July 29, 2025
Dr. Joanna Cannon has been appointed to the Eleanor Rix Professorship in Rural Teacher Education for a three-year term commencing September 1, 2025
The Faculty of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Joanna Cannon to the Eleanor Rix Professorship in Rural Teacher Education, effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. This distinguished leadership position supports efforts to better understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities in rural education.
Dr. Cannon is a Professor in the Special Education Program within the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education (ECPS). Her research focuses on language and literacy acquisition among students who are d/Deaf and hard of hearing (d/Dhh), those with co-occurring disabilities, and those from immigrant families in English-dominant countries. She has a sustained record of research, teaching, and service supporting under-represented and under-researched learners with multiple needs, notably d/Dhh students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
During her Professorship, Dr. Cannon will continue to lead initiatives aimed at better serving historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized (HPSM) groups of d/Dhh learners and their families in rural communities across Canada. Her vision includes exploring innovative pathways for teachers within the d/Dhh community, enhancing educational supports and resources for d/Dhh learners and their families in rural areas, and expanding provincial and national rural networks.
Visit Dr. Cannon’s profile to learn more about her work.
