Don Hickerson
Don completed his degree in business administration from Confederation and immediately began working for BC Parks. It was here he fostered a reverence for outdoor recreation, beginning the process of certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. An unfortunate injury halted his career path resulting in a return to academia. Don subsequently completed an Honours degree in Sociology from Lakehead University. During this time an Internship at the Vietnam National University greatly altered his research focus, which he used to complete a Masters in Sociology at the University of Western Ontario and furthering this focus as a PhD student. In 2015 Don took formal leave from his PhD work at Western to concentrate on being a father. Don has recently reconvened his doctoral journey and is currently completing his Doctor of Business Administration at Edgewood College.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctoral Candidate, currentEdgewood College-University of Wisconsin, USA
- PhD Student (2014)Western University, Canada
- Postgraduate Certificate on Contract Law (2022)HarvardX, Harvard Law School
- Master of Arts, Sociology – Specialised in Migration and International Relations (2012)
The University of Western Ontario, Canada - Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Sociology and Psychology (Double) (2007)
Lakehead University, Canada - Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration (1990)
Confederation College, Canada
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- British University Vietnam (BUV)
Associate Lecturer - CIEM (Vietnam)
Consultant and Educator (2017 – 2019) - Singapore International School (Vietnam)
A-Levels Business Studies Teacher (2015-2017) - Western University (Canada)
Assoc. Lecturer (2012-2015)
RESEARCH AREAS
- Generative AI and foundational models and their applications and impacts
- Networks and symbolic boundary construction
- Small scale economic creation and in-group dynamics
- Gender and governance issues in Asia
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- A Peak Behind the Curtain: Using Step-Around Prompt Engineering to Identify Bias and Misinformation in Generative AI and Foundation Models. In progress. Publishing pending.
- GenAI Detection Tools, Adversarial Techniques, and Implications for Inclusivity in Higher Education. September 2024. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education 21(1)DOI: 10.1186/s41239-024-00487-w. License CC BY 4.0
- Game of Tones: Faculty detection of GPT-4 generated content in university assessments.May 2023. DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2305.18081. License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
- Detection of GPT-4 Generated Text in Higher Education: Combining Academic Judgement and Software to Identify Generative AI Tool Misuse. October 2023. Journal of Academic Ethics 22(1):1-25DOI: 10.1007/s10805-023-09492-6
- Hickerson, D (2020) Under Review
Heavy Metal Thunder: Understanding the Hard-Core Motorcyclist, in The Qualitative Report 2022. Pending Publication. - Chan, A. (2019)
Xi Jinping: Political Career, Governance, and Leadership, 1953-2018. Oxford University Press.
Guest editorial assistant. ISBN: 9780197615249 - Hickerson, D, (2012)
The Cross-Border Migrant Experience in Lang Son Province, Northern Viet Nam. E-TD Repository. University of Western Ontario. 937. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/937
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS/EXHIBITIONS
- Hickerson, D. (2024)A Peak Behind the Curtain: Using Step-Around Prompt Engineering to Identify Bias and Misinformation in Generative AI and Foundation Models.BUV x SU Research SymposiumBritish University Vietnam, Staffordshire University, UK
- Hickerson, D. (2024)Giga Hurts: The Environmental Side Effects of the AI Manufacturing MadnessInternational Conference on Green Sustainable Technology and Management 2024 (ICGSTM2024),
- Hickerson, D. (2012)
Small-Scale Trade as a Reaction to Economic Disadvantage
Migration and Ethnic Relations 2012 Conference.
University of Western Ontario, Canada - Hickerson, D. (2010)
The Mechanics of In-group Formation and Inclusion
The Qualitatives Conference
Wilfrid Laurier University 2010, Canada - Hickerson, D. (2008)
Potential Causes in the Under-Reporting of Sexual Violence in Vietnam
International Student Research Conference (Special Address)
Lakehead University, Canada
RESEARCH GRANTS
- Belanger, D.; Hickerson, D., et.al. (2012) Canada Research Council: UWO
- The Economic Options for Working Women in Vietnam Study. The University of Western Ontario ($150,000)
- Hickerson, D.; et al. (2008) World University Service Canada. Establishing working relationships within various employment sectors in Vietnam. ($20,000)
- Hickerson, D. (2007) Rotary International Scholarship Award. Funding to foster international study and research. ($12,000)
AWARDS & HONOURS
- Outstanding Research Award (2012)The University of Western Ontario‘Recognition for outstanding and impactful research in developing fields of study.’
- International Rotary Scholar (2007) ‘For innovation and exemplary use of technology in higher education’.
- Share
Read more 
Lecturer
Discipline Lead - Business Postgraduate Programmes
Born in Hubei, China, Tingting completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2008 and a Master’s Degree in Marketing Management in 2010 from Wuhan University. Then Tingting achieved her degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Marketing from City University of Hong Kong in 2015. She was also a visiting scholar at the University of […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Scott David CooperRaised and educated in New York, New York City, Scott completed a Bachelor degree in Media Communications (Animation, Cartooning, Illustration) from the School of Visual Arts 1986. Following graduation in 1986, he moved to California for a job in animation field with Filmation that fell through. This encouraged him to explore the new world of graphic […]
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Giovanni MerolaRaised and educated in Rome, Italy, Giovanni completed a double major Bachelor degree in Statistics and Economics from the university La Sapienza in Rome. He completed his Masters and Ph.D. in Statistics at the University of Waterloo in 1994 and 1998, respectively. He was associate professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalunya in Spain, then […]
Associate Professor
Assoc. Prof. Anchit BijalwanDr. Anchit Bijalwan is an academician, researcher, consultant and mentor with 15 years of teaching experience for graduate, postgraduate students, and Ph.D. He successfully completed many projects from the UN, DST and AMIT. Dr. Anchit has authored two books and published more than forty research papers in reputed international journals and conferences. He is also […]
Teaching Fellow
Sandra SchneidermanSandra is Student Success Lead and a Teaching Instructor. She liaises with faculty and students to develop individualised success lessons and learning plans. Raised in New Zealand and educated in Australia, Sandra received her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education at The University of Melbourne. She also has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education […]
Lecturer
Dr. Madura Thiwanka PathiranaDr. Madura Thivanka Pathirana is a Sri Lankan and Australian academic specializing in sustainable tourism and business management. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK, and currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at Edith Cowan University Sri Lanka. In 2025, he completed a Research Fellowship in […]
Lecturer
Dr. Daphne LauBefore joining BUV, Daphne served as a Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (AACSB and EQUIS accredited). She holds a Ph.D. in Accountancy from the City University of Hong Kong (AACSB and EQUIS accredited). Daphne was awarded a Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special […]
Senior Lecturer
Discipline Lead - Tourism and Hospitality Management
Born and educated in Russia, Vladimir completed a Master’s degree in International Relations with distinction at Volgograd State University, followed by a Candidate of Science degree in Cultural Anthropology at St. Petersburg State University. He began his professional career managing major international exhibitions and business events in Russia and Europe, including projects for the European […]
Senior Teaching Fellow
Discipline Lead – Accounting, Finance & Economics
Maredi was raised and educated in South Africa. He studied Accounting at the University of Johannesburg where earned a Bachelor of Commerce and Honours in Accounting in 2006. He worked at Deloitte from 2007 to 2009 in assurance as part of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) program where he successfully completed the […]
Lecturer
Dr. Dang Quang VinhVinh graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Vietnam National University – Hanoi in 2009. He earned his PhD in Computer Science from Université de Lorraine in 2018, completing his thesis under the supervision of Prof. François Charoy and Dr. Claudia Ignat at Inria Nancy Grand-Est, France. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree […]
