountaincollege.ca

Vera was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. About nine years ago, she and her family traded the busy eight-lane highways for stunning mountains and beautiful wilderness—and they’ve been enjoying it every day since.

Her first degree, a Master’s in Economics, led her to a career in business, but her passion for education soon took over. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Education and worked as a teacher. After moving to Canada, Vera continued her journey in education, obtaining a TESOL certificate and working as an ESL instructor and program coordinator in various organizations across Northern British Columbia. Along the way, she discovered the rich history of the land and its people, sharing her knowledge while learning from those she met.

In recent years, Vera has embraced online teaching. She completed several courses to master online platforms, video conferencing, and digital tools, successfully integrating them into her English lessons for students in the Northwest region. At Coast Mountain College, she began as a casual instructor in the LEAP program, teaching a variety of courses.

Now, in her role as a Learning Technologist, Vera is excited to make the learning process smoother by reducing the stress of working with new technologies and helping integrate digital tools in a way that benefits both instructors and students. As an online instructor herself, she has deep empathy for anyone navigating the world of online education. She is always ready to offer support, find solutions, and make the experience work for everyone.

Outside of work, Vera loves spending time with great people, exploring new places, enjoying nature, sharing meals, and laughing. She has a teenage son, a one-year-old daughter, two dogs, and a husband who always keep her on her toes!

Adam Nash
Learning Transformation Specialist

250-638-5234
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

250-638-5326
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

250-638-5414
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.