Ania Landy

Being a Public Scholar means conducting research that extends beyond academic publications to create real-world impact in partnership with communities. It represents a commitment to collaborative scholarship where knowledge is co-created with those most affected by the issues being studied. It's about developing research skills alongside community engagement abilities, ensuring that scholarly work serves public good and contributes to positive social transformation.

Public Scholars Initiative
Faculty
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Program
Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD)
Research supervisor(s)
Alison Phinney
Ben Mortenson
Country
Poland
Selected Award(s)
UBC Public Scholars Award
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships

Research description

My Public Scholars Initiative project supports older people on the Sunshine Coast, BC, to lead community conversations about how health and social care services could better meet their needs. This work centres the leadership of diverse older people, particularly those experiencing frailty, cognitive challenges or social exclusion, in shaping the systems that impact their daily lives. Rather than treating older people as research subjects, this initiative positions them as co-designers and co-leaders throughout the entire process, from setting priorities to analyzing findings and shaping recommendations. This work responds to the growing isolation many older people face in semi-rural areas. As one local advocate shared, "people have been isolated for so long, they've learned to withdraw. When they come to long-term care, they eat, then disappear. They've learned to be invisible." My research creates spaces where older people are not just invited but empowered to lead conversations about their own care. The project will produce two key outputs: a community-generated vision for care that reflects older people's lived experiences and aspirations, and a flexible engagement model adaptable for other semi-rural communities. This approach challenges deficit-based models of aging and demonstrates how meaningful community engagement can drive systems-level change.

What does being a Public Scholar mean?

Being a Public Scholar means conducting research that extends beyond academic publications to create real-world impact in partnership with communities. It represents a commitment to collaborative scholarship where knowledge is co-created with those most affected by the issues being studied. For me, it means positioning diverse older people as experts in their own experiences and co-leaders in envisioning change, not passive recipients of services designed without their input. It's about developing research skills alongside community engagement abilities, ensuring that scholarly work serves public good and contributes to positive social transformation.

In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with this Initiative?

The Public Scholars Initiative transforms doctoral education by integrating community partnership and public engagement as core scholarly activities, not optional add-ons. It demonstrates that rigorous academic work can simultaneously serve community needs and contribute to systems change. This approach develops scholars who can work across traditional disciplinary boundaries and engage diverse groups in meaningful collaboration. The PSI creates a model where doctoral work is evaluated not only for its contribution to academic knowledge but also for its relevance and impact in addressing real-world challenges.

How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?

My doctoral research develops skills essential for leadership roles in aging policy, healthcare innovation and community development. The participatory research methods and community engagement skills I'm developing are increasingly valued in sectors ranging from public policy to organizational consulting. The focus on semi-rural aging communities addresses critical gaps in current research and policy, positioning me to contribute to rural health initiatives and age-friendly community development. My interdisciplinary approach, spanning health sciences, community development and public policy, prepares me for roles that require systems thinking and cross-sectoral collaboration. The community relationships and practical experience in facilitating difficult conversations about care and aging create opportunities in policy consultation, program evaluation and organizational change within healthcare and social service systems.

How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?

My research is fundamentally community-driven, developed in close collaboration with local partners including the Seniors Planning Table, Sunshine Coast Resource Centre, and municipal planning representatives. Older people are positioned as co-leaders and decision-makers throughout the process, not just participants providing data. The deliberative dialogue workshops create intergenerational and cross-sectoral conversations involving older people, family caregivers and professional champions working together to envision systemic change. The culminating public event, co-facilitated by community members, extends engagement to broader public participation in discussing findings and their implications. This work builds on established relationships through my previous community-engaged research and therapeutic recreation practice. Local partners are involved in all phases from design through dissemination, ensuring that outcomes serve community priorities and can be integrated into ongoing local initiatives for systems transformation.

Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?

My decade of experience as a therapeutic recreation practitioner revealed how current systems often fail to provide dignified, person-centered support for older people. While my clinical work provided valuable insights into individual experiences, I recognized the need for deeper understanding of systemic barriers and opportunities for transformation. Through community-based research over the past ten years, I witnessed the power of participatory approaches to create meaningful change, but also identified the need for more sophisticated theoretical frameworks and methodological tools to address complex social issues. Graduate study provides the opportunity to develop these competencies while maintaining my commitment to scholarship that directly benefits the communities I work with. The interdisciplinary nature of aging and care requires research approaches that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Doctoral education allows me to integrate insights from multiple fields to develop more comprehensive approaches to improving care systems for older people. I chose graduate study to develop the theoretical sophistication needed to challenge dominant paradigms in aging research and practice while maintaining the community engagement skills essential for meaningful social change.

Why did you choose to come to British Columbia and study at UBC?

UBC's Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program offers the flexibility needed to address complex social issues that don't fit within traditional disciplinary boundaries. The program's commitment to research that advances public good aligns with my community-engaged approach to scholarship. My supervisors, Dr. Alison Phinney and Dr. Ben Mortenson, are recognized leaders in aging and dementia research who share my commitment to participatory approaches and community impact. Their expertise, combined with UBC's strong networks in aging research and established community partnerships, provides an ideal environment for developing innovative approaches to challenges facing aging populations. The Sunshine Coast setting for my research offers rich opportunities to explore how geography, culture and resource availability shape aging experiences. UBC's commitment to research that benefits British Columbians ensures that my work will have direct relevance and impact within the province while contributing to broader understanding of aging, care and community engagement.