The Lunchbox Shaming Research Team is a diverse group of researchers, professors, and students. Meet our team!

Research Team

Yukari Seko, Ph.D. (she/her)

Principal Investigator, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

I am an assistant professor at the School of Professional Communication and an adjunct scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. As a researcher and an immigrant parent, I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to learn from children and families about their food experiences at school and home. I’m also an avid reader of manga (Japanese comics) and love cooking recipes from manga.

Clara Juando-Prats, Ph.D. (she/her)

Co-Investigator, University of Toronto

I am a research scientist at the St. Michael’s Hospital and an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. I’m an arts-based critical health researcher working in community and patient engagement, health equity, creative methods, and working with young parents navigating the periphery of power in society. I’m a mom, I moved to Canada 8 years ago, and I love sketching, especially food and people! I’m looking forward to learning from children, youth, and families about food, their experiences and what food brings them comfort. 

Veen Wong (she/her)

Research Coordinator, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

I am a PhD student at the University of Waterloo and a social worker with a passion for research. I have worked with immigrant individuals and families, helping them navigate the Canadian landscape for over a decade. I completed my Master of Social Work with a focus on mental health promotion for youth and children. My research interests include health & social equity, arts-based methodology, human-computer interaction and gaming.

Jessica Yu (she/her)

Research Assistant, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

I am currently a student in the Nutrition and Food Program at Ryerson University. I have a great interest in nutrition & health communication and food cultures. In my spare time, I love watching documentaries on food and cultures around the world, my favourites are ‘Salt Fat Acid Heat’ and ‘Street Food Asia’ on Netflix!

Lina Rahouma

Research Assistant, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

I am a recent graduate of the Nutrition and Food program at Ryerson University. I am passionate about food literacy, food security and children’s nutrition and health. In my free time, I bake and experiment with diverse recipes and ingredients.

Nayanee Henry-Noel

Research Assistant, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

I am a graduate from the University of Toronto (Double Major in Neuroscience and Health Studies) and currently a second-year medical student at The National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). I am very passionate about the influence of patient-centeredness and the impact of social determinants on health outcomes. Beyond this, I am a competitive Bharatanatyam dancer and I love reading (favourite book – Six of Crows).

Artist

Sae Kimura

Sae Kimura is a Toronto-based artist and illustrator. She works at Gallery Arcturus as an assistant to the curator as well as independently painting, drawing, sewing and bringing papier-mâché sculptures to life. She has a great passion for creating children’s books.

Check out her website and Instagram (@esalalamu)

Collaborators

Jacqui Gingras, Ph.D. (she/her)

Collaborator, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Ryerson University. My research explores social health movements, fat studies, radical democratic pedagogies, and decolonization of health professions within the entanglements of colonial neoliberal economics and intersectional feminisms. I am an Associate Member of the Communication and Culture graduate program and I am the founding editor of the Journal of Critical Dietetics.

Jessica Mudry, Ph.D.

Collaborator, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

Jessica Mudry is an Associate Professor in the School of Professional Communication at Ryerson University in Toronto. A former chemist and television researcher/producer, her work examines the persuasivity of scientific language in medicine, public health and nutrition policy.