I am in my fourth year of PhD studies specializing in Child Studies in the Department of Education at Concordia University (Montreal, Qc). My background is in cognitive and language development, but recently concentrating my efforts on literacy development. I'm specifically interested in the effects of reading words in different contexts (stories and lists), and the impact of the home literacy environment on shared book reading and print exposure.

As an insatiable reader and creative writing enthusiast, the Literacy Lab has become my haven. Finding innovative ways to revolutionize the Language Arts curriculum is at the heart of my research interests. My ultimate goal is to support teachers in creating a classroom culture that promotes a “literacy is for life” message. One, in which students’ motivation to read thrives by engaging with culturally-relevant texts. After all, learning is more meaningful when it helps students better adapt to their changing environment.

Having a passion for languages and teaching, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in teaching Chinese as a second language and a master's degree in applied linguistics. With three years of experience working as an ESL teacher and school placement advisor for young children in China, I have developed strong interests in children's development of language and reasoning abilities. Outside of work, I enjoy travelling, museums, open markets and national parks. Cooking and playing my ukulele are also major sources of happiness. Currently, I am living in Shenzhen China with my husband and our puppy, Tiny. 

For many years now, I’ve used books as my passport to different worlds. After completing my undergraduate degree in Concordia’s ECEE department, the literacy lab was truly a perfect fit for me. I found myself surrounded by people who also used books as their passports and were willing to share their experiences with me. My research interests vary but I am primarily interested in investigating the relationship between teachers’ reading habits and their teaching practices. In my free time, I love seeing my friends, trying different restaurants around Montreal, and indulging in a good romance book! 

I started teaching at the elementary level after graduating from Concordia’s ECEE program in 2018. I decided to continue my studies in Child Development which will in turn help me grow as a teacher. I cannot describe the joy I have when reading a good book, but I hope to continue inspiring young minds in pursuing a love of reading. I believe anyone can be an avid reader if they are given the chance to find the right stories!