LLC Instructors

Romalie Murphy

Instructor for 391.

Romalie Murphy is the Acting Director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre from January to June 2012.

Romalie is an alumna of the LLC, attending in the fall of 2005. Her education background includes a B.A. Honours Degree in International Studies (2007) and a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities, History (2011) both from Trinity Western University.

Romalie previously held the position of Community Life Coordinator at the LLC from 2007-2009 and is pleased to return to Ottawa for this duration as director of the program and instructor of POLS 391. 

Janet Epp Buckingham

Instructor for 391.

Dr. Buckingham is the Director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre as of October 15,  2006. Dr. Buckingham will be on leave from January to June 2012 to work on a special project.

Dr. Buckingham received her LLB from Dalhousie University, and her LLD from the University of Stellenbosch. She practiced law in Nova Scotia and Ontario, served as executive director of Christian Legal Fellowship from 1990-1994 and has been general legal counsel of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada from 1999  and Director, Law and Public Policy since Sept. 2003-2006.

Of her work at the LLC, Dr. Buckingham enjoys the interaction she has with keen, bright students who seek to bring their Christian faith to bear on public policy issues.

Dr. Buckingham has lived in England, France and South Africa, and now she, her husband, two children, dog and cat, call Ottawa home. One day she would like to write a book on religious freedom in Canada.

To see Dr. Buckingham's CV click here

Kathy Vandergrift 

Instructor for POLS 392 

Kathy Vandergrift brings a combination of practical experience and theoretical reflection to the study of public ethics.  Her practical experience includes both government positions and advocacy work. 

 In government Kathy served as chief-of-staff for a big city mayor and policy analyst for federal members of parliament. On the advocacy side, Kathy brings international experience, such as Co-founder of the International Watchlist for Children and Armed-Conflict; work with national faith-based advocacy groups, such as the Canadian Council of Churches Commission for Justice and Peace and Citizens for Public Justice; and local initiatives, such as starting the Edmonton Recycling Society.  She currently chairs the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children.

 Kathy holds a Master's Degree in Public Ethics from St. Paul University.

Calvin Townsend

Instructor for POLS 393

Department: Political Studies; Religious Studies, International Studies

Area of Expertise: Christian worldview; Christianity and the political order; Contemporary Christianity; Influential Christian thinkers in the Western tradition; Political philosophy

Education: BTh (Western Pentecostal); MCS (Regent); ThM (Regent)