Professional biography

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Dr. Raye Kass was hired as an Assistant Professor of Applied Human Sciences at Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec in 1972, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1976. She currently spearheads group theory courses in both the undergraduate and graduate level. Professor Kass is highly involved within the Department’s teaching profile, having taught seventeen different courses, and extensively redesigned many of the counselling and group theory courses that the Department offers today. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Human Systems Intervention graduate level-program, which sees applications from across the globe. A member and past Program Director of the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies (CHRCS), her consulting and training activities have included over 1000 workshops with various universities, schools, hospitals, penitentiaries, government departments and organizations in Canada, the U.S, Europe and Asia. Known for her contemporary, cutting edge, and timely research style and results, Dr. Kass has been highlighted frequently by both national and international press agencies for both her space sciences and group theory research. Dr. Kass has also been invited to be involved in numerous space research projects in conjunction with the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, including the Psychological Experiment / Training Programme for the CAPSULS Mission held in Canada, the SFINCCS mission held in Russia, and the NSBRI (National Space Biomedical Research Institute) Ground-based Research Project with the NASA Ames Research Centre in the USA. A truly multidisciplinary scholar, Dr. Kass is also the author of “Theories of Small Group Development”, as well as the co-author of three other works on group theory. “Theories of Small Group Development” was first published in January 1996, and is currently in its 17th printing and 4^th edition. This book, which is a standard text for undergraduate and graduate students, has become a staple in related programs at the University of British Colombia, Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Colombia, McGill University, the Universite du Montreal, and the Universite de Sherbrooke au Quebec. It has also been used by trainers and facilitators internationally who work with teams and community organizations. Dr Kass has also published over 80 scholarly works, including refereed chapters in a book, book reviews, refereed journals, non-print publications, unpublished manuscripts, reports and studies, research proposals, and refereed conference presentations.

Employment History

Full-time Positions

1976-present Tenured in 1976	Associate Professor, Concordia University, Department of Applied Human Sciences
1972-1976	Assistant Professor, Concordia University, Department of Applied Social Sciences
1962-1968	Social Worker, Family Services Association, Montreal, Quebec

Academic Background

1983-1987	Ph.D (Educational Theory) Thesis entitled “The Apology stance in the learning process” University of Toronto
1970-1972	Master of Social Work University of Toronto
1966-1970	Baccalaureate of Arts (Distinction) Sir George Williams University

Honours and awards

1984	The John O’Brien Tenth Anniversary Distinguished Teaching Awards Award for outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. Concordia University
1983	The Adult Education Distinguished Thesis Award of Canada Nominated for outstanding thesis contribution in the field of Adult Education
1980	Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Accepted doctoral grant of $7, 200
1979	Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada Accepted doctoral grant of $7, 200
1979	James Cumming Fellow Trinity College, University of Toronto
1971	Edward Johna Urwick Memorial Fellowship School of Social Work, University of Toronto
1970	Robert C. Rae Scholarship Highest achieving student in the Applied Social Science Sir George Williams University

Professional training (pre and post-doctoral)

2007	Aviation Medicine Vienna, Austria Specialized 25 hour Aviation Medicine Credit. Received at the 55th International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine, held from September 16-20th, 2007.

Long-Term Training Programs

The following section lists professional training programs which were of a significant duration (one month or longer) and which focused on a specific area of professional practice

2006	Training in Psychodrama Montreal, Quebec
1988	Training Program in Dream Analysis Montreal, Quebec A seven week intensive training program led by B. Bastian, P.S.W., taken during my sabbatical year.
1988	Training Program in Leadership and Problem-Solving Hawaii, U.S.A Intensive three month training (over 350 hours) at the Pacific and Asia Christian University taken during my sabbatical year.
1988	Practicum In Leadership and Problem-Solving A 12 week practicum in the Philippines and Singapore taken during my sabbatical year.
1988	Study of Therapeutic Institutions and Training in Central and Eastern Europe Over a period of seven months during my sabbatical year, I visited 8 countries and made over 230 professional contacts representing approximately 63 organizations.
1986-1987	Training in Human Social Functioning, Phase II London, England Completed intensive training in the philosophy and application of the Human Social Functioning Scale with Professor Heimler of London, England. This training certifies the trainer to both teach and use this scale.
1980-1981	Training in Human Social Functioning, Phase I London, England Completed intensive training in the use of the Human Social Functioning Scale with Professor Heimler of London, England. This training certifies the trainer to both teach and use this scale.
1974-1975	Training in Psychodrama Montreal, Quebec Intensive training under Dr. Alan Sirkus of McGill University. Training conducted with the staff of the Family Service Association.
1968-1972	Trainer Devolvement Program Montreal, Quebec Completion of the five phase program of the Trainer Development program at the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies, at Sir George Williams University.

