Meet the Dean

Julia O'Sullivan

Julia O’Sullivan is a Professor and Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Professor O'Sullivan is one of Canada's leading experts in the teaching and learning of reading.

Originally from Dublin, she received her B.Sc. from Trinity College, Dublin and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Her research has attracted $7 million in external funding, and has led to the publication of more than 100 scholarly and professional papers and presentations.

She is the lead researcher on two recent studies of reading: "Get Ready, Get Set, Get Going: Learning to Read in Northern Canada" is published in English, French, Ojibwa and Inuktitut and represents the first Canadian study in reading exclusively concerned with Northern children; "Key Factors to Support Literacy Success in School-aged Populations" (for the Society for the Advancement of Excellence in Education) is published by the Canadian Education Statistics Council.

An advocate for children, a developmental psychologist and licensed teacher, she has worked actively with schools, community groups and governments for more than 20 years contributing to educational policy and services for young children.

She was a member of the Government of Ontario's Expert Panel on Early Reading in 2002, served as a literacy specialist with Ontario's Turnaround Schools program and is Chief Advisor to the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, led by the Rt. Honourable Paul Martin. Julia is also Chair of the International Allliance of Leading Educational Institutions, the world's largest think tank for approaching key educational policy issues in a global context.

Julia was previously the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario. From 1999-2007, she was Dean of Education at Lakehead University, where she established the first Department of Aboriginal Education in a Canadian Faculty of Education. As the Founding National Director of the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, she established and led a network of university, community and government partners across Canada.

Contact the Dean

Mailing Address:
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto
252 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V6 CANADA

Email: dean.oise@utoronto.ca

Telephone: 416-978-1114

Fax: 416-926-4775