Meet the Engagement Team!
By: Emily Haugen
https://doi.org/10.82389/evdt-cc42
This is our “Meet the team” series, where we introduce you to the teams that advance CRKN's mission.
The Bridge that Connects Strategic Initiatives and the Community We Serve
Connection is at the heart of the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and the work we do. While the Engagement team embodies all of our values, it is connection that we bring to life every day. As the driving force behind our member and stakeholder relations, we serve as the bridge between CRKN’s strategic initiatives and the community we serve. One way that we amplify the CRKN story is by showcasing the incredible impact of our member libraries and organizations. Whether we are developing member engagement toolkits for our three core programs (licensing, heritage, and persistent identifiers), hosting our Virtual Conference or Member Summit, or checking in with members to ensure our work reflects their evolving priorities, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable, collaborative future. By creating pathways for dialogue with our members and the broader research community, our team ensures that together, we can continue to empower Canada with equitable access to trusted knowledge.
Our team is located across Canada and comes from diverse backgrounds in research, communications, engagement, and digital humanities. Let's get to know them!
Before we dive in… We have a serious question:
If you could live in any fictional world, where would you go?
Alyssa Arbuckle
“What an interesting question! It would be fascinating to live in the world imagined by the authors in Everything For Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052–2072, which imagines a post-capitalist, communalized future. I'm also drawn to NK Jemisin's city of Gujaareh in her Dreamblood Duology, rife with dream magic.”
Claire Duncan
“Oooh tough question! This might be a reflection of the fact that much of my reading these days involves a four-year-old, but I think I would like to live in the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh and friends. The low-stakes adventure of maybe getting stuck in a jar of honey, accidentally following my own footprints, or searching for Eeyore’s tail would suit me just fine, plus the accepting and unconditional friendships are lovely.”
Angela Joosse
“Well, I might like to live in the world of the Ang Lee film, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, particularly with the ability to jump-run-fly amidst rooftops and treetops like Michelle Yeoh’s character, Yu Shu Lien.”
Mélanie Plante
“Well, my favourite fictional worlds are not ones that I would ever want to live in but one worth living in has to be the world of Pokémon. Its technology is further than ours, so I’m not giving up any comforts, very safe compared to lots of other fantasy worlds and last but not least, who wouldn't want to have their own Pokémon!? They are just better versions of pets!”
Justine Ruffinetto
“If I could live in a fictional world, I would probably choose Howl's Moving Castle, by Hayao Miyazaki.”
Monica Scott
“Most of what I read takes place in this world, so I would choose to live here. There is so much to see and do, the potential adventures are endless!”
Meet the people who make up CRKN's Engagement team!
Next, the Engagement team was asked to describe their work at CRKN. Throughout these responses you’ll learn more about some of our professional backgrounds, what drew us to this work, what we’re most passionate about, and even examples of projects or milestones we have found most rewarding and impactful.
Alyssa Arbuckle
Strategic Research and Partnerships Advisor
As the Strategic Research and Partnerships Advisor, I focus on coordinating national conversations around digital research infrastructure and seeking out grants that fuel CRKN’s innovative and collaborative infrastructure projects. Something that initially drew me to CRKN is that the organization sits at a really interesting intersection of open access and cultural heritage stewardship. As a humanities scholar, this "sweet spot" is really appealing to me. Prior to joining the team, I had the opportunity to work with CRKN folks for several years through my previous work at the University of Victoria, so I already knew it was a positive and productive team to join.
My journey here started with a literature degree at UBC, followed by an MA and then an interdisciplinary PhD at UVic (focused on open scholarship and the humanities), where I spent over a decade co-directing the Electronic Textual Cultures Lab, co-directing the Digital Humanities Summer Institute, and co-facilitating a research cluster for the Implementing New Knowledge Environments (INKE) Partnership. After twelve years in the university environment, I was ready for a new challenge, and now in my role at CRKN, I’ve been dedicated to ensuring that humanities and social sciences research is recognized, valued, and fully integrated into our national digital research infrastructure.
