We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Kristy Timmons, OCT, RECE, has been appointed Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, effective January 1, 2026.
Kristy joined the Queen’s Faculty of Education in 2017 and brings a deep commitment to graduate education, mentorship, and equity-focused research to the role. Reflecting on her approach to leadership, Kristy notes that “supporting students has always been one of the most rewarding parts of my work—whether in elementary classrooms, teacher education, or graduate programs.”
In her new role, Kristy says she is eager to “better understand graduate student goals, support the development of their research and professional skills, and help create learning environments where students feel both supported and challenged.” She adds that “the collaborative and hands-on mentorship approaches I use in my research groups (ECE LAB and AEG) are ones I look forward to extending more broadly across our programs.”
Kristy holds a Master of Arts in Child Study and Education from the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study at the University of Toronto, as well as a PhD in Developmental Psychology and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto). A registered Early Childhood Educator and Ontario Certified Teacher, her teaching experience spans early years and elementary classrooms, as well as undergraduate and graduate education.
Her research examines the factors that shape young children’s learning and self-regulation, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for children ages 0–5 who have been historically and continually marginalized. This work reflects her overarching goal of advancing equity in early childhood education by strengthening policies and programs that support learning in the early years and beyond.
In addition to her scholarly work, Kristy is the Founder and Director of the ECE LAB, Vice-President of Queen’s Daycare, and a Director of the Assessment and Evaluation Group (AEG). She is also a mother of two young children, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to her leadership.
Looking ahead, Kristy sees the Associate Dean role as an opportunity for shared learning and collaboration. “This role offers a meaningful chance to deepen my understanding of graduate education across the faculty and the university,” she explains. She looks forward to listening to students, faculty, and staff, building on the strong foundations already in place, and working together to imagine “what the best version of our graduate programs can become.”
Thank you to Dr. Lindsay Morcom
Throughout her 3-year tenure as Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Dr. Lindsay Morcom has demonstrated exceptional care and dedication to our graduate students. She has played a key role in creating a more supportive and cohesive experience for international graduate students across the faculty. We are deeply grateful for her outstanding service and wish her every success as she begins the second term of her Canada Research Chair.