The Rosa Bruno-Jofré Symposium in Education

Looking Back to Move Forward: Visions for a Just Future in Education

Welcome to the 25th Annual RBJSE Conference!

This year’s conference is happening at a critical moment, locally, nationally, and internationally - one that calls on us to reflect more deeply on our roles and responsibilities as educators, researchers, and most importantly, learners. Our theme, Looking Back to Move Forward: Visions for a Just Future in Education, invites us to reflect on the past as we envision and build toward a more just and equitable future in education.

Registration is now closed.

Schedule & Programming

This year’s program features a number of lectures, roundtables, alternative presentations, discussion panels, and two keynote addresses.

Access the full program here

Overview of Schedule
Session Breakdown

Time	Session	Location
8:30-9:00 am	Registration & Breakfast	BioSci Atrium
9:00-9:15 am	Opening Remarks	BioSci Auditorium 1102
9:15-10:15 am	Keynote Speaker - David	BioSci Auditorium 1102
10:20-11:20 am	Session A	BioSci & Humphrey Hall
11:25-12:30 pm	Session B	BioSci & Humphrey Hall
12:30-1:25 pm	Lunch & Posters*	BioSci Atrium
1:30-2:30 pm	Keynote Speaker - Nyasha	BioSci Auditorium 1102
2:30-3:30 pm	Session C	BioSci & Humphrey Hall
3:35-4:45 pm	Panel Session	BioSci Auditorium 1102
4:45-5:00 pm	Closing Remarks	BioSci Auditorium 1102

* Poster Boards will also be up for attendees to view throughout the conference day.

Session	Session Name	Location
Session A 10:20-11:20am	Rethinking Accessibility & Inclusion	BioSci, 1101
	Leadership, Advocacy & Innovation	BioSci, 1120
	Advancing Equity in Education	BioSci, 2109
Session B 11:25-12:30pm	Unseen Lessons	BioSci, 1101
	Innovations in Education	BioSci, 1120
	Identity, Representation, and Learning	BioSci, 2109
	Enhancing and Innovating Communication	HH, 131
	Examining Policy, Practice, and Leadership	HH, 132
Session C 2:30-3:30pm	Educational Reform & Transformations	BioSci, 1101
	Bridging Knowledge & Society	BioSci, 1120
	Empowering & Equipping Educators	HH, 131
	Exploring Agency, Ethics, & Social Dynamics	HH, 132

Meet our Keynotes

Dr. David Hansen

David T. Hansen is the John L. and Sue Ann Weinberg Professor in the Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he has served for many years as Director of the Program in Philosophy and Education. Hansen has taught at several levels, and before his present position was director for ten years of the secondary teacher education program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He has written widely on the work of teachers, including in books such as The Call to Teach (1995), Exploring the Moral Heart of Teaching (2001), The Teacher and the World (2011), and Reimagining the Call to Teach (2021). He is currently elucidating a philosophy of ‘bearing witness’ as an ethical orientation in educational research and practice. His book on the topic, The Witness as Educator, will be published by the State University of New York Press in 2025. Hansen is a Past-President of the John Dewey Society and of The Philosophy of Education Society, and is a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association.

Dr. Nyasha Nyereyemhuka

Dr. Nyasha Nyereyemhuka is a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at Queen’s University’s Faculty of Education, specializing in: K-12 school leadership and governance, policy analysis, culturally responsive schooling, and anti-racist education. Her writing employs qualitative approaches to K-12 research and frequently interrogates how the constructs of race-and-gender inform school leader preparation, well-being, policy enactment, and sensemaking. Upholding a commitment to mobilizing community-based research and equity-focused scholarship, her co-authored book chapters and journal articles have appeared in the Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, the International Journal of Leadership in Education, and Routledge editions. Further, her research contributions have been nationally recognized and honoured as a recipient of the Dr. Allen Pearson Graduate Award in Educational Leadership and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

Dr. Nyereyemhuka possess a wealth of teaching experience at both the undergraduate and graduate levels of higher education and has progressively held leadership positions at the departmental, university, and community levels. Notably, her editorial skills were recognized when she served as a guest co-editor for the Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy. She looks forward to expanding her keen interest in K-12 school leadership as an incoming Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education.

