This webpage has been created to recognize notable leaders in the field of large-scale student assessment across Canada. While some individuals may be well-known only in their specific regions, others may have more recognizable names, yet little may be known about their backgrounds and contributions. This collection of profiles aims to highlight the incredible expertise present in the assessment sector throughout the country. Profiles will be created through an interview process and will be regularly posted on the website. If you would like to nominate someone for recognition, please contact me at richard.jones@rmjassessment.com.

Karen Fung: Expert Psychometrician & Educational Researcher

Dr. Karen Fung is the Manager of Psychometrics at the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. She has extensive experience as a psychometrician in large-scale educational assessments and high-stakes licensing and certification examinations.

Charles Mayenga: Dedicated Educator, Assessment Leader, & Community Advocate

Dr. Charles Mayenga’s professional background is extensive and diverse, spanning high school teaching, teacher training, and assessment leadership roles for provincial, regional, and credentialing programs across Canada, the USA, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Ron Cadez: Educator, Instructional Leader, & Formative Assessment Advocate

Ron Cadez is currently the Assistant Superintendent supporting Instructional Services, Student Services, and Clinical Services with the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Toronto.

Pascal Couture: Secondary School Educator to Digital Assessment Pioneer

With more than 30 years of experience in education and assessment, Pascal Couture is currently the Director of Digital Assessment Provincial Coordination within the Ministry of Education for the Government of Alberta.

Nancy Walt: Notable Assessment Leader and Creative Entrepreneur

Following a distinguished career in provincial educational curriculum and assessment, Nancy Walt is currently the owner of Spiral Crafts Studio, an art-based business in Victoria, British Columbia (B.C.). She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Anand Karat: Entrepreneur and Pioneer in Assessment Modernization

Anand Karat is a leader in assessment modernization, known for combining technological vision with practical, scalable solutions that drive impact across education, training, and certification systems worldwide. As CEO of Vretta, an award-winning Canadian assessment technology organization.

Darryl Hunter: K-12 Educator to Notable Assessment Leader and Educational Researcher

Dr. Darryl Hunter is a former teacher, school administrator, and large-scale assessment administrator with experience in three Canadian provinces. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta.

Mark Gierl: Noted Expert in Educational and Psychological Measurement and Automatic Item Generation

Dr. Mark Gierl is a Full Professor in the Centre for Research in Applied Measurement and Evaluation (CRAME) and Program Coordinator in Measurement, Evaluation, and Data Science (MEDS) in the Department of Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta. 

Dany Laveault: Noted Expert in Educational Measurement, Assessment, and Learning Theory

Dr. Dany Laveault is Professor Emeritus of Measurement and Evaluation in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. He served as Associate Dean of Research from 1998 to 2002 and was awarded the Research Excellence Award in 2012.

Jerry Mussio: Expert in Curriculum & Assessment, Education Statistics and Education Policy

Jerry Mussio is President of Mussio Associates, a firm based in Victoria, British Columbia (B.C.). Over the past two decades, he has advised Canadian and international ministries of education, as well as other organizations, on curriculum, student assessment, K–12 outcome indicators, and education policy.

Joanne Rinella: Dedicated Educator to Accomplished Assessment Leader

Joanne Rinella is the Director of Assessment and Reporting with Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Child Studies from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Education from Western University. Joanne began her career as an elementary school teacher in Ontario’s Peel District School Board. 

Elizabeth Costa: Influential, Collaborative Educational Leader

Dr. Elizabeth Costa holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degrees from Mount Allison University, a Master’s in Education from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of New Brunswick. Elizabeth’s extensive experience in education began with her first teaching position in a one-room country school in Prince Edward Island (PEI) in the 1980s.

Eunice Jang: Recognized Leader in Language Testing, Educational Measurement & Program Evaluation

Dr. Eunice Eunhee Jang is a professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (OISE/UT). Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree (Teaching Certificate) in Secondary English Education from Duksung Women’s University.

Robert Laurie: Assessment Expert and Advocate for At-Risk Children

Dr. Robert Laurie holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from the University of New Brunswick, a Master of Science (MSc) in Neurobiology from Laval University, a Bachelor of Education (BEd) from St. Thomas University (Canada), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education from the University of New Brunswick.

Jennifer Hove: Talented Leader in Educational Measurement and Research

Dr. Jennifer Hove holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from the University of British Columbia, a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Simon Fraser University, and a PhD in Political Science and Government from the University of Toronto.

Kathryn O’Grady: Scientist and Science Educator to Assessment Specialist

Dr. Kathryn O’Grady holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and a Master of Science from the University of Western Ontario, a Bachelor of Science in Education from Queen’s University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Alberta. She also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Derek Chen: Champion of EDI in Assessment

Derek Chen holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto, the Supervisory Officer Qualifications Program of the Ontario Principals’ Council, and a Master of Education degree from OISE.

Dan Koenig: Passionate Educator and Innovative Assessment Leader

Dan Koenig obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Toronto. With nearly 40 years of experience in public education, Dan is a highly respected leader in the fields of education and student assessment.