Search the:

MyOntarioTech

Meet the Team

Educational Development

We support faculty to develop and deliver innovative and accessible learning experiences through the use of effective evidence-based pedagogical approaches, instructional delivery, and technology.

Back to top

Educational Developer

Dr. Anna Rodrigues

Educational Developer
Anna.Rodrigues@ontariotechu.ca

As an interdisciplinary educator focused on inclusive education, Anna brings twenty years of post-secondary teaching and curriculum design experience to her role as an educational developer. Her research interests include social justice education, internationalization of curriculum, arts-informed pedagogy, experiential learning, GenAI literacy and community-based research. Anna has a PhD in Education: Language, Culture and Teaching from York University, and a Master of Education from Ontario Tech University.

Educational Developer

Kevin Johnson

Educational Developer
Kevin.Johnson@ontariotechu.ca

Kevin is an Educational Developer with the Teaching and Learning Centre. He is a graduate from the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at Ontario Tech and holds an MA in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Ottawa. Kevin is passionate about life-long learning and focused on empowering students and faculty to identify and develop their personal strengths.

Educational Developer

Lasandra Conliffe

Educational Developer
Lasandra.Conliffe@ontariotechu.ca

Lasandra possesses a MEd focused on Online Learning and an Honours BA in Educational Studies and Digital Technology, specializing in Adult Education, earned from Ontario Tech. Her interests include applications of and emerging trends in educational technology, and the ethical integration of generative AI. Her dedication to enhancing education underscores a drive for innovation, inclusivity, and diversity, shaping a brighter educational future.

Educational Developer

Miranda Varricchio

Educational Developer
Miranda.Varricchio@ontariotechu.ca

Miranda is a graduate of the Frazer Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech with a MEd and BA (Hons) in Educational Studies. With 7 years of teaching experience, she is passionate about sound pedagogical design, alternative assessment and is currently exploring with great curiosity the intersection of generative artificial intelligence with academic integrity.

Educational Developer

Dr. Rose Ann Torres

Educational Developer
RoseAnn.Torres@ontariotechu.ca

Dr. Rose Ann Torres holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education and Women and Gender Studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. She has held academic leadership positions across Canadian higher education and Indigenous Institutes. She pioneered the development of a Master of Social Work program, led the expansion of a School of Social Work, and established strategic partnerships with Indigenous Institutes and First Nations communities to advance accessible, community-engaged, and culturally responsive education.

Dr. Torres is a widely published scholar whose research spans teaching and learning, educational leadership, decolonization, health equity, and community-engaged scholarship. Her previous research projects on the accessibility of mental health services and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) were funded by SSHRC Insight Development and Institutional Grants. Her current research program, Reimagining Teaching, Learning, Health, and Wellbeing in the Age of AI, investigates the development of a human-centred, equity-driven, and decolonizing framework.

Educational Multimedia

We use media as a pedagogical tool to create a high quality student-centred learning experience by producing accessible custom course materials to drive engagement and knowledge transfer.

Back to top

Educational Multimedia Developer

Alexander Pilon

Educational Media Developer
Alexander.Pilon@ontariotechu.ca

As a video specialist and communications strategist, Alexander has worked on Emmy, Grammy, and Juno winning productions. He holds a Professional Master's of Education from Queen's University, and has created content and communication plans in the fields of healthcare, education, hospitality, and the arts. Alexander joins the Teaching and Learning Centre with years of post-secondary instruction experience in Film Production, and Public Relations.

Educational Multimedia Developer

Shannon Brandejs

Educational Media Developer
Shannon.Brandejs@ontariotechu.ca

Shannon has worked at the TLC since she completed her BA. Prior to that, she worked at Western University as an instructional designer. She holds a Masters of Education from Ontario Tech, a Graduate Certificate in Adult Education from Royal Roads, and a BA in Media Theory and Production (specializing in Multimedia Design) from Western. She makes videos, interactive tools, and graphics to improve learning.

Educational Technology

We support transformative and empowering learner-centred experiences by providing faculty with evidence-based, pedagogically-informed, and engaging technologies.

