STEVE SIDER

KIMBERLY MAICH

JACQUELINE SPECHT

Professor, Western University and Director of Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education 

Carolyn received her PhD in Clinical Psychology and MA in Clinical Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. She teaches courses on mental health and is the developer and instructor for the Mental Health Certificate. She is focusing on areas in which principals, mental health and special education interests intersect.

Jeffrey is an assistant professor of Educational Psychology and Inclusion at the University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education. As a former classroom teacher, Dr. MacCormack's research on after-school programs, executive functions, social competence, and play-based learning is also informed by 10 years of experience teaching elementary students and many years of teaching post-secondary adult learners. His work has focused on creating spaces where youth can thrive. He also has an orange-tabby Persian kitten, who is a troublemaker.

Jhonel is a collaborator on the Lead to Include team. He is a provincial math educator and leader who is very passionate about equity and inclusion. He currently works at the Ontario Ministry of Education as an Education Officer while pursuing his PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Brock University. His research interests focus on school leadership, inclusion, equity in mathematics, mathematics achievement of racial minorities, and teachers’ expectations. His involvement in this project centers around the intersectional aspects of inclusive leadership.

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MONIQUE SOMMA

Assistant Professor, Brock University

DONNA MCGIE-RICHMOND

Associate Professor, University of Victoria

MÉLISSA VILLELLA

Adjunct Professor at University of Ottawa

Monique Somma is an assistant professor at Brock University, mainly instructing teacher candidates' cognition, educational psychology and inclusive education.  Having worked front line as an educator in schools for many years she recognizes the important role of administrators in successful school-wide and classroom-focused inclusion. Her research includes best practices for inclusive education for students with exceptionalities from preschool to grade 12 through research partnerships with school boards and community organizations.

Donna is an Associate Professor in Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies in the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria. Experiences working within transdisciplinary teams to support children and youth with significant and multiple learning challenges are fundamental to her work. Access, Inclusion, Opportunity are concepts central to her undergraduate and graduate-level teaching practice and research. Her research focuses on the intersection between teacher beliefs, knowledge, experiences, and instructional practices in promoting inclusion for all.

Mélissa Villella is a PhD student and adjunct professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. Her research interests are centered around Educational Leadership and Inclusion as they pertain to Special Education, intercultural competency, and anti-racism. She writes and publishes in both French and English on these topics when she is not out walking her beloved dog Louis, or playing with her cat Caramel who also just happens to be the king of the household.

HILLARY WINGER

Research Assistant & Research Coordinator

Hillary graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is currently in the Master of Education program at Laurier. She is currently working as a Research Assistant on the Partnership Engage Grant and a Research Coordinator on the Insight Grant.

DANIEL ANDERSON

Research Assistant

Dan has his Honours B.A. in Philosophy from UBC and recently graduated from Laurier with a Masters in Developmental Psychology. He is responsible for exploring the connection between administrators' mental health and inclusivity in schools. He's also responsible for investigating approaches taken to address students' mental health by teachers and youth care providers.

DANIKA MORRISON

Research Assistant

Dani is currently pursuing her undergraduate

degree in Global Development Studies at the University of Western Ontario. She manages the social media platforms and digital design for the Insight development grant. She also assisted in writing case studies on inclusive education.

AMAN DHALIWAL

Research Assistant

Aman Dhaliwal holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. She works as a research assistant on the team and helps conduct interviews with School Principals and Leaders regarding Inclusion, Special Education,and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also helps to lead a group of first-year Teacher Education Candidates in their alternative placement at Wilfrid Laurier University. Aman is passionate about educating young minds through compassion and sparking curiosity. 

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KEIFER CIARRONI

Research Assistant

Keifer is currently a Bachelor of Education student in his second year of the Primary/Junior program, he holds a degree in Child and Youth Care from Ryerson University and a diploma in Child and Youth Work from Mohawk College

APHRODITE AL ZOUHOURI

Research Assistant

Aphrodite is a graduate student with a Masters of Education from Wilfrid Laurier University, focusing on the effect of war trauma on education. She taught Syrian children in Lebanon for 6 years and worked with many NGOs supporting the Syrian refugee community in the educational field. She is currently a Research Assistant on our team and is working as a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Teaching & Learning Department at Laurier. 

ABBYGALE BRECKLES

Research Assistant

Abby is a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Education, is an OCT certified teacher and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Psychology. She is a research assistant on the Insight Grant and works on finding resources on inclusive education and school leadership. As a French teacher, Abby continues to look at the intersectionality  of second language learners and Special Education.

RACHEL DOBBS

Research Assistant

Rachel is a graduate of Laurier Brantford’s

Concurrent Education program. Before this project, she worked with the Department of Residence Education supporting the training and facilitation of the First Year Experience Model. As an OCT qualified teacher, she and two other RA’shave completed the resource section to provide a research-based foundation when applying case study content to lived experiences. Special Education and a commitment to continued learning is a passion of hers and she also loves to curl!

ARABA MAANAN BLANKSON

Research Assistant

Araba has a background in international development and public policy with thematic interest in human security, education and development, and global social governance. She holds a Master of International Public Policy from the Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University, and an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK. She graduated from the University of Ghana with Honours BA in Political Science and French. 

EMMA MCKENZIE

Research Assistant

Emma is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in International Education Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has a passion for inclusive education and also loves to curl.