ARTS RESEARCHERS & TEACHERS SOCIETY [ARTS SIG]
Societé des chercheurs/chercheuses et des enseignants/enseignantes des arts
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS: 2024-2025
Jen Hinkkala – Co-Vice President & Program Chair, Graduate Student Rep, Social Media Coordinator
McGill University
Jen Hinkkala is a PhD candidate and sessional lecturer in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill University. Jen holds a Master of Music Education, a Bachelor of Education, a certificate in writing, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Jen’s dissertation research explores the work and well-being of self-employed drama, dance, music, and visual arts teachers in order to support preservice teachers and instructors currently working in the field. Jen has written several academic publications on topics pertaining to educational attainment during COVID-19, the challenge of working as a self-employed music educator, teacher self-compassion during the COVID-19, as well as teacher self-care and well-being. Before academia, Jen worked as a self-employed music educator at several conservatories in Ontario. Jen is the founder of Estranged and Thriving, an online support group for adults who do not have a relationship with their parents.
Kristofer David William Brown – Co-Vice President & Program Chair, Graduate Student Rep, Website Administrator
McGill University
Kristofer Brown is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill University, where his research focuses on mental health, trauma-informed practice, sensory-based interventions, and the experiences of at-risk youth within Quebec’s Youth Protection System. His doctoral research examines the use of sensory tools as self-regulation and resilience-building strategies among adolescents with complex trauma. He holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning from McGill University, a degree in Social Science and Education from Bishop’s University, and a degree in History from Concordia University.
Kristofer’s research and scholarly work span youth mental health, trauma-informed practice, arts-based educational research, and the experiences of frontline professionals working within youth protection. His work has been published in Relational Child and Youth Care Practice, and he has contributed chapters examining youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the use of sensory art as a tool for healing. He also serves as an editor of the forthcoming Springer volume Re-Emergence(s) of and Through Arts-Based Educational Research. He has presented his research at national and international academic conferences, including the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) and the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE).
In addition to his doctoral research, Kristofer has contributed to federally funded research examining online harms affecting children in collaboration with the Digital Safety Implementation Team at Canadian Heritage. He is also actively involved in academic service and leadership, including his work with the Arts Researchers & Teachers Society of CSSE and McGill University’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
Kristofer teaches in the Special Education Techniques program at Champlain College and has served as a course lecturer in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill University. His academic work is informed by extensive professional experience working with at-risk youth and frontline practitioners in educational, mental health, and youth protection settings.
Email: kbrown@crcmail.net
Katie Tremblay – Past Co-President
Cape Breton University
Dr. Katie Tremblay is an Assistant Professor of Curriculum Studies in the School of Education at Cape Breton University. She has 10 years of K-12 classroom teaching experience in Grade 7&8 and completed her PhD at University of Toronto, OISE. Katie is currently the Director of Higher Learning for the Canadian Music Educators' Association. Her areas of research include curriculum and pedagogy with a focus on inquiry-based approaches, experiential learning, and decolonization in instrumental music education.
Email: Katie_Tremblay@cbu.ca
Layal Shuman – Past Co-President
Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Layal Shuman (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Design Studies in The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research areas are at the intersections of critical design studies and critical university studies. She is the Co-Director of the Studio for Media Activism & Critical Thought at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Editor-in-Chief of Rubix, Journal for Creative Research & Practice.
Email: lshuman@torontomu.ca
Melissa Bishop – Co-VP/Program Chair
Cape Breton University
Dr. Melissa Bishop is an Assistant Professor of Literacy Education in the School of Education and Health at Cape Breton University. She has over 20 years of experience in various educational roles and contexts. She completed her PhD at the University of Prince Edward Island. Melissa's research interests include curriculum, pedagogy, and professionalization in early years contexts; narrative inquiry; photo-poiesis; and bodies as generative sites of curriculum, resistance, and transformation. Email: melissa_bishop@cbu.ca
Gianina Milea– Graduate Student Rep
McGill University
Gianina is a doctoral student in the Department of Integrated Studies in Education at McGill University under the guidance of Dr. Claudia Mitchell. She brings 15 years of experience teaching Grades 7 to 11 with a deep focus on literacy. Her research centers on adolescent literacy, with a passionate commitment to destigmatizing remedial education. Collaborating with language arts teachers, community artists, and adolescents in both formal and informal learning environments, she weaves performing arts practices into qualitative inquiry. Through this creative integration, her work reimagines pedagogical approaches to remedial secondary literacy, fostering innovative, hands-on engagement and transformative possibilities in education.
