Laurier expert alert: Back to school

Aug. 21, 2025
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO — Students and teachers are getting set for a return to the classroom after Labour Day weekend. Laurier has experts available to speak about various back-to-school topics, including: education policy; the economics of education; how parents can support a smooth transition; psychology and social-emotional growth of children and youth; and teacher education.

The following list includes Laurier experts who are available to speak at this time but does not represent the full breadth of expertise that exists at the institution. For a more comprehensive inventory of Laurier’s faculty researchers, please consult the Experts at Laurier database.         

Maria Cantalini-Williams — innovation education; teacher education; early childhood and experiential learning; ways parents can support a safe and smooth transition back to school. Contact: mcantaliniwilliams@wlu.ca

Ardavan Eizadirad — equity, diversity, inclusion; decolonization; standardized testing; critical pedagogy; violence prevention and intervention. Contact: aeizadirad@wlu.ca  

Kelly Gallagher-Mackay — law and educational inequality among children and youth; inequitable impacts of the pandemic on children’s education and why some children have fallen behind more than others; attendance and achievement; pan-Canadian education data and policy. Contact: kgallaghermackay@wlu.ca

Sybil Geldart — child clinical psychology; school psychology; counselling; exceptionalities during childhood and adolescence; grief counselling in emerging adults and university students. Contact: sgeldart@wlu.ca

Christine Neill — economics of education and higher education policy in Canada; university financing; student loan and fee policies. Contact: cneill@wlu.ca