Children from our projects are also essential and active members of the research team. They are highlighted in the Research Stories.
Explore Research Stories
Who We are
Meet the Research Team
Learn more about the researchers, educators, and collaborators behind CLICK.
Dr. Diane Collier
Principal Researcher
Diane has been researching and publishing in multimodality, everyday literacies, visual methods, and collaborative research with children. Before that she was an elementary teacher. She has served as President of the Language and Literacy Researchers of Canada, co-editor of Literacy (UKLA) and leads the Primary/Junior Language and Literacy program at Brock University where she is a Professor.
Melissa Mckinney-Lepp
Educator-Researcher
Melissa McKinney-Lepp has 22 years’ experience as a teacher, coach, teacher-librarian, STEAM and resource educator. Trained in critical literacies, design thinking, and critical empathy, she has been recognized by the David Suzuki Foundation, Digital Promise Global, and HP Education Canada. She holds an MEd (2023) and teaches at Brock University.
Simranjeet Kaur
Researcher and Doctoral Candidate
Simranjeet Kaur is a doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Education at Brock University. She is a sociocultural researcher who is always curious about the ‘how’ behind the ‘why’. Her PhD work uses visual, participatory methods to explore everyday lives and identities of children living in a slum in New Delhi.
Tanima Ferdous
Researcher and PhD Student
Tanima is a sociocultural researcher and international PhD student at Brock University. Her work examines family and home literacies, focusing on cultural and linguistic learning in newcomer Niagara families. She seeks inclusive ways to integrate cultural knowledge for early years learners. In Bangladesh, she worked for the NGO, Right to Read.
Wenting Rong
Researcher and PhD Student
Wenting Rong is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in engineering and education. Her research focuses on educational technology, teacher education, and STEM education. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies at Brock University.
Natalie Penny
Research Assistant
Natalie is a Brock teacher candidate in the concurrent education program, at the K-6 level. Her experience in research includes an undergraduate thesis project about Black student support in Ontario elementary schools. Natalie’s research interests include culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed education, and social emotional learning.
CLICK Research in Action
