Researchers

Jean-Paul Amore
Coordinator, Game Development, Game Design and Advanced Digital Design

For over 14 years, Jean-Paul (“JP”) has been producing and developing interactive media for Toronto-based software firms, in the areas of educational video games, mobile applications and financial software.

Luigi Ferrara MRAIC, OAA, Hon. ACID O, President ICSID
Dean, School of Design

Mr. Ferrara is currently the Director of the School of Design and the Chairman of the Architectural Literacy Forum. Mr. Ferrara has lectured extensively, speaking at national and international conferences, trade shows, conventions and at leading museums, galleries and institutes on topics as diverse as design and sustainability, design management, urban planning, information technology, telecommunications and the network society.

Alice Lee, M.B.A., Manager,
DigiFest, Digital Media and Gaming Incubator and Student Experience, Centre for Design

Ms. Lee is the Manager of the Digital Media and Gaming Incubator in the School of Design and was instrumental to its development and opening in 2012.  Her background comes as a Project Management Professional (PMP) with extensive experience in start-ups, arts administration, event management and marketing.

Jim Kinney, B.Sc., M.T.S.
Coordinator, Foundation Art & Design

Professor Kinney is a design instructor with a McLuhanistic focus. He has worked on developing adaptive strategies in rapidly innovating and obsolescing environments and was recognized for developing (2003-2007) RISK (Rapid Integraton of Skills & Knowledge)-based learning methods—an early “flipped” pedagogy.

Lorraine Betts
Simulated Practice Centre Program Coordinator, Center for Health Sciences

Lorraine Betts, BSc, BScN, RN, is the Simulated Practice Centre Program Coordinator, Collaborative Nursing Degree with the Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing since September 2002. She has led the coordination of Simulation with the Collaborative BScN Program Workshops. Her areas of research focus on Simulation Emergency Nursing. Ms. Betts has a Master of Nursing from York University, a BScN (Nursing) from Ryerson University as well as a Nursing Diploma, Nursing from George Brown College.

Dr. Kimberly Bezaire
Professor, School of Early Childhood Education

Dr. Kimberly Bezaire is an expert in Early Childhood Education, specializing in play and early years curriculum.  Kimberly relates the latest research & theory to everyday practical teaching and parenting.  Dr. Kimberly Bezaire is a Registered Early Childhood Educator – a parent, author, artist, consultant and researcher – who has worked in early years settings in British Columbia and Ontario.

Julie Gaudet, RN, BScN, MN (Admin.)
Professor, Health Sciences and Community Services

Julie Gaudet is a professor in the Division of Health Sciences and Community Services, currently teaching in the collaborative Nursing Degree Program, at George Brown College. Julie has special interests in nursing research, statistical literacy, e-learning, health informatics and interprofessional education (IPE). Julie is engaged in a number of research projects at the College and has published in the area of interprofessional education.

Iris Epstein RN, PhD 
Professor, Collaborative Nursing Degree Program

Iris completed her Doctorate studies from the University of Toronto in 2007. Using arts inform qualitative methods, her thesis focused on the perspectives and responses of children with cancer on a specialized camp. Iris has also taught several courses in the undergraduate programs; these include courses in nursing ethics and community nursing.

Monica McGlynn-Stewart, B.A., D.C.S., M.ED., Ph.D. 
Professor, School of Early Childhood

For nearly 20 years Monica has researched, presented, and published on many topics including teacher action research, reflective practice, student engagement, and literacy learning and teaching. Prior to joining the George Brown Faculty in January 2012, she was an Instructor and Faculty Advisor in the School of Early Childhood Education at Ryerson University for 7 years.

Gordon Ruder
Orthotic/Prosthetic Technician (S102)

Gordon is an experienced Orthotist and Coordinator of the Prosthetic and Orthotic Program at George Brown College for the past 25 years. A graduate of the Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinical Methods program himself, Gordon has taught full time at George Brown and as a lecturer with the Toronto Rehab Institute. He has focused his career on the relationship between education, research and the technical and clinical aspects of orthotic practice, with a strong focus on evidence-based research.