Back to top

Educational Technology Analyst

Hannah Atkinson

Educational Technology Analyst
Hannah.Atkinson@ontariotechu.ca

Hannah is a two-time graduate of the Frazer Faculty of Education with a MEd and a BA (Hons) in Educational Studies and Digital Technology. She is also a Registered Early Childhood Educator passionate about the intentional and meaningful use of educational technology to support learners of all ages and stages. Hannah’s research interests include online and HyFlex learning, non-disposable and alternative assessment, digital play, and innovative learning solutions such as interactive digital learning objects.

Open Education

By creating and advocating for high quality Open Educational Resources and open pedagogical practices, we support learner accessibility while providing students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities.

Back to top

Open Education Lab Coordinator

Pranjal Saloni

Open Education Lab Coordinator
Pranjal.Saloni@ontariotechu.ca

Pranjal is an Open Education Coordinator in the Teaching and Learning Centre, and is a graduate of Ontario Tech with a BEng in Software Engineering and Management (specialization in Internet of Things). She is responsible for managing new and ongoing projects, working with faculty members, and supervising a team of students in creating Open Educational Resources (OERs). Her areas of expertise include project management and open educational research.

Academic Development

By facilitating peer mentorship and the enhancement of learning skills, we support our students in achieving their academic goals.

Back to top

Academic Development Facilitator

Dr. Laura Thursby

Academic Development Facilitator
Laura.Thursby@ontariotechu.ca

Dr. Laura Thursby is an Academic Development Facilitator with the Teaching and Learning Centre at Ontario Tech University, where she leads initiatives that support student learning, academic success, and evidence-informed teaching. Her work focuses on academic development, instructional design, peer learning, and creating engaging educational resources that help students succeed in higher education. Laura also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in engineering communication, ethics, digital media and communication, learning strategies, and research methods, and previously served as Manager of Engineering Outreach. She holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from Trent University and is passionate about creating accessible, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences that foster curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.

Academic Development Facilitator

Rammiya Jeganathan

Academic Development Facilitator
Rammiya.Jeganathan@ontariotechu.ca

Rammiya is a graduate from the University of Toronto with a MEd in Leadership, Adult & Higher Education and BA (Hons) in English. She is committed to advancing equity, access, and student development, with a focus on cultural dissonance, identity, and systemic reform. Rammiya bridges research and practice to help build inclusive, student-focused environments that empower diverse learners to succeed.

Subject Specialists

We offer one-on-one and group support tailored to the needs of our students so they can approach the university classroom with confidence.

Back to top

Subject Specialist

Ben Fedoruk

Subject Specialist
Benjamin.Fedoruk@ontariotechu.ca

Ben is an award-winning mathematics educator with a BSc in Applied and Industrial Mathematics, and is pursuing an MEd. He is a published researcher on the intersection of mathematics, education, and large language models. Mathematically, his interests lie in algebraic number theory. His "Math Among Friends" pedagogical approach tackles mathematics trauma through kindness and intuition-building before rigor.

Subject Specialist

Mark Neville

Subject Specialist
Mark.Neville@ontariotechu.ca

Mark has an MA in Applied Linguistics from York U, CTESL from UofT, and BA (Hons) from Western. With 25 years of teaching experience in Canada, Japan, and the UAE, he has taught 1000s of students from almost everywhere. He is dedicated to supporting students in all aspects of their writing and language development. Professionally, he is interested in academic integrity, affective learning, GenAI & writing, and second language acquisition.

Subject Specialist

Matthew McGravey

Subject Specialist
Matthew.McGravey@ontariotechu.ca

Matthew is a Subject Specialist (Writing & ESL) with Student Learning Support at the TLC. Matthew is a graduate of the Frazer Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University with an MEd and BA (Hons) from the University of Toronto in History. Matthew is passionate about supporting learners at all stages of their learning with his extensive knowledge of writing and language attainment. In his research, Matthew has explored numerous topic including online learning environments, topics related to Indigenous education, and artificial intelligence related to academic literacies.