Meet our Panelists

Haley Clark

Haley Clark is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on lived experiences of systemic ableism and disability identity in education, particularly as this relates to Autism and ADHD. Haley’s background in the sociology of education and critical disability studies spurs her active involvement in inclusive education: she is a Special Education Advisory Board member for Autism Ontario, Co-Chair of the Rosa Bruno Jofré Symposium in Education, Graduate Student Mentorship Coordinator in Faculty of Education at Queen’s, Add*ed Research Group Coordinator and Secretary/Treasurer for Canadian Society of Social Justice Education. Haley has presented at numerous regional and international conferences on ableism, language use, and disability identity. She is a published author in the area of mentorship and disability education. Haley completed her Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice and Public Policy with a minor in Family and Child Studies) and her Master of Arts in Sociology from the University of Guelph.

Dr. JJ Bosica

JJ, an Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University and Educational Developer focused on Learning Design at St. Lawrence College. His passion for education led him to teach at various post-secondary institutions including both colleges and universities. With a master’s degree in mathematics and a PhD in Education, he explores teaching efficacy, problem-based learning, quantitative research methods, innovative teaching practices, and faculty-peer mentorship.

Madalina Raduta

Madalina Raduta is an OCT certified teacher that currently works as a Museum Educator at the Aga Khan Museum. She is a graduate from Queen’s University's Concurrent Education program, with teachables in Visual Arts and English and a specialization in Arts Education. In her free time, Madalina loves to do art, mainly focusing on illustrating and photography.

Dr. Kenneth Gyamerah

Dr. Kenneth Gyamerah is an Assistant Professor at the Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University. His research interests focus on equity, access, and the representation of racialized youth in STEM/STEAM education, decolonizing education, anti-colonial education, teacher education, comparative and international education, African Indigenous knowledge systems, curriculum, and educational policy. Dr. Gyamerah’s work aims to amplify and center the voices, knowledge, identities, and experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented youth in both K-12 and higher education. He holds a BEd from the University of Education, Winneba, an MSc in Education Policy from the University of Bristol and a PhD in Education from Queen's University. Before joining Ontario Tech, Dr. Gyamerah served as a research coordinator with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), where he led the Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism research portfolio.

FAQs

Common questions regarding presentations, accommodations, and parking.

1. Roundtable Presentation

A roundtable presentation is an opportunity to receive feedback on proposed research in an informal, collaborative environment. Presenters will orally present their proposed research to facilitate discussion, with 5 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for discussion, questions, and feedback. The session participants will take on the role of asking questions and providing feedback.

2. Poster Presentation

A poster presentation is an opportunity to receive feedback on works in progress. Presenters will present their work in progress using a poster to facilitate discussion, with 10 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for discussion, questions, and feedback. Please follow common poster guidelines. Typical posters are 48" x 36", but slightly smaller or larger is permissible.

3. Lecture Presentation

This presentation format is often selected when the presenter’s goal is to present data or academic findings from a polished, soon-to-be complete or finished research study. Each paper presentation will be 20 minutes in length, including 15 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for questions and discussion.

4. Alternative Presentation

An alternative presentation format provides participants with an opportunity to present their academic work in a creative way. Participants may present as part of a group or as an individual. The purpose of the presentation should be clearly articulated and related to the conference theme and should be no longer than 10 minutes. Possible formats include, but are not limited to:

Pecha Kucha: present your research in 20 slides with 20 seconds per slide.
3MT: present your research and its wider impact in 3 minutes or less with one slide and no props.
Art Gallery: an asynchronous format for the duration of the conference. Examples include poetry, visual art or representations, etc.

We have a group rate with the Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront. Just let them know you're affiliated with the conference when you're booking your stay, or you can use the link provided below:

Book your group rate for Rosa Bruno-Jofre Symposium in Education 2025

(Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront for 209.00 CAD per night - Last Day to Book : Monday, March 03, 2025)

There are also various other accommodation options around Kingston if you'd prefer. Please check out the City of Kingston's website for more information: https://www.visitkingston.ca/stay/

There is parking available at our conference venue. The parking lots near the BioScience Complex are free to park during weekends. There is also side street parking near the venue, however, there is a fee which can be paid through your phone's HONK app. The HONK app can be used to pay for parking around the university campus. Parking rates (as of Nov. 2022) are $2.00 an hour or $10.00 for the day. Please note that these rates may change - please check the app for the most up to date rates.

City of Kingston parking tickets are issued for parking violations. Once you receive a ticket, the Faculty has no means of waiving it and cannot pay the fine for you. Parking permits are not required after 5 pm or on weekends.

There will be a registration table as you enter the Biosciences Complex. We will have signage and volunteers around the building to direct folks as well.

Yes! Please see below:

Biosciences Complex Floorplans

Building Accessibility Guide

Map of venue and surrounding areas