OUR TEAM

Faculty Investigators

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    Cassie J. Brownell, PhD

    University of Toronto

    Hailing from a farm and ranch located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in northwest Montana, Cassie spent her childhood chasing barn cats, wandering the bank of a muddy creek near her home, and sneaking (rather than picking) raspberries from the bushes outside her grandparent’s home. As an assistant professor in Toronto, Cassie’s outdoor adventures include visiting Lake Ontario’s beaches, strolling through her urban neighborhood, and visiting local parks to buy raspberries at farmers’ markets.

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    Kathleen A. Schenkel, PhD

    San Diego State University

    Growing up in Northern Indiana, Katie spent time gardening with her dad in the spring, summer, and early fall. She loved playing all sorts of snowy games with her brothers in the winter and watched the birds across the seasons with her mom. Now, as a member of the San Diego community, she spends time exploring tidal pools at the beach and exploring the desert ecosystems in the eastern part of San Diego. While the seasonal shifts are subtle in southern California, Katie enjoys paying attention to how animals, plants, and humans interact in the world across the year.

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    Jon M. Wargo, PhD

    Boston College

    Born in-between the bustling city of Chicago, Illinois and the rural farmlands of Northern Indiana, Jon grew up hiking sand dunes, swimming in Lake Michigan, and observing duck families playing in vernal ponds. Now, as an assistant professor in Boston, Jon spends his time outside navigating (new-to-him) historic sites, listening to the shifting sounds of the urban city, and watching the seasons change.

Research Assistants

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    Melissa Arasin

    University of Toronto

    Melissa Arasin is a PhD candidate in the Language and Literacies Education program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Outside of academia, Melissa enjoys photography, birding, native plant, vegetable, and pollinator gardening, and walks in nature as meditative practice.

PAST RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

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    Olivia Sun

    University of Toronto

    Olivia Sun is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto double-majoring in Philosophy, Ethics Society & Law, and minoring in Contemporary Asian Studies. Her main research interests lie in ethics, legal philosophy, feminist philosophy, and sociology. She has received the Dr. David Chu Research Scholarship and also presented a paper at the International Astronautical Congress 2021. Outside of research, she is a part of the University of Toronto’s Philosophy Course Union.

  • Marisa Segel

    Boston College
    Marisa Segel is a Ph.D. student in the Curriculum, Instruction and Society program in the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. From sand castle building in the summer to foliage hikes in the fall, Marisa enjoys outdoor adventures with her four children throughout the beautiful four seasons of New England.

  • Gladys Cen

    University of Toronto

    Gladys Cen is an Ed.D. student in the International Educational Leadership and Policy program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Gladys is a curriculum designer and educational innovator. She loves to use music, drama, drawings, handicrafts, and natural materials to support students’ learning. Gladys is an outdoor adventurer; she enjoys hiking, scuba diving, horse riding and snowboarding.