Subject Specialist

Olga Bulakh

Subject Specialist
Olga.Bulakh@ontariotechu.ca

Olga is a Subject Specialist in Mathematics with Student Learning Support at the Teaching and Learning Centre. She holds a BSc (University of Toronto), BEd (OISE), and a MSc in Mathematics (Open University, UK). With more than 20 years of experience supporting students in mathematics, Olga is passionate about helping learners build confidence, deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts, and develop effective problem-solving strategies. She provides one-on-one support, workshops, and learning resources for students across a wide range of undergraduate mathematics and statistics courses. Her professional interests include mathematics education, student success, educational technology, and creating accessible learning resources that empower students to become independent learners.

Subject Specialist

Sarah Coombs

Subject Specialist
Sarah.Coombs@ontariotechu.ca

Sarah is currently on leave.

Subject Specialist

Stephanie Rufh

Subject Specialist
Stephanie.Rufh@ontariotechu.ca

Stephanie graduated from the University of Ottawa with an MSc in Chemistry and has been supporting students at Ontario Tech since 2018. Her chemistry workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-on-one appointments are aimed at students of all educational backgrounds and are designed with accessibility and Universal Design for Learning in mind. Stephanie is passionate about making chemistry interesting and fun for all, especially when math is involved.

Subject Specialist

Tessa Troughton

Subject Specialist
Tessa.Troughton@ontariotechu.ca

Tessa is a PhD candidate in Educational Sustainability at Nipissing University, with a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and a Master of Education in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning. She is an Ontario Certified Teacher with teachables in English as a Second Language, French, and English. Tessa’s research interests include literacy, academic literacies, postsecondary writing, postsecondary writers’ experiences, and multilingual writers.

She is the author of: Exploring the Writing Process of Multilingual Postsecondary Students (2024), Seeking International Tutor Training Certification During COVID (2024) (co-author), The Role of Cultural Instruction in Adult Indigenous Language Learning (2023), Elementary School and Spelling Bees as Sites of Struggle: Akeela and the Bee (2022), Lexical Borrowing among Francophones in the Greater Toronto Area (2019), Integrating Assessment from Day One in a Student Development Event: Long Night Against Procrastination (LNAP) at a Mid-sized University (2016), and The Bilingual Lexicon (2000).

Prior to joining Ontario Tech University, she taught in Mexico, British Columbia, and Ontario. Today, Tessa supports undergraduate and graduate students’ academic literacies. Outside of work, she enjoys a quiet life with family, friends, books, and pets.

TLC Operations

Back to top

Director, Teaching and Learning

Dr. Sarah Stokes

Director, Teaching and Learning
Sarah.Stokes@ontariotechu.ca

Dr. Sarah Stokes (BSc Hons, Ontario Tech; BEd, Ontario Tech; MET, UBC; EdD, UND) is the Director of the Teaching and Learning Centre. An experienced educator, e-learning developer, and instructional designer, she has led initiatives focused on student success, academic support, educational technology, and open educational resources. She is committed to the advancement of teaching and learning across the university and maintains a strong connection to the classroom as an adjunct graduate faculty member with the Frazer Faculty of Education.

Manager, Student Learning Support

Jerome Cawley

Manager, Student Learning Support
Jerome.Cawley@ontariotechu.ca

Bio coming soon!

Manager, Instructional Support

Dr. Lidya Salim

Manager, Instructional Support
Lidya.Salim@ontariotechu.ca

Lidya is a graduate from the Faculty of Science at Ontario Tech with a BSc in Biological Science and a PhD in Applied Bioscience. She has significant experience designing and implementing educational materials based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Lidya is also committed to promoting learner-centered pedagogy as well as accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Faculty Development Coordinator

Rebecca Maynard

Faculty Development Coordinator
Rebecca.Maynard@ontariotechu.ca

Rebecca is a graduate of Ontario Tech's Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, with a BA (Hons) in Communication and Digital Media Studies. By supporting the TLC, they strive to promote accessibility in post-secondary education and a more equitable distribution of knowledge.