Val completed a Theatre and Sociology BA at Providence, a Sociology and Anthropology MA at the University of Manitoba, and is near completion of her PhD in Social Sciences (Sociology & Anthropology) at Western Sydney University. Her academic specialties are gender, children & violence, language & culture, cultural anthropology, and marriage & family. Living on the hobby farm near Mitchell where she and her husband enjoyed their married life (Jacob Friesen 1960-2017), she is an active member of her faithing community, and invests considerable energy into community education and advocacy. She is an avid gardener with a pantry annually full of organic plenty, as well as a life-long runner and now cyclist. To her delight, she has also recently become a grandma!! Whether in the garden, the classroom, or the public commons, Val feels awed by the privilege and wonder of planting and watching things grow.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) (Cand.)
Master's Degree (M.A.)
2009
Bachelor's Degree (B.A.), Honours
2004
Bachelor's Degree (B.A.)
2002