Magdalena Janus, PhD. – Magdalena has an MSc from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, and a PhD from Cambridge University in the UK, where she studied early development of primates. She is an Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University where she holds the Ontario Chair in Early Child Development. Magdalena has associate appointments in the Departments of Health Research, Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI), and Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB), and is on faculty in the Graduate program in Health Research Methodology. She also holds an affiliate Professor appointment at the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. A list of her publications can be found here. Magdalena came to McMaster following advice from Dr. Fraser Mustard who told her to “talk to Dan Offord”. She did talk to Dan in the fall of 1997, and the rest is (EDI) history. Together with Dan, and with support of an advisory group led by Fraser Mustard, Magdalena developed the Early Development Instrument (EDI). Magdalena is very proud of all past and present Equity from the Start Team members without whom none of the work would have ever been accomplished, and she still misses Dan.
Eric K. Duku, PhD., PStat – Eric has been with the Equity from the Start team as a Senior Statistician/Research Methodologist since 2002. He has a varied background in Mathematics, Demography or Population Studies, Applied Statistics and Measurement. As part of the Equity from the Start Research team, Eric uses his expertise in applied statistical and research methodologies, the analysis of complex survey data, and school-based survey research. He is involved in the design, implementation, and statistical analyses for local, national, and international implementations of the EDI and cross-national validity of the EDI. In addition to working with the EDI, he is a member of the Pathways to Autism research team. Eric has research interests in the determinants of inequalities in early child development, with particular interests in autism spectrum disorder, healthy child developmental status at school entry, as well as school-based mental health research and statistical, measurement and methodological challenges in child development research. A list of his publications can be found here.
Ashley Gaskin – Ashley joined the Equity from the Start team in 2004 and has experience in most aspects of EDI implementation, analysis, and reporting. She currently works as the EDI Project Manager and oversees the provincial/territorial implementation of the EDI as well as the international collaborations. Ashley obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario.
Amanda Offord – Amanda joined the Equity from the Start team in 2011 after completing her Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University. She works on all aspects of the EDI implementation, with a main focus on the data. She is the Statistical Analyst on the team responsible for maintaining the databases for all EDI data that are collected nationally and plays an integral role in creating reports for project partners. Amanda also contributes to most research projects conducted by the Equity from the Start team.
Patricia Raso – As an EDI Coordinator, Patricia is responsible for the implementation of the EDI in multiple sites across Canada. Patricia’s previous research experience in educational settings prepares her to examine the early development outcomes of children as they enter the formal school system. Patricia joined the Equity from the Start team after completing a Master’s degree in Gender Studies and Feminist Research as well as an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology from McMaster University.
Caroline Reid-Westoby, PhD. – Caroline joined the Equity from the Start team in October 2012 as a Research Assistant, supporting the implementation of the EDI across Canada. She is now a Research Associate on the team and is responsible for the coordination and supervision of the various research projects being conducted within the Equity from the Start team. In addition to her main role on the team, Caroline is also the Francophone consultant, given that she is fully bilingual in English and French. Caroline obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Ottawa. She subsequently completed her Master’s and PhD degrees in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University.
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Natalie Spadafora, PhD. – Natalie is a Research Associate on the team who worked on the dissemination of information from the “Hidden Future Front Line: Educators’ perspective on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on kindergarten children (HiFLEC)” project. She also led focus groups with kindergarten children examining positionality and completion of the EDI. She completed her graduate degrees in the Department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University. Her research to date takes a psychoeducational perspective, investigating issues to do with child and adolescent development, with an emphasis on peer relationships, bullying and classroom incivility.