Current Team 2025

2025 lab photo
Current Team

Get to know more about the faculty and students that make up the Multilingualism & Literacy Lab.

Multilingualism & Literacy Lab Director

Becky's Photo

Dr. Becky Chen

Becky (Xi) Chen is a Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology & Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Canada. She is co-editor-in-chief for Annals of Dyslexia. Her research specializes in reading development and difficulties in bilingual children. In recent years, most of the studies conducted in her Multilingualism & Literacy Lab involves children in French immersion programs, including both English-French bilinguals as well as trilingual children who speak a minority language at home.

Research Officer

Kathy's photo

Dr. Kathleen Hipfner-Boucher

Kathy participated in the work of the Multilingualism and Literacy lab as a doctoral student and post-doc before assuming her current role of Research Officer. Her involvement in multiple projects in the lab has allowed her to her bridge her interest in theoretical issues related to bi-literacy and classroom practice that supports equity for all learners. Her greatest joy comes from her role as "mamé" to her two granddaughters, Thea and Éloïse.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Students

Zein

Zein Abuosbeh

PhD Candidate, Developmental Psychology & Education

Zein is a PhD candidate in the Multilingualism and Literacy Lab. Her research focuses on the relationship between oral language skills and reading comprehension among French Immersion students. She is also conducting research on the narrative and discourse skills of Syrian refugee children in Arabic and English. Zein is especially interested in using her research to help create evidence based resources for multilingual learning environments. In her free time, Zein enjoys running, going on long walks and exploring new cities.

Angela Capani

Angela Capani

PhD Student, School & Clinical Child Psychology

Angela is a second-year doctoral student in the School & Clinical Child Psychology (SCCP) Program. She is currently involved in the Successes and Challenges of Syrian Refugee Children in Canada project, which seeks to evaluate the language and literacy skills of Syrian refugee children. In particular, Angela’s research explores the relationship between bilingualism, biliteracy development and social-emotional functioning.

Shelley

Shelley Rafailov

PhD Candidate, Developmental Psychology and Education

Shelley is a third-year PhD student at OISE in the Developmental Psychology and Human Development (DPE) program. Her research focuses on language and literacy skills affecting reading comprehension in French Immersion students. She also studies the effect of ADHD traits on word reading skills, as well as social determinants of health and access to special education. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, baking, and cuddling her cats.

Krystina Raymond

Krystina Raymond

PhD Candidate, Developmental Psychology & Education

Krystina is currently pursuing a PhD in Developmental Psychology & Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). She has been teaching as a bilingual French/English special education teacher at the New Frontiers School Board. Her present research examines the effects of phonological awareness interventions on French immersion at-risk kindergarten students. Krystina continues to be devoted to issues supporting bi/multilingual education, culturally responsive anti-bias practices and disseminating knowledge to support struggling readers.

Ruby

Ruby (Xiaohan) Wang

PhD Student, Developmental Psychology & Education

Ruby (Xiaohan) is a first-year PhD student in the Developmental Psychology & Education program at OISE. Her research focuses on literacy development, bilingual education, and the application of advanced quantitative methods. She is currently working with large longitudinal datasets to examine the development of phonological awareness in French Immersion and English programs. Outside of her academic work, she enjoys spending time with her kittens, Nanci and Sable.

Steve (Songtao) Wang

Steve (Songtao) Wang

PhD Candidate, Developmental Psychology and Education

Steve (Songtao) is a doctoral candidate in the Developmental Psychology & Education program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). His research interests include quantitative methods in education, meta-analysis, experimental designs and analysis, structural equation modelling, and language assessment and testing. He is also an active member and proposal reviewer of AERA and NCME.

Emma

Emma Wontorra

PhD Student, Developmental Psychology & Education

Emma is a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology & Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). She is pursuing her PhD through the flex-time program. Her research interests are in the area of language development.

Master Students

Kylle

Kylie Brown

MEd Research Practicum Student, Developmental Psychology and Education

Kylie is a first-year Master of Education student at OISE. She graduated from McGill University with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and hopes to pursue School Psychology in the future. In the lab, she is participating in work examining literacy screening measures in French and English for Kindergarten to Grade 2 students. She also works as an educational clinician at a reading clinic for learners with exceptionalities. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and travelling.

Thejavi Madurapperuma

Thejavi Madurapperuma

MA Candidate, Counselling and Clinical Psychology

Thejavi is a first-year Master of Arts student at OISE, who intends to pursue a career in family therapy. She spent her undergraduate life focused on qualitative research in healthcare program evaluation, yoga therapy, and multilingual family dynamics. Her time at the lab has helped her further develop her understanding of language literacy and bilingual education, which she hopes will be a focus in her counselling career. In her free time, she enjoys acrylic painting and baking.

Asma

Asma Makkouk

MA Candidate, Counselling and Clinical Psychology

Asma is a first-year MA student at OISE. Her research interests focus on enhancing language and literacy skills in bilingual and multilingual children, as well as exploring mental health and the experiences of Arab newcomers, particularly at the intersection of language development, cultural adaptation, and psychosocial well-being. In her free time, she enjoys reading and shopping.

Graduate/Research Assistants

Nadia

Nadia Nikolov

MEd Student, Higher Education

Nadia Nikolov is an educator and researcher currently pursuing MEd in Higher Education. She holds a Bachelor of Music with a double major in Voice (Classical) and French Language and Literature. Her academic interests focus on bilingualism and language development in children, particularly in ESL and French-language contexts. Nadia is also a certified National Lifeguard and remains active in the arts as a choral conductor, performer, and mentor.

Mahassen Ramadan

Mahassen Ramadan

PhD Student, Social Justice Education

Mahassen is a second-year PhD student at OISE, specializing in Éducation, Francophonie et Diversité. She intends to pursue a career in collaborative and cooperative teaching and learning. Prior to joining the doctoral program in Social Justice Education, she focused on Adult Education and Community Development and gained experience in the management of programs that recruit youth, particularly those historically excluded due to ethnic and religious backgrounds, into post-secondary education. Her current work in the lab focuses on supporting the development of assessment tools for bilingual children’s early literacy skills. In her free time, she enjoys reading while listening to the purrs of her cat, Daisy, and discovering new neighbourhoods by walking the streets.

Victoria Sharpe

Victoria Sharpe

MEd Student, Developmental Psychology and Education

Victoria is a second-year Master of Education student at OISE, who intends to graduate into a career in Program Evaluation. She has spent her undergraduate and brief professional life focused on early childhood development, including literacy, language and emotional skills-building. Her time in the lab has served as a springboard for empowering families with young children to invest in early literacy skills and practices. In her "off-work" hours, she loves to play volleyball (especially beach!) and travel to new places.

University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) Holder

Christine D’Souza-2022

Sophia Blaikie-Sloan-2021

Zein Abuosbeh-2020

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