Alisa Harrison trained as a historian with specialization in 20th-century U.S. politics and culture, African American history, women’s and gender history, and comparative colonialism.
Her scholarly studies focused on the politics of memory, epistemology, social movements, power relations, intersectionality and organizing for social justice. For the last decade, she has integrated this knowledge with growing expertise in applying anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, culturally safe, person-centered and recovery-oriented practice to health strategy, policy and service delivery.
Harrison now leads action research processes in a variety of organizations to develop service models, practice standards, programs, program evaluations, policy and strategic guidance for improving primary care and mental health and substance use service delivery.
Experience
As a scholar-practitioner, Alisa specializes in leadership, critical theory, comparative colonization, intersectional power relations (especially intersections of gender, sex, race and class), social movements, memory, and US politics and culture. She applies her historian-brain to improving present-day health and social systems, and dedicates her career to fostering just and equitable systems change through participatory, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practice.
Alisa’s work has spanned multiple roles, encompassing strategic and operational leadership, organizational development, project and change management, research, writing, evaluation, teaching, facilitation, and coaching. She is an associate faculty member in both the Leadership, and Professional and Continuing Studies graduate programs at Royal Roads, leads operations for the Indigenous Patient-Led CPD program at UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Division of Continuing Professional Development and offers coaching and consulting services for individuals and organizations.
Alisa acknowledges that her family’s safety and security has come at Indigenous Peoples’ expense, and that she occupies stolen land. She asks that you join her in acknowledging Indigenous territory and recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ long-standing protocols and systems, and inherent, unceded rights.
Education
2008
PhD in History
Duke University
2008
Graduate Certificate in African & African American Studies
Duke University
2001
Master of Arts in History
University of British Columbia
1999
Bachelor of Arts in History
University of British Columbia