Laurier expert alert: Pink Shirt Day

Feb. 15, 2023
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO — Pink Shirt Day, a day to celebrate diversity and take a stand against bullying, falls on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Wilfrid Laurier University has several experts available to speak about bullying, cyberbullying and their impacts.

The following list includes Laurier experts who are available to speak at this time but does not represent the full breadth of expertise at our institution. For a more comprehensive inventory of our faculty researchers, please consult the Experts at Laurier database.

Ardavan Eizadirad, assistant professor in the Faculty of Education, is an expert on equity and social justice in education and sports, and is a certified basketball official. Among Eizadirad’s other areas of expertise are standardized testing, critical pedagogy and anti-oppressive community engagement. He has previously taught in early childhood education and child and youth care at the university and college levels, in addition to teaching Kindergarten to Grade 12. A published author, Eizadirad is also the chair of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigenization Coalition in the Faculty of Education. Contact: aeizadirad@wlu.ca

Mark Eys is a professor in the departments of Psychology and Kinesiology and Physical Education, the Laurier Research Chair in Group Dynamics and Physical Activity, and the supervisor of the Group Dynamics and Physical Activity Laboratory. He is an expert in sports psychology, group dynamics and team building. He is available to comment on group dynamics in sport and what makes teams function successfully, as well as the use of initiation rites and hazing in groups. Contact: meys@wlu.ca

Maryam Khan is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work at Laurier. Prof. Khan’s research examines the lives and identities of queer, non-binary and transgender (QNT) Muslims locally and globally from critical intersectional and feminist perspectives. Particularly, her work explores the nexus of sexual and gender diversity, including Muslim and an Islamic identity from an Islamic liberatory and progressive lens that seeks to uplift the lived experiences and resistance strategies of QNT Muslims. Professor Khan’s areas of expertise include the exploration and critical analysis of South Asian feminisms in Canada, community-based research, community development and clinical counselling. Contact: mkhan@wlu.ca

Danielle Law, associate professor in Laurier’s Youth and Children’s Studies and Psychology programs, is an expert on  social-emotional learning among children, youth, and young adults, including bullying and cyberbullying and associated mental health concerns. Law conducts research on how children, youth and young adults develop in relation to technology advancing world and how this shapes their social and emotional growth. Contact: dlaw@wlu.ca

Percy Lezard is an assistant professor of Indigenous Studies. They are an expert in Indigenous knowledge, Two Spirit pedagogies, community Indigenous health, missing and murdered women and 2SLGBTQ+, and gender-based violence in 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Lezard is outma sqilxw of the Penticton Indian Band in B.C. and centres Indigenous knowledge, teaching and research methodologies in their work. They are a survivor of the multi-generational impacts of the residential school system and the Sixties Scoop. Read more about their work. Contact: plezard@wlu.ca

James Popham is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Criminology. His areas of expertise include the impacts of harassment in person and online; loneliness and hate; dismissiveness toward adult experiences; police responses to cybercrimes; and community-based approaches to social justice. Contact: jpopham@wlu.ca

Michael Woodford, professor in Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work, is an expert on the mental health and well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Woodford’s research explores how bullying and other forms of discrimination can increase 2SLGBTQ+ youth's risk for poor mental health and other negative outcomes, as well as the factors that can foster resilience. Woodford is leading the Thriving on Campus Study, a province-wide study exploring the experiences, mental health and academic success of 2SLGBTQ+ university students in Ontario. Read more about his work. Contact: mwoodford@wlu.ca