Email: gianina.milea@mail.mcgill.ca
Nayani Sellar Kathirithamby- Grad Student Rep, Special Events Officer
McGill University
Nayani Sellar Kathirithamby is a first-year graduate student, passionately pursuing a Master's in Educational Leadership at McGill University. She holds a bachelor's degree in education, specializing in Kindergarten and Elementary studies, and is certified as both an English and French elementary teacher.
Nayani's early exposure to various musical arts, including singing, violin, bharatanatyam, mridangam, and veena, shaped her understanding of diverse teaching methods. Her curiosity about effective teaching techniques, inspired by her music mentors, ignited her passion for education. Recognizing the need for greater inclusivity and understanding, Nayani delved into researching the impact of discrimination on students of color, motivating her to create resources for educators aiming to foster more inclusive and welcoming classrooms.
Presently, Nayani is a grade 2 teacher while serving as a vocal teacher at Mathuragana Manram, where she dedicates her time to helping first-generation South Asian students navigate cultural challenges through the power of music. Additionally, she volunteers to support special needs children, contributing to her commitment to inclusivity and active community involvement.
Past Executive Members
2026-2027
Kristofer Brown (Co-President)
Jen Hinkkala (Co-President)
Layal Shuman (Past President)
Katie Tremblay (Past President)
Sarah Zreim (Co-Vice President/Program Chair)
Melissa Bishop (Co-Vice President/Program Chair)
Gianina Milea– Graduate Student Rep
2025-2026
Layal Shuman, (Co-President)
Katie Tremblay, (Co-President)
Roula Kteily-Hawa, (Past President)
Kristofer Brown, (Co-Vice President/Program Chair)
Jen Hinkkala, (Co-Vice President/Program Chair)
Deborah Maia de Lima - Publication Award Chair
Gianina Milea– Graduate Student Rep
2024-2025
Layal Shuman, (Co-President)
Katie Tremblay, (Co-President)
Roula Kteily-Hawa, (Past President)
Kristofer Brown, (Co-Vice President/Program Chair)
Jen Hinkkala, (Co-Vice President/Program Chair)
Deborah Maia de Lima - Publication Award Chair
Gianina Milea– Graduate Student Rep
2023-2024
Roula Kteily-Hawa, (President, executive)
Layal Shuman, (Co-Vice President & Program Chair, executive)
Katie Tremblay, (Co-Vice President & Program Chair, executive)
Deborah Maia de Lima - Publication Award Chair
Traci Klein, (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
Kristofer Brown (Graducat Student Rep, Website Administrator)
Malvika Agarwal (Artful Project Coordinator)
Tashya Orasi (Graduate Student Rep, Pre Conference Co-Chair)
Ashika Ashika (Communications Officer)
Sandra Poczobut (Graduate Student Rep, Pre-Conference Co-Chair & Juried Art Space Coordinator)
Jen Hinkkala (Graducate Student Rep, Social Media Coordinator)
Jess Traynor (Grad Student Rep, Special Events Officer)
Nayani Sella Kathirithamby (Grad Student Rep, Special Events Officer)
2022-2023
Roula Kteily-Hawa, (President, executive)
Pauline Sameshima, (Past-President and Co-Chair, Lifetime Achievement Award, executive)
Bernie Andrews, (Past-President and Co-Chair, Lifetime Achievement Award, executive)
Layal Shuman, (Co-Vice President & Program Chair, executive)
Katie Tremblay, (Co-Vice President & Program Chair, executive)
Tatiana Zakharova-Goodman, (Publication Award Chair)
Traci Klein, (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
Sandra Poczobut, (Graduate Student Rep, Pre-Conference Co-Chair & Juried Art Space Coordinator)
