Course Tutors
Miriam Novotny is a Socratic dialogue veteran with a passion for literature, theology, and the Liberal Arts. Since her graduation from WISDOM in 2019, she has furthered her education through both independent study and institutes such as ClassicalU and Junius Johnson Academics. She believes that a true education should not only impart knowledge and encourage critical thinking; it should inform the worldview and develop the personhood of the student. She has led the WISDOM Philosophy Club since 2022.
Dr. Charles Robertson earned his MA in history at the University of Saskatchewan and his MA and PhD in Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX). He has taught Theology, Philosophy, and History at the University of Saskatchewan, Newman Theological College (Edmonton, AB), Thomas Aquinas College (CA), and The St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission (Bruno, SK). His published work has appeared in academic journals such as The National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Nova et Vetera, The Thomist, and The Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly. He currently resides in St. Denis, SK, with his wife and eight children.
Brian studied history in the University of British Columbia and graduated with a master's in humanities from Trinity Western University. The history of Christianity in the Western world—and especially the changes it underwent during early modernity—is his morsel, the meat and bread of all his studies. By learning about how Western cultures have influenced how we think, the way we feel, and what we desire, Brian has come to see that a solid, Christian education should involve the study of the great works.
As a writing tutor and teaching assistant, he has coached students from a variety of different disciplines for two years. His expertise lies in writing well in an academic context, such as brainstorming good research ideas, designing thoughtful essay structures, and crafting persuasive arguments with original insights. In his free time, Brian enjoys playing music with his band, expounding on the pressing problems of modernity, and basking in the rich imaginations of the Inklings.
Ben van den Bosch is both a graduate of WISDOM and a lover of wisdom. He found he was enthralled with the pursuit of beauty, truth, and goodness early on in life, nourished as he was by the fruits of the liberal arts and the Christian faith, and by being given the freedom to explore these and the greater world around him in a spirit of curiosity and wonder. His passion for philosophical discourse was particularly nurtured by family teatime conversations, as well as by taking every possible WISDOM online course available to him through high school.
Ben attended the faith formation program at St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, for three years, while also completing his BA in philosophy at Concordia University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He loves to travel the world and share great ideas. He also loves camping, hiking, kayaking, and generally being outdoors. He is delighted to be returning for his second stint of tutoring online classes.
As a previous student and graduate of WISDOM, Elise fell in love with both the classics and Latin, which led her to the small classical college, New Saint Andrews, in Moscow, ID. There she received a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture with a focus primarily on linguistics and history. Her love of Latin was increased as she learned to read and translate Virgil, as well as dialogue in that ancient tongue with her classmates and professors. At this Oxford inspired school where they wore robes during exams, competed in rugby and rowing, and where student halls vied for the end of year cup, Elise was able to extensively study literature, theology, philosophy, and beauty. After a number of trips to Israel throughout her undergrad, Elise’s fascination with Jewish history and literature grew, and her senior thesis focused on the democratizing power of Christianity on ancient burial by comparing it against Jewish and Roman burial practices and beliefs. Elise’s interest in Jewish studies has continued as she heads to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem this October for a M.A. in Jewish Studies.
When not spending her time bent over tomes in—preferably—old libraries or bookshops, you can find Elise scaling summits, carving fresh powder, quenching her wanderlust, or jamming to Israeli pop music.
Scott and his wife, Kelli, are the proud parents of 8 children. In 2020, Scott completed his PhD in Philosophy at the University of Toronto, specializing in intentional action and free choice. Scott believes strongly in the value of the study of primary-source material and has facilitated primary-source reading groups on such topics as Aristotle’s Ethics, the philosophy of religion, the Early Church Fathers, and the Catechism of Trent. Recently, the Walshes relocated from Oshawa, Ontario to rural Saskatchewan, where they have been raising pigs, chickens, and turkeys while battling grasshoppers.
Serena Warnky grew up in the mountains of Northern California. Being homeschooled through 8th grade gave her lots of time to play outside, read everything in the small, local library, and make art and science projects. She finished high school at a small classical school where she was first introduced to the Great Books. After a bachelor's in English at Hillsdale College where she also helped edit the creative writing publication, she worked on a small organic farm in Virginia before doing something completely different and moving to Dallas, TX to teach. While teaching, she earned a masters degree in literature from the University of Dallas. She married her husband in 2020, and they live in a snug RV with their daughter, Beatrice, while they work on starting a working ranch in North Texas.
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