Ellery Pullman, PhD

Professor of Psychology and Educational Leadership

Teaching Philosophy

As a professor of several different and yet related psychology courses, the task of engaging students who for the most part take a psychology course as part of their degree program, or as an elective, or out of personal interest, poses many challenges and opportunities. With that in mind, I have three main objectives for their learning experiences: 1) to facilitate the appreciation for the science of psychology in its various forms, 2) to provide fundamental knowledge and tools applicable to students' present and future life ambitions, and 3) to enhance self-awareness and understanding of the world around them and the people in it, and the role God has for them in facilitating the growth of each of those. The way I actualize these objectives is by allowing the various aspects of who I am, professionally and personally, to synthesize as I take an active role in my students' learning. My students not only see the teacher in me, they also see the one who is sensitive to the psycho-social-cultural context within which they learn, the researcher who is abreast of the current research and shares a healthy sense of skepticism by the need for scientific explorations, but most of all, I hope they see a person who is simply passionate about what he is doing. For me the classroom is both an intellectual and interpersonal arena. An intellectual arena that brings us together to learn about the subject matter at hand; an interpersonal arena where we seek to respect and honor one another's contribution to the learning endeavor.

Background

Dr. Pullman has been at Briercrest College and Seminary for 37 years. He is married to Marlene and has three married daughters, and five grand-children. He holds an M.A. in Counselling Psychology from Talbot Graduate School and a PhD. in Educational Leadership from BIOLA University. He has held a number administrative, and teaching roles at BCS. He is currently serving as the Executive Vice President and Provost at Briercrest and continues to teach on a part time basis in the fields of developmental psychology, and educational studies. He is a past president of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and continues to serve in an executive role with the ACAC.

Dr. Pullman has been involved with public education at both the local and provincial levels, and has served on the board of directors of a health care facility in the local area. He is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Saskatchewan.

Education

PhD, Biola University, 1997
MA, Talbot School of Theology, 1979
BRE, Briercrest Bible Institute, 1976

Research

Organizational effectiveness
Faculty vitality and collegiality
The impact of identity formation on personal performance
Mentorship and personal effectiveness

Publications

• Pullman, E. G. (2011). Mentoring: A developmental Perspective. In E. Ralph and K. Walker (Eds.), Adapting mentorship across the professions: Fresh insights and perspectives (pp. 35-52). Calgary, AB: Temeron Publishers.
• Pullman, E. G. (2011). Integrating a developmental perspective with the Adaptive Mentorship© Model. In E Ralph and K. Walker (Eds.), Adapting mentorship across the professions: Fresh insights and perspectives (pp. 379-394). Calgary, AB: Temeron Publishers
• Pullman, E. G. & Walker, K. (2002). The ethics of downsizing in declining organizations. Summer.
• Pullman, E. G. (2002). Life span Development. Chapter 6 in Christian Education for the New Millennium. By Anthony, M. J. (ed.) Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
• Pullman, E. G. (2002). Effective Organizational Structures. In The Encyclopedia of Christian Education, by Anthony, M. J. et al. (eds.) Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002.
• Pullman, E. G. (2002). Creative Problem-Solving Processes. In the Encyclopedia of Christian Education, by Anthony, M. J. et al (eds.) Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.