Petra Owusu is a 4th-year Ph.D. Candidate in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at Western University. She is deeply committed to raising awareness of the complex needs of Black youth and their mental health. Petra aspires to become a School and Clinical Child Psychologist, specializing in community settings and outpatient clinics. Her primary goal is to provide support to high-risk youth.

Petra's interest in inclusive education was sparked by observing the systemic challenges her brother, who has multiple exceptionalities, faced in school and community settings. This experience inspired her to become an advocate, inclusion counsellor, and respite worker in local community organizations, working to dismantle barriers for children with disabilities. Joining the CRC lab has furthered her mission of combating systemic institutions that oppress marginalized groups.

In recognition of her dedication to inclusive education, Petra received the Inclusive Education Research Award in both 2020 and 2023. Her master's dissertation involved developing and evaluating a peer social skills program in inclusive schools. Currently, her doctoral work focuses on amplifying the voices of Black youth on mental health service utilization. Her research supervisors are Dr. Jacqueline Specht and Dr. Gabrielle Lee.

Jessica Delorey is a 4th-year Ph.D. Candidate in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at Western University. She is passionate about celebrating the things that make people unique and believes that including students with disabilities in regular classrooms adds so much value to schools, communities, and society.

Jessica’s interest in inclusive education began when she was a child and noticed differences in the way her brother with Down syndrome experienced school. Joining the Canadian Research Centre on Inclusive Education was a natural choice and has allowed Jessica to use her personal experiences to guide her research. Jessica has published her honours and master’s theses and has contributed to additional publications with members from the Centre.

In 2022, she was a recipient of the Inclusive Education Research Award.

Jessica is currently working on her doctoral research with Dr. Jacqueline Specht. This work aims to contribute to our understanding of how beginning teachers develop beliefs that are related to being effective teachers in inclusive classrooms.

Sara J. Spence is a 3rd-year Ph.D. student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at Western University. Her passions include learning which stems from her grandparents, and spending time in the land and her First Nation Community of Peguis, Manitoba.

Sara hopes to provide support to others in their education, encourage their resilience, and empower their brilliance in their learning journey like her family did for her. Also, she hopes to research ways to connect the strengths of Indigenous epistemology with the strengths of psychology. She aspires to be a helper to Indigenous children, youth, and families in connecting to the land and their culture on their mental health and educational journey.

Her master's work entailed an autoethnography project that captured the experiences of Indigenous School Psychologists trainees. This experience led her to seek connection and explore research on the topic of Indigenous psychology. She is currently working on Indigenous research publications and a textbook that features the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives within inclusive education.

Sara is a member of the First Nations Research Circle, which consists of Indigenous scholarship (exploring Indigenous methodology within the context of education). Her research supervisors are Dr. Jacqueline Specht and Dr. Brent Debassige.

Paige Walker is in the 3rd-year of her doctoral degree in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at Western University. She is a strong advocate for inclusive education and is passionate about supporting students and their families. Paige is an active member of the Educational and School Psychology section of the Canadian Psychological Association and aims to increase awareness about the field.

Her master’s research examined the accessibility of Ontario University Accessibility Services webpages. Paige would like to continue exploring the accessibility of services for students with disabilities. Her research supervisor is Dr. Jacqueline Specht.

Annie Beatty is currently a 1st -year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program at Western University. Her previous work at McMaster University and the Offord Centre for Child Studies has helped shape her research interests in promoting resilience in educational contexts by taking a systems approach to students' academic achievement.

Annie’s experience working with at-risk families across Ontario strengthened her interest in inclusive education and intersectionality. At the forefront, is her belief that every child has the right to accessible and equitable education.

Annie’s current research focuses on teacher-related factors associated with beliefs in inclusive education. Her research work is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada. Annie hopes to use research to inform her practice as a school psychologist to continue to support families with children of all abilities. Her research supervisor is Dr. Jacqueline Specht.

Allison Horsley, Western University

Allison Horsley is an incoming first-year Ph.D Candidate in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at Western University. Her master’s thesis examined educators’ knowledge and confidence about teaching students with exceptionalities. Her previous Bachelor of Education degree and experience as a teacher have enabled her to work with students with diverse needs and abilities. She strives to create supportive learning environments for all students and aims to provide support for teachers in need.

In 2024, she was the recipient of the Jessica Jean Campbell Coulson Award and the Inclusive Education Research Award.

Allison’s research supervisor is Dr. Deanna Friesen. Allison aspires to work as a school psychologist, providing support to educators, staff and students. Through her work, she hopes to advocate for practices that ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

JungAh Lee, University of British Columbia

JungAh Lee is a 3rd-year PhD Student in the Special Education program at the University of British Columbia. She has eight years of teaching experience as a special education and elementary teacher in South Korea. Her master’s work explored the effects of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) on elementary students’ academic interests and social dynamics in inclusive classrooms. Following up on this study, JungAh is currently interested in the Learner Agency of students with learning difficulties. Her research supervisor is Dr. Jennifer Katz.