“Spanning equity in Francophone minority contexts, counselling psychology, health sciences, mathematics and digital innovation, their exemplary commitment to teaching, research and community engagement will enduringly enrich the student experience. Their contributions will be vital to advancing our Faculty’s mission and realizing our strategic priorities,” he adds.
Christian Bergeron, PhD - Educational foundations
Professor Bergeron is an education sociologist whose research examines how language, power and education intersect in Francophone minority language settings. Working with collaborators across Canada and internationally, he explores linguistic ideologies, linguistic insecurity, and inclusive approaches to teacher education in response to contemporary challenges. His scholarship informs conversations about equity, diversity and inclusion in Francophone and Francophile communities across North America, and he is a regular contributor to La Conversation. He directs the Francophone teacher education program in the Faculty of Education.
Cynthia Bilodeau, PhD - Counseling psychology
Professor Bilodeau’s research and teaching focuses on improving practices in counseling and psychotherapy, with a particular interest in clinical supervision and psychosocial adaptation. Her work explores the development of competencies among emerging professionals in training and how individuals adapt to life transitions, illness and climate-related changes. Guided by positive psychology, she is committed to fostering reflective and resilient cohorts. Through her expertise, she helps strengthen professional practices and supports the psychological well-being of individuals and communities.
“It is an immense privilege to join the Faculty of Education,” says Bilodeau. “This transition offers me an exceptional environment in which to expand my research and collaborate with inspiring colleagues. I look forward to actively contributing to the vitality of our University community while supporting students in developing their professional identities and their commitment to excellence in helping relationships.”
Élise Houssin, PhD - Pedagogy of physical activity, sport, health and well-being
Professor Houssin’s research examines pedagogical interventions and learning processes in physical and health education, with a particular focus on the development of learning environments that foster students’ knowledge construction, agency, creativity, and critical thinking. Her research is grounded in activity theory, which she uses to examine the dynamic interactions among students, teachers, learning objects, and broader activity systems.
“My arrival at the University of Ottawa marks a new stage in my journey, where teaching and research converge. Through activity theory, I hope to better
understand what shapes teaching practices, explore the role of mediating artifacts and activity systems, and contribute to pedagogical innovation grounded in real-world contexts," Houssin explains. My goal is to create spaces where research informs practice, where practice challenges research, and where physical education becomes a true catalyst for learning, creativity, and transformation.”
David Hung, PhD - Mathematics education
Professor Hung is an experienced educator who has spent more than eighteen years teaching and learning alongside students in a minority Francophone context in the York Region of Ontario. He is a certified teacher in both Ontario and British Columbia. His research focuses on mathematical discourse in the classroom, teachers’ professional knowledge for mathematics instruction, and equitable and culturally responsive teaching practices.
Hung says: “It is an honour to join the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, an institution from which I am also a graduate, having completed both my Master of Education and Bachelor of Education degrees here before pursuing a doctoral degree in Toronto. I am proud to return to this community, and I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues and with students.”
Simon Parent, PhD - Technology education, programming and robotics
Professor Parent specializes in the pedagogical integration of digital technologies and examines the impacts and uses of educational technologies within diverse learning communities in educational and professional contexts. His research is grounded in collaborations with practice-based communities in Ontario and Quebec and focuses on developing digital competence and on the critical use of technological tools such as programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence for teaching and learning.
“I am proud to join the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education team and am energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. The opportunity to work with new colleagues and to foster meaningful professional collaborations within the uOttawa community and with school communities is a source of motivation and deep gratitude,” says Parent.
