Conference Co-Chairs

Nana Gulić

PhD candidate in the department of Social Justice Education, 4th year

Nana (she/her) has been guided by her 20-year experience as a Child and Youth Worker in Canada and Croatia where she used democratic citizenship pedagogies as means of violence prevention and youth empowerment. Her research examines how gender, social differences and vertical power flows influence citizenship education in postsocialist Croatia. She is excited to be a member of the 2024 OISE GSRC team!

Abarna Selvarajah

PhD student in the department of Social Justice Education, 2nd year

Abarna (she/her) is a student-researcher, facilitator, and activist whose community-based research examines the intersections of educational curriculum, gender, immigration, and displacement. She is a fierce advocate for Tamil Genocide Education in school boards and community centers across the Greater Toronto Area. As a co-chair, Abarna is excited to co-organize a memorable and rigorous GSRC for students at OISE.

Sarah Ázeline

EdD candidate in the department of Social Justice Education, 4th year

Sarah (she/her) has worked internationally as an educator and teacher trainer in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. She holds an M.A. in developmental psychology from Columbia University and a B.M.E. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her current area of research is focused on analyzing the effects of racial diversity trainings on white-identifying educators in the United States. She is thrilled to be co-chairing the 2024 OISE GSRC!

Volunteer Subcommittees

Program Committee

Adaobiagu Obiagu

Adaobiagu Obiagu is a doctoral student of Curriculum and Pedagogy, and Comparative, International and Development Education Collaborative Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. Her research interests include peace and citizenship education, conflict, peacebuilding and education, gender and human rights education, and teacher education.

Blessing Timidi Digha

Blessing Timidi Digha is a Black woman who identifies as a Feminist, Advocate, Storyteller and Community Based Researcher who brings all her intersections and ideologies to the work she does on Gender Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. She likes to Kickstart very uncomfortable conversations on issues that concern, affect and impact girls and women. Blessing works at the intersection of community and policy and is currently studying Social Justice Education to complement her professional and lived experience.

Sayeed Naqibullah Orfan

Sayeed Naqibullah Orfan is a first year PhD student in Higher Education at OISE. His research interests are governance and power in higher education institutions. He has two vibrant kids.

Tien Pham

Tien (she/her) is a 2nd year PhD student in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. She is a dedicated student-researcher and educator with a commitment to promoting educational equality, particularly for marginalized student groups, and advancing sustainable development through education. Her research focuses on exploring the impacts of climate change on displaced students in lower- and middle-income countries. Serving as a member of the Program Sub-committee, she is excited to contribute to making the 2024 OISE Program a rewarding and impactful academic endeavor.

Communications Committee

Christie Lazo

Christie Lazo is a motherscholar and Indigenous-Peruvian migrant completing her MA Social Justice Education degree at OISE, University of Toronto. Her research examines the intersections of motherhood, migration, indigeneity and indigenous knowledge systems, and racial/cultural/ethnic identity. As a digital marketing strategy professional, Christie thrives in creating content for @DecolonizedMotherhood, bringing her research to the digital space and making it accessible to parents and educators.

Thacze Kuganesan

Thacze (she/her) is a 1st year M.Ed student in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. She is a graduate assistant and student life marketing assistant at OISE, whose academic and personal interests lie heavily in support and engagement services for all students in post-secondary education. As a Communications Sub-Committee member, she is excited to promote the GSRC, in order to engage student-researchers and create a fulfilling experience for as many OISE students as possible.

Wendy Pope

Wendy (she/her) is an 2nd year MEd student in the department of Social Justice Education who aspires to conduct research involving critical disability studies and eating disorders. She works for a non-profit eating disorder treatment centre and has a passion for creating accessible and equitable resources to help those on their recovery journey. Wendy is excited to be a part of the 2024 OISE GSRC Communications and EDI Sub-Committees!

Logistics Committee

Catherina Blair

Catherina (she/her/elle) is currently a second-year master’s student in the Department of Social Justice Education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Sociology with a minor in Gender & Women’s Studies from York University. Her research interests are in sexual and gender-based violence in higher education.

Jasmine Rice

Jasmine (she/her) is a PhD student in the department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning. She is a secondary languages and social studies educator looking to merge these experiences with her background as a Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) student and language learner. Her areas of interest in research include socio-emotional and socio-cultural factors on First Nations language learning experiences.

Thérèse Perucho

Thérèse (she/her) is a first-year MEd student and music instructor in Brampton. With her extensive experience planning student-centred, education-related events both at U of T and beyond, she is eager to contribute her knowledge and skills to the OISE GSRC logistics subcommittee. In her free time, she enjoys learning different languages and spending time with her cat.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

We are so grateful to have volunteers from each subcommittee as a part of the 2024 OISE GSRC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Along with all three co-chairs, we are excited to welcome the insights of: