Heading back to school: SFU experts available

It’s back to school next week for elementary and high school students and a return to in-person classes for post-secondary students this fall. Simon Fraser University experts are available to speak about the return to school, COVID-19 measures, dealing with anxiety, the transition from online to in-person learning, and other related topics.

AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS

COVID-19 AND PUBLIC HEALTH

SCOTT LEAR, Pfizer/Heart & Stroke Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research  
604.454.8542 | slear@providencehealth.bc.ca  
Expertise: province-wide mask mandate and public health measures in schools, issues relating to COVID-19, vaccines and youth

PAUL TUPPER, professor, mathematics & director, Cognitive Science Program  
pft3@sfu.ca 
Expertise: COVID-19 transmission modelling and measures. Co-author (with prof. Caroline Colijn) of a study this summer on the efficacy of rapid-testing in schools


MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH

TANYA BROESCH, associate professor, psychology
tmacgill@sfu.ca
Expertise: addressing COVID-19 anxiety and fears in parents of elementary school children

NEHA SHIVHARE, visiting professor, education
778.798.9202 | nshivhar@sfu.ca 
Expertise: using mindfulness techniques as a tool to deal with pandemic-related back-to-school anxiety  

KRISTIINA KUMPULAINEN, associate professor, education  
kristiina_kumpulainen@sfu.ca  
Expertise: strengthening children’s mental health and well-being through playtime at school, social ecologies of children's resilience in transition to school, parenting and education in and for the digital age


EDUCATION

GILLIAN JUDSON, assistant professor in educational leadership
gillian_judson@sfu.ca  
Expertise: creator of the Walking Curriculum, which cultivates imagination, observation and connection to the land in students’ K-12 learning; can speak on its growing popularity since COVID-19 (recognized in 2020 as one of the world’s most inspiring innovations by education no-profit HundrEd)

LUC BEAUDOIN, adjunct professor, education
lpb@sfu.ca  
Expertise: senior high school and university students’ use of technology to improve focus while studying, tips for better sleep, understanding and regulating perturbant emotions

YUMIKO MURAI, assistant professor, education
ymurai@sfu.ca  
Expertise: role of online and blended learning communities in educational change

MICHAEL MASER, PhD candidate, education  
michael_maser@sfu.ca 
Expertise: “Zoom school 2.0” – personalizing online learning, creating more meaningful experiences rather than approaching it as triage. Maser recently wrote an article on the topic


ENVIRONMENT

DAVID ZANDVLIET, professor, education; director, Institute for Environmental Learning; SFU's inaugural UNESCO Chair in Bio-Diversity and Education
david_zandvliet@sfu.ca  
Expertise: Developing education programs and research around local practices of Indigenous groups towards sustainable living; educating the next generation of Canadians about environmental issues

EILEEN VAN DER FLIER-KELLER, professor, Earth sciences  
evanderf@sfu.ca  
Expertise: developing experiential and engaging Earth science education for K-12 students to increase literacy, awareness, and teacher empowerment in science 


LIFELONG LEARNING

JUDY SMITH, executive director, Lifelong Learning
judy_smith@sfu.ca
Expertise: continuing education in a changing world, online and remote education for adult learners

CONTACT

MELISSA SHAW, SFU  Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | melissa_shaw@sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University
Communications & Marketing |  SFU Media Experts Directory
778.782.3210

ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

As Canada’s engaged university, SFU works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today’s problems. With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—SFU has eight faculties that deliver 193 undergraduate degree programs and 144 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 170,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.