Meet the Team
Our Core Team
In the CIRCL, faculty and undergraduate student researchers meet on even ground, bringing together a range of experience and perspectives that together enhance the work we do. We brainstorm, design, analyze, write and present together as a cohesive team.
We believe strongly that no work about students should take place without students being equally involved in the process, therefore we take a participatory action approach to both our research and teaching in the CIRCL.
Stacey L. MacKinnon
PhD (Social Psychology)
CIRCL Founder & Team Lead
Dr. MacKinnon has taught at UPEI since 2004 and is highly recognized for expanding the focus of higher education to curiosity and inquiry-based modes of learning. In 2011 she created “The Curiosity Project” for her social psychology class and in the past 15 years, it has been adopted/adapted by professors from multiple faculities across campus. In 2015 she redesigned UPEI 1020 Inquiry Studies to give learners hands-on experience with “wicked questions”. Dr MacKinnon has been recognized with multiple institutional and national teaching awards, including the 2025 3M National Teaching Fellowship and the 2023 Association of Atlantic Universities Anne Marie MacKinnon Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership .
Ryan Drew
ABD (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Founding Member
Prof. Drew has been teaching and refining UPEI 1020 for the past five years as well as working in educational programming design for the National Arts Centre and National Geographic. A true polymath, Ryan holds a Masters of Global Affairs and a Bachelors degree in Music and is currently a PhD candidate in Interdiscplinary Studies at the University of New Brunswick. He is highly regarded for his interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research as well as his inclusion of both critical and creative thinking in his pedagogical approach. He has been honoured with the 2025 Hessian Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching.
Brenton Dickieson
PhD (Theology & Religious Studies)
Founding Member
Dr. Brenton Dickieson is an award-winning scholar with twenty years of diverse teaching experience. Known for his deep thinking, and student care focus, he has twice been honoured with the Hessian Award for Excellence in Sessional Teaching (2017; 2024). He is also the acclaimed author of the popular blog “A PIlgrim in Narnia” where he reads through his favourite writings and reflects on his own life and culture.
Tessa Rooseboom BA (Psychology)
Founding Member; CIRCL Lab Coordinator; BSW Student
Tessa is a recent graduate from UPEI’s Bachelors of Arts in Psychology program. She started in the lab in her third year of her degree as volunteer research assistant. Over the past two summers she has worked with Dr. MacKinnon on various projects around the lab, with special focus of tutorial development for the Masters of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation. She will soon be moving on the a Bachelor of Social Work in the fall.
Tofunmi Moses
Psychology Honours Student
Tofunmi joined the CIRCL in the 4th year of her psychology degree. She is currently perusing her honours degree, completing a thesis pertaining to International students and AI usage.
Evelyn McEwen
Research Assistant (Psychology & Music)
Evelyn started working with the lab in her 1st year of her dual degree in psychology and music. She has been involved in a wide range of projects in her time with the lab, often providing a unique expertise as the only individual who has moved through the lab across all the years of her degree thus far.
Patience Smith
Founding Member; Psychology Honours Student
Patience joined the CIRCL in the 3rd year of her psychology degree, and has since been working with Dr.Mackinnon and other founding members to complete several research projects, including a ongoing project with the departments of Psychology and Health Management evaluating IBL effectiveness in veterinary courses. She is currently perusing her honours degree, completing a thesis pertaining to critical thinking and AI.
Destiny Francis
Psychology Honours Student
Destiny joined the CIRCL in the 4th year of her psychology degree. She is currently perusing her honours degree, completing a thesis pertaining to student trust and AI.
Makayla Halloway BA (Honours – Psychology)
Research Assistant
Makayla started in the lab after graduating from UPEI’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Katie Hoa
Research Assistant (Computer Science)
Katie joined the lab in her third year of the Computer Science program at UPEI. Being in a student outside of the psychology program has allowed her to bring a unique perspective of the university experience to the team.
Noah Striker BSc (Honours – Psychology)
Founding Member; MEd Student; Instructional Developer, Stemble AI
Former Lab Coordinator, Noah graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Psychology with his thesis titled The Feedback Equation: Peer Collaboration, AI Innovation, and the Future of Learning in Higher Education.
Bella Doyle
Research Assistant (Psychology)
Bella has been volunteering with the lab since the end of her 3rd year. She has been involved in the creation of the inquiry OER.