Other professional training

The following lists, according to category, professional development experiences of brief duration (1 to 7 days). I have attended seminars for my professional development in the following over the span of my career.

Adult Education

1986	Training, Transitions and Learning Montreal, Quebec Weekend workshop exploring the dynamics of transitions with Dr. Charles Seashore from the National Institute for Applied Behavioural Science in Washington, U.S.A
1980	Interpretive Methods in Psycho-educational Research Toronto, Ontario 1 day seminar held at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
1979	Kolb’s Learning Style Montreal, Quebec 2 day workshop led by Dr. Kolb at the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies

Individual Therapy

1985	Individual, Marital, Family and Group Therapy Montreal, Quebec
1984	Focus on Therapy Montreal, Quebec Fourth annual Mental Health Conference.
1984	Paradoxical Marital Therapy Toronto, Ontario 2 day workshop on paradoxical and circular approaches to marital therapy.
1984	Behind the Family Mask Montreal, Quebec 2 day workshop on therapeutic change in rigid family systems.
1983	Family Therapy: Strategies for the Structuralist Montreal, Quebec Two day workshop examining the blend of structural and strategic family therapy.
1983	Focus on Family Therapy Toronto, Ontario
1983	Mothers and Sons, Fathers and Daughters Montreal, Quebec 2 day workshop sponsored by the School of Social Work of McGill University
1983	Problem-Centered Evaluation and Therapy Montreal, Quebec
1982	The Family and Misapplication of Metaphors Montreal Quebec 1 day workshop on emerging trends in the family therapy field, conducted by the Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry.
1982	Strategic Family Therapy Montreal, Quebec 2 day workshop conducted by Jay Hayley
1981	Systems Approach in Family Therapy Montreal, Quebec 2 day workshop conducted by Virginia Satir

Psychotherapy

1986	Unlimiting the Therapist Montreal, Quebec 2 day workshop on Eriksonian approaches to Therapy. Presented by the Argyle Institute of Human Relations in conjunction with the Department of Psychiatry, Montreal General Hospital
1984	Gestalt Therapy Montreal, Quebec
1983	Jungian Typology Montreal, Quebec
1982	Archetypes of the Feminine Montreal, Quebec Conducted by Roger Woolger, Jungian Analyst.
1981	Gestalt Training Montreal, Quebec 2 day training in Gestalt therapy conducted by Marty Fromm.
1980	Training in Psychosynthesis Toronto, Ontario
1980	Dream Analysis Workshop Toronto, Ontario 2 day training program on techniques in working with dreams held at the University of Toronto.
1980	The Jungian “Shadow” Toronto, Ontario 1 day workshop on Jungian theory and psychotherapy held at the University of Toronto.
1974	Training in Gestalt Therapy Boston, U.S.A 5 day training program in Gestalt Therapy.
1973	Gibb’s Concept of Trust Formation Montreal, Quebec One day workshop on Gibb’s theory of trust led by Dr. Jack Gibb. Held in conjunction with the Department of Applied Social Sciences.

Organizational Development

1985	Montreal Board of Trade Montreal, Quebec 3 day workshop dealing with the following organizational issues: 1) Working with people and handling conflicts; 2) Appraising performance, and ; 3) Effective supervision.
1983	Conflict and Power in Organizations Montreal, Quebec 2 day training program on how to handle conflict and power within an organizational system, held by the Montreal Board of Trade.
1983	Conflict Resolution Montreal, Quebec 1 day workshop on strategies of conflict resolution held by the Montreal Women`s Network
1977	Advanced Seminar on Effective Leadership Montreal, Quebec 2 day seminar conducted by Dr. Kenneth Blanchard, sponsored by the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies, Concordia University
1975	Organization Development Training II Montreal, Quebec 2 day internship with Dr. Matthew B. Miles involving designing, planning, and implementing an organization development workshop.
1974	Organization Training Development I Montreal, Quebec 2 day internship with Dr. Matthew B. Miles an organization development workshop.