Appointment of Director of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study

From
Acting Dean Creso Sá
To
OISE Community
Date:

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Eunice Eunhee Jang of the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development (APHD) as Director of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2026.

A member of the OISE community since 2005, Dr. Jang’s educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Psychology with specializations in quantitative research, measurement, and program evaluation, and a master’s degree in English as an International Language from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA). A former K-12 teacher, prior to her graduate studies, she completed a bachelor's degree (with Teaching Certification) in from Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea.

Professor Jang has an extensive research background, currently holding several funded research projects focused on understanding and supporting children’s oral language and reading development through dynamic assessment systems and interactive digital tools for parents and teachers. Throughout her career, Dr. Jang’s research has been driven by a central question: how can we better understand what children know and use that understanding to support their growth? Her book, Focus on Assessment (2014), provides practical guidelines for K-12 teachers based on her research on young language learners. She is also the inventor of BalanceAI, a University of Toronto registered invention designed for K–8 classrooms that provides diagnostic feedback on children’s reading, writing, and oral language—with particular attention to ensuring these tools serve children from diverse linguistic backgrounds equitably. She has received numerous recognitions for her teaching and scholarship including OISE’s highest teaching honour — the David E. Hunt Award for Excellence in Graduate Education (2018) and the Annual Award for the Most Outstanding Article in the Journal of Language Learning (2014).

Her professional community engagement activities include having served on the Advisory Board of EQAO provincial literacy and numeracy assessments, International Language Testing Association Nominating Committee, TOEFL Committee of Examiners, TOEFL Young Students Research Grants program, and the AERA Significant Research Contribution Award Committee. She is currently a member of the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada Language Proficiency Panel and the Duolingo Technical Advisory Board.

Professor Jang also brings administrative and leadership experience to the role of Director having served as APHD Associate Chair (2023-Present), Chair (2017-2018), Chair of OISE Council (2015-2016), and Graduate Program Coordinator (2008-2010).

Dr. Jang’s career-long dedication to advancing child development through research that reaches classrooms, families, and educators aligns closely with JICS’s tripartite mission of uniting research, graduate teacher education, and exemplary practice in service of children’s education and well-being.

I would like to thank the members of the advisory committee for their important work in selecting a new Director.

Please join me in congratulating Professor Jang on her appointment and in welcoming her as the Director of JICS!