Our Research Community

Dr. Rahat Zaidi (she/her/hers) is a Research Professor at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, and recently held the Mobility Research Chair in Bilingualism at the Institute of Official Languages and Bilingualism (2024-2025). Her research specializes in second language acquisition and the intersections of language, culture, and identity, with a focus on social justice and inclusion in transcultural and migration contexts. She addresses global challenges in literacy and language education within multilingual environments, particularly in response to the worldwide refugee crisis. Her work has informed policy at provincial, national, and international levels, supporting immigrant and refugee families in language and literacy education. Dr. Zaidi's contributions have been recognized by the City of Calgary, the Alberta Teachers' Association, and the American Educational Research Association, and she serves as the incoming Vice President-Elect of the Literacy Research Association.

Dr. Marigona Morina (she/her/hers) is a Post-Doctorate Researcher at Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. Her research interests include multilingualism, immigrant children’s new literacies, teacher education and professional development for culturally and linguistically diverse students, and heritage language instructional approaches.

Michelle Veroba (she/her/hers) is a second-year PhD student in Educational Research at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. She brings over 13 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and student support teacher at Brooks Composite High School, where she has specialized in supporting multicultural and multilingual students in rural Alberta. Her doctoral research examines how critically engaged language and literacy frameworks can foster cultural competence and advance culturally responsive pedagogy. Michelle is deeply committed to strengthening connections among students, families, and communities, and works closely with local partners to create inclusive and socially just learning environments for newcomer and EAL learners.

Fabielle Rocha Cruz (she/her/hers) has worked as an English language teacher in bilingual and international schools in Curitiba, Brazil, with experience in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and multilingual education. In recent years, she worked as a Pre-service English Teaching undergraduate professor at a private university. Her research interests include bilingual and plurilingual education, educational guidelines for bilingual education and Brazilian curriculum, multiliteracies, digital literacy, and video games in education.

Astrid Johana Aristizábal Cardona (she/her/hers) is an international PhD student at the Werklund School of Education, specializing in Language and Literacy. She has been working in the field of foreign language teaching for eleven years with diverse age groups, from preschoolers to undergraduate students, across both public and private institutions in Antioquia, Colombia. Astrid holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Foreign Language Teaching and Learning from the School of Languages at the University of Antioquia. Her academic interests are focused on how language and education can contribute to social transformation, including Peace Education, Pedagogy of Memory, and Critical Perspectives in language teaching and learning.

Iman Bukhari (she/her/hers) is a Doctor of Education student at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. As Founder and CEO of the Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation, she brings over 15 years of experience in anti-racism advocacy and community engagement. Her groundbreaking research includes Canada's first longitudinal hate incident tracker, which has informed policy at municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Iman's current doctoral work explores how generative AI can expand educational access for out-of-school children in Pakistan, centering culturally responsive design and learner agency. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40.

Muskaan Pamery (she/her/hers) is a fourth-year Health and Society student at the University of Calgary and an honours thesis researcher with the Transliteracies Lab. Her current work curates the experiences of immigrant youth by transforming their artwork into a virtual exhibition. She is also involved with RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment Initiative) as a researcher, facilitator, and mentor. Muskaan’s broader research experience spans community health, chronic disease, dementia, cancer and education. With family roots in Afghanistan and active involvement in the settlement process of newcomers in her community, she is deeply committed to advancing understanding of immigrant and refugee experiences.

Katie Graham (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services with Grasslands Public Schools. A proud alumni of the Grasslands system, she has spent her entire professional career serving the Brooks community where she grew up. Her work focuses on supporting students, teachers, and staff through the district's ongoing evolution, drawing on her experience witnessing Brooks' transformation into a vibrant, diverse community.

Amna Nawab (she/her/hers) is a Textile Designer and Fibre Artist who transforms traditional handcraft into contemporary design. Her work explores storytelling through texture and colour, creating wearable art and original pieces that bridge fine art and accessible design. As an educator, she facilitates Fibre Art workshops for diverse communities, guided by her mission to make art an empowering and universal language of connection.