Maria J. Mayan is a qualitative methodologist and has studied, wrote about, and conducted qualitative research since the early 1990s. She spent over 10 years at the International Institute for Qualitative Methodology learning and teaching qualitative inquiry locally and internationally. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Extension and Assistant Director of Womens and Childrens Health, Community University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth and Families, University of Alberta. She has been invited to teach by government, not-for-profits, the private sector, and the academic community worldwide. Her research program is primarily community-based, focusing on… partnerships and health policy.