top of page
Kathryn Urbaniak 2022 7.26.23 AM.jpg

Hello

Kathryn (Kat) Urbaniak is a research professional, instructional designer, and neurodiversity advocate with two decades of experience in education and research. For the past 10+ years, she has worked in social justice and critical digital literacy research and practice.

​

Kathryn has trained over 1,000 educators in 40 countries and also acted as a Canadian advisory committee member on the development of the international standard ISO 29993 (education and learning services). She has authored publications in the domains of community, hate and education.

​

In 2022, she began a Ph.D. in Education focusing neurodiversity - meaning the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving. Neurodivergence includes Autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. 

 

She is interested in the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals in various contexts, including education and the workplace, as well as how they are represented in media and policy. She is always happy to talk about these topics and welcomes questions and collaborations.

​

Originally from the UK, she has lived and worked in Scotland, Italy, South Korea, and is now living as an immigrant settler on unceded lands in Tiohtià:ke / Montreal, Canada. In her free time she enjoys travel, reading, gaming, pop culture, and spending time with her friends, spouse, two daughters, and kitten.

Image description: Kathryn looking directly at the camera. She is in her 40s, white, with long light brown hair and clear framed glasses. The background is blurred.

Brief CV

EDUCATION

Ph.D. (in progress) Education, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

M.A. Educational Technology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

P.G. Dip. Information Technology, Stirling University, Stirling, Scotland

B.A. (Hons.) Business Studies, Aberdeen Business School, RGU, Aberdeen, Scotland 

​

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (link)

​

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN EXPERIENCE (link)

                                                                                                            

PUBLICATIONS (link)

​

AWARDS AND GRANTS (link)

​

CERTIFICATES

Leadership and Inclusion Certificate, Centennial College/ Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Training Developers Course (TDC) Certificate, The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)             

CELTA: Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, TEFL UK/Cambridge University 

 

SERVICE

present

  • 2023-present Council Member, Department of Education Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Association 

  • 2022-present Member, Advisory Panel, Puberty and Sexuality Health Education for Autistic Teens, UCLA/ National Children's Hospital Washington DC

past

  • 2022-2024  Graduate Student Member, Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Department of Education, Concordia University

  • 2019-2024 Member, UNESCO Chair in the Prevention of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism, Université de Sherbrooke/ Concordia University/ Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

  • 2022-2023 Member, Organizing Committee for the International Society of Metal Music Studies bi-annual conference, Concordia University

  • 2021-2023 Member, Pay Equity Committee, Concordia Association of Research Employees (CARE) / Concordia University

  • 2021 Member, Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP) Advisory Committee, Concordia University

  • 2019-2022 Member, CSLP Executive Board, Concordia University

  • 2011-2017 Working Group Expert, Standards Council of Canada (SCC) / International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

  • 2009-2011 Chair, Communications Committee, St Andrew’s Society of Montreal

bottom of page