Jen Hinkkala, (Graduate Student Rep, Pre-conference Co-Chair)
Tashya Orasi, (Graduate Student Rep, Pre-Conference Co-Chair)
Jackie Stendel, (Grad Student Rep, Website Administrator)
2021-2022
Laurel Hart, (Past President, executive)
Roula Kteily-Hawa, (Vice-President & Program Chair, executive)
Traci Klein, (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
Layal Shuman, (Publication Award Co-Chair)
Katie Tremblay, (Publication Award Co-Chair)
Tatiana Zakharova-Goodman, (Grad Student Representative)
Jackie Stendel (Grad Student Representative)
Marta Cotrim, (Grad Student Representative)
2020-2021
Ashwani Kumar, (President, executive)
Roula Kteily-Hawa, (Vice-President & Program Chair, executive)
Laurel Hart, (Past President, executive)
Michelle Buckle, (Pre-conference Co-chair)
Bonnie Petersen, (Pre-conference Co-chair)
Tatiana Zakharova, (Grad Student Representative)
Émilie Vaillancourt, (Grad Student Representative)
Sarah Hennessy, (Co-Vice President)
2019-2021
Lisa Mitchell, (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
Hala Mreiwed, (Publication Award Chair)
2018 - 2020
Laurel Hart, (President, executive)
Ashwani Kumar, (Vice President & Program Chair, executive)
Mindy Carter, (Past-president, executive)
Anar Rajabali, (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
Bonnie Nish, (Graduate Student Representative)
Adrian Downey, (Graduate Student Representative)
2018-2019
Anar Rajabali, (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
2017-2019
Graham Lea, (Publication Award Chair)
2016 - 2017
Mindy Carter (President, McGill University)
Laurel Hart (Co-Vice-President, McGill University)
Valerie Triggs (Co-Vice President, University of Regina)
Sean Wiebe (Past President, University of Prince Edward Island)
Bronwen Low (Graduate Research Awards Chair)
Margaret McKeon (Graduate Student Representative)
Jennifer Wicks (Graduate Student Representative)
2014 - 2016
Sean Wiebe (President, University of Prince Edward Island)
Mindy Carter (Vice-President, McGill University)
John J. Guiney Yallop (Past President, Acadia University)
2012 - 2014
John J. Guiney Yallop (President, Acadia University)
Monica Prendergast (Vice-President, University of Victoria)
Pauline Sameshima (Past-President, Lakehead University)
2010 - 2012
Pauline Sameshima (President, Washington State University)
John J. Guiney Yallop (Vice-President, Acadia University)
2008 - 2010
Kathryn Ricketts (President, Simon Fraser)
2009
Sean Wiebe (U of PEI) - President
2008-2009
Sean Wiebe (U of PEI) - VP and Program Chair
2006 - 2008
Sylvia Kind (UBC) - President
Diane Conrad (U Alberta) - VP and Program Chair
2005-2006
Carol Beynon (UWO) - President
2002 - 2003
Rena Upitis (President, Queens University)
Carol Beynon (Vice-President, University of Western Ontario)
2001 - 2002
Bernard W. Andrews (President, University of Ottawa)
Alex de Cosson (Vice-President, UBC)
2000 - 2001
Bernard W. Andrews (Ottawa), President
Alex de Cosson (UBC), Vice-President
ARTS/SCEA AGM: SIG Constitution ratified and executive elected
1999 - 2000
Bernard W. Andrews (Acting President, University of Ottawa)
Alex de Cosson (Acting Vice-President, University of British Columbia)
Andrea Fairchild (Acting Member-at-large, Concordia University)
ARTS/SCEA SIG approved in principle by CACS CSSE, University of Sherbrooke, 1999
1998 - 1999
Bernard W. Andrews (Acting President, University of Ottawa)
Preliminary discussions of an arts group within CSSE
Arts Education Symposium, CSSE, University of Ottawa, 1998