Claire Duncan
Senior Manager, Strategy and Engagement
As CRKN’s Senior, Manager Strategy and Engagement, I get the opportunity to work closely with our internal staff team, our members, and the broader community to shape CRKN’s strategy and drive the evolution of open knowledge. I lead our strategic plan development, engagement, and implementation (through our annual plans) and I can never pass up an opportunity to work the strategic plan into our communications.
Before starting at CRKN in 2022, I previously led communications and engagement for a Canadian STEM association, was a production editor for a Canadian STEM journal, and before that was a humanities researcher (with some very niche knowledge on plant metaphors in early modern literature). I’ve built a strong understanding of how to effectively engage with the research community, and I love that my role at CRKN enables me to work across all three of our programs to ensure that we are bringing value to that community. I really believe that CRKN’s work to empower Canada with access to trusted knowledge is more critical than ever and I’m delighted that I get to work with such a wonderful team and be part of an organization and library community that believes so strongly in the power of working collectively.
Angela Joosse
Community Engagement Specialist
Working across disciplines and fields of practice is very rewarding for me. With an interdisciplinary background spanning both my education and career, I find it incredibly rewarding to bridge different systems of thinking to facilitate collaboration. At CRKN, this translates into a passion for connecting internally with colleagues and externally with the broader research and librarian communities.
One recent milestone that fills me with pride is the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s announcement of full federal funding for the Open Science Infrastructure for Canad(ian)a: Digital Collections of the Future project. I’m proud of my contributions to developing that highly collaborative, large-scale project aimed at transforming Canadiana into innovative research infrastructure and sustaining it as an open access collection for the public good.
Mélanie Plante
Communications Coordinator
I joined the Communications team in 2024, shortly after earning my Bachelor’s degree in English. My background includes several communications and social media internships within university settings, which prepared me well for the academia-adjacent environment here.
What initially drew me to CRKN was its connection to the library community—as a lifelong library enthusiast, the mission resonated with me immediately. Since joining, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the vital role CRKN plays in supporting open, accessible digital research infrastructure.
Outside of the office, I’m (perhaps unsurprisingly) an avid reader. If you’re ever in Montreal’s Mile End, I highly recommend visiting Joie de livres; it’s my favorite spot to spend an afternoon browsing the shelves or diving into a book with a London Fog in hand.
Justine Ruffinetto
Communications Specialist, Canadian Persistent Identifier Community
I joined the team in January 2026, as Communications Specialist for the Canadian Persistent Identifier Community, and my main area of discovery has been persistent identifiers (PIDs). I had briefly encountered them during my Master’s, but had no idea how expansive that world really is and how many people it touches. I see persistent identifiers as an important part of access to science, which is what initially drew me to CRKN.
Outside of work, I have a passion for indoor plants; I used to have quite a collection before moving to Canada from France!
Monica Scott
Strategic Communications Advisor
The collaboration that happens at CRKN is one of the reasons why I find working here so rewarding. Individually, our team brings an array of skills and perspectives, and when we come together, we form a collective that is committed to a shared vision.
A work moment I reflect on often is the first CRKN Virtual Conference that I was a part of. It was a great opportunity to learn about some of the incredible work happening across the CRKN membership and within the community, and see firsthand the collaboration and knowledge sharing that happens in this network and across the country.
As a communicator and Strategic Communications Advisor at CRKN, I am passionate about supporting the work of others. Whether it’s developing a communications strategy, promoting an initiative, or telling a story about impact, I am always intrigued to learn about the work of others. Together, we can tackle big projects and reach new goals and milestones – what an adventure that is!
Projects & initiatives the Engagement Team is currently involved in:
2026 Member Summit & AGM 2026 License Negotiations In the Know Newsletter Knowledge Exchange Annual Report Webinars Future of Canadiana CRKN Collaborations Strategic Plan HSS DRI Group Landscape Analysis
Stay tuned for our next “Meet the Team” article, to meet more team members who drive forward the work of CRKN.
Emily Haugen (https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5603-8098)
A mission-driven communications and engagement professional, Emily's career spans the non-profit, government, and healthcare sectors. She completed her contract with CRKN in May 2026. She holds an MBA, BBA and Non-Profit Certificate.