Laurier expert alert: Back to school

Aug. 17, 2026
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO — Students are gearing up for a return to class after Labour Day. Wilfrid Laurier University has experts available to speak about  back-to-school topics including education policy; AI literacy and learning; technology; attendance and achievement; and equity, diversity and inclusion. 

Notably, recent findings from the Annual Canadian School Survey, co-authored by Law and Society chair Kelly Gallagher-Mackay, draw on perspectives from more than 450 public school principals. 

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   

Keri Ewart — AI literacy; language and literacy; technology in education; virtual reality use for learning; inclusion. Contact: kewart@wlu.ca 

Kelly Gallagher-Mackay — law and educational inequality among children and youth;  attendance and achievement; pan-Canadian education data and policy (including findings from the Annual Canadian School Survey). Contact: kgallaghermackay@wlu.ca 

Danielle Law — psychology; youth and children’s studies; social-emotional growth of children, adolescents and emerging adults; cyberbullying; emotion regulation; overall well-being. Contact: dlaw@wlu.ca 

Julie Mueller — AI in education, technology in education. Contact: jmueller@wlu.ca 

Ryan Neepin — Indigenous education. Contact: rneepin@wlu.ca 

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

Steve Sider — inclusive education for students with disabilities; special educational needs. Contact: ssider@wlu.ca 

Brandon R.G. Smith — student success in higher education; universities and colleges as workplaces and environments. Contact: brgsmith@wlu.ca 

Erin Sperling — STEM; teacher education; nature-based learning; citizen science. Contact: esperling@wlu.ca