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
Tofunmi Moses
Psychology Honours Student
Evelyn McEwen
Research Assistant (Psychology & Music)
Katie Hoa
Research Assistant (Computer Science)
Patience Smith
Founding Member; Psychology Honours Student
Destiny Francis
Psychology Honours Student
Makayla Halloway
Research Assistant (Psychology)
Noah Striker BSc (Honours)
Founding Member; MEd Student; Instructional Developer, Stemble AI
Bella Doyle
Research Assistant (Psychology)
Alissa Fortune
Research Assistant (Psychology)