Winnie Chiu
Food Product & Industry Advisor, FIRSt

Winnie Chiu is an experienced food scientist who brings over 20 years of research and development experience in both consumer packaged foods and the flavour ingredient business. Over her tenure at GBC, she has led 32 research projects with private food companies and healthcare sector partners.

Robert McCurdy
Food Scientist, FIRSt

Robert McCurdy brings considerable academic and industry experience to his role as the Applied Research Food Scientist at George Brown College. Rob has undergraduate Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Food Science, both from the University of Guelph, with more than 18 years of experience within the food industry.

Candace Rambert
Culinary Technician, FIRSt

Ms. Rambert is an alumni of George Brown College, graduating from the Culinary Management program and the Culinary Arts – Italian Postgraduate Program. Candace works closely with the FIRSt team and students at the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, applying her culinary techniques and experience to meet the needs of the studio’s various industry partners. Named one of 2015 Ontario Hostelry Institute’s Top 30 under 30.

Steffanie Adams
Retrofit technologies

Steffanie Adams has been a faculty member with George Brown’s Architectural Studies for 7 years. Her work to retrofit the Toronto skyline constructed a bridge between the practices of the past with the sustainable aims of the future. Adams was part of the applied research team that developed a retrofit of Toronto’s older homes.

Dr. Khalid Danok
Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics

Dr. Khalid Danok has a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Electromagnetics and RF propagation from St. Petersburg Technical University, Member of Professional Engineers Ontario P.Eng. Dr. Danok is an active member of the GBC research community, leading research in areas like RFID, Wireless Networking, and VoIP technologies.

James McIntyre
Mechanical Engineering, Prototyping

Through his involvement in applied research, James McIntyre, a Professor of Engineering Technology at GBC, has developed strong partnerships with industry to provide consulting, contract training and prototype build support for their employees.

Clint Kissoon
Building Information Modeling

Clint Kissoon, B.Sc., MRICS, MCIOB, PQS (F), GBC. Clint Kissoon is currently the Chair of GBC’s School of Architectural Studies and the Angelo Del Zotto School of Construction Management, and leads the College’s research in Building Information Modeling.

Paul O’Brien
Mechanical Engineering, Prototyping

Paul O’Brien, B.Tech., B.Sc., has been a Professor of Engineering Technology in GBC’s CCET since 2011. With a Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and over 20 years of experience in electronic instrumentation and rehabilitation engineering, Paul has worked in research across all of the College’s strategic priority areas.

Leo Salemi
Building Automation

Leo Salemi has been a Professor at GBC since 1983. His area of expertise is in the field of Instrumentation and Automation and he has been a lead investigator in over a dozen student-centred, industry-driven projects in areas such as solar voltaic, solar heating, wind energy, home automation, building automation, energy management and remote monitoring systems.

Dr. Amir Shabani
Chair, IRCC

Dr. Amir Shabani has a Ph.D. in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo Canada and a M.Sc.  in Electrical Engineering. (University of Science and Technology, Iran). Dr. Shabani has a longstanding academic reputation in advanced systems design for health care, security, and automation industries.

Elizabeth Speers, B.Sc., M.SC., B.Ed., M.Ed., Ed.D. 
Academic Director, Centre for Business

Mrs. Speers has over 20 years of experience in education and business. This experience includes teaching in university, college and high school programs as well as senior management roles in industry in process reengineering, supply chain and strategic change management, and human resources.

Mark Simpson, B.A.A.
Professor and Program Coordinator, Centre for Business

Mr. Simpson has over 34 years of experience in education and business. He is the coordinator of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Community Innovation (IECI).  Mark is also the Faculty Advisor for SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise) George Brown. Mark was a recipient of the George Brown College Excellence in Teaching and Learning Innovation in 2009.