FACULTY

STEVE SIDER

KIMBERLY MAICH

JACQUELINE SPECHT

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

ANDERS LUNDE

Research Associate

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

Anders is a special education teacher in British Columbia. Anders completed his Bachelor of Education and received his teacher education training at Simon Fraser University. His special education specialization was also obtained at SFU. Anders graduated from Memorial University in 2019 with a Master's of Education in Educational Leadership. His Master's work focused on school leadership, support for teachers, and professional development as important aspects required for K-12 schools to be inclusive. Anders has a passion for inclusive education and loves to work with and support students with exceptional learning needs every single day.

KEIFER CIARRONI

Research Assistant

Keifer is an Ontario Certified Teacher currently employed in the Halton District School Board. He holds a degree in Child and Youth Care from Ryerson University and has a passion for examining and improving behaviour management strategies used in the classroom. He is currently involved with a project that explores the experiences of school leadership and how they impact the inclusion of special education needs students across Canada.

EMMA MCKENZIE

Research Assistant

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

ESTHER BROCKETT

Research Assistant

Esther is a student in the Bachelor of Education program at Wilfrid Laurier University and is pursuing a life long passion for teaching, with a particular focus on English Language Learners.  She holds a double degree in Biology and Global Studies from WLU and hopes to teach internationally in the future.  

LAURA FIETJE

Research Assistant

Laura is an Ontario Certified Teacher currently employed in the Waterloo Region District School Board, with qualification in French. She holds a Master of Theological Studies, with a focus on poverty in Canada and a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Carleton University in Ottawa. She has a passion for creativity + innovation + inclusion in education. She is currently a Research Assistant on our team, working on French translations of professional development resources for educational leaders in Haiti, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Congo.

LUBUYA TSHISWAKA

Research Assistant

Lubuya is an Ontario Certified Teacher currently employed in the Waterloo Region District School Board, specializing in French.  She holds a Master of French Studies with a focus on African and Caribbean women history from Carleton University in Ottawa. Lubuya has a passion for women’s development and inclusion in education, particularly in developing countries. She is currently a Research Assistant on our team, working on French translations of professional development resources for educational leaders in Haiti, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Congo.

Past Contributors

MÉLISSA VILLELLA

Adjunct Professor at University of Ottawa

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.

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 worked as a research assistant on the team and helped conduct interviews with School Principals and Leaders regarding Inclusion, Special Education,and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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.

HILLARY WINGER

Research Assistant 

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 was working as a Research Assistant on the Partnership Engage Grant and was a Research Coordinator on the Insight Grant.

DANIKA MORRISON

Research Assistant

Dani is currently pursuing her undergraduate

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

PAUL TIMAH

Research Assistant

Paul is a recent graduate of the Master in International Public Policy (MIPP) at Wilfrid Laurier University. He started his professional career with a 2-year spell as a teacher in Cameroon before embarking on business management for close to a decade. He recently changed his career from business management to international policy development and currently offers research support on inclusive quality education to the UNESCO Bangkok Office. Apart from a research focus on inclusive quality education, he is equally interested in human security and social protection. In addition to the MIPP degree, Paul also holds both Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics

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 was a research assistant on the Insight Grant and worked 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.

SARAH THOMAS

Research Assistant

​Sarah is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in International Education Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. She is very passionate about inclusive education and hopes to be a special education teacher in the future.

CLAUDIA BRODA

Research Assistant

Claudia is a student in the Master of Applied Politics program at Wilfrid Laurier University. She has previously completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Laurier. She is currently completing a research practicum with the Ontario Public School Board Association and is conducting research in a team on four areas of advocacy such as Mental Health, Indigenous Education, Special Education, and Experiential Learning. She hopes to expand her knowledge on Inclusive Education and work in the Education field in the near future. 

HENOK YOSIEF

Research Assistant

Henok is a student in the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) program at Lakehead University. He holds a general Bachelor of Arts (without destination) from Wilfrid Laurier University. His current project focuses on Inclusion and School Leadership in Canada. He has a strong personal connection to the special education system in Ontario. During his spare time, he heavily enjoys spending time with his family

MEGAN WALTER

Research Assistant

Megan is currently completing her Bachelor of Education at Laurier in the Junior/Intermediate division with a specialty in French. Megan previously graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Social Science in the French immersion stream. Megan is passionate about the use of technology as a means to make education accessible for all.  

RAHA MORADHASEL

Research Assistant

Raha is working in Higher Education sector with passion for experiential learning, innovation, and process improvement. Currently, she is working on achieving her Master of Business Administration (MBA) to increase her knowledge of analyzing data, and to improve her leadership skills. She is a research assistant on the team and helps with Desire2 Learn project.