Erika Alegria

Registered Early Childhood Educator with 11+ years of leadership experience in early childhood education. Doctoral candidate with extensive experience in program development, mentorship, inclusive pedagogical practices, and community-based research. Committed to advocacy, equity, and meaningful learning across diverse educational contexts.

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Training, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, 09/01/21
• Teaching Assistant/ Graduate Assistant Orientation to Remote Learning Certificate, Toronto Metropolitan University - Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Toronto, ON, 09/01/20

Student Panel – Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Brampton, ON, 03/01/23, Selected from a group of over 100 peers by faculty to be one of fifteen panelists to provide insight about the Honours Bachelor of Early Childhood Leadership Degree program at Sheridan College.

Chair of Alumni Relations - Early Childhood Studies MA Alumni Association, School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, 11/01/20 - Present, Help organize events to support student development including workshop series and colloquiums.

President of Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies, Course Union, School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, 09/01/20 - 09/30/21, Attended Executive School Council meetings with Faculty, providing feedback and voting on items regarding MA ECS Graduate program. Organized and facilitated meetings and events for MA ECS students. Managed budgets and social media platforms. Served as liaison between Ryerson Students’ Union and MA ECS Course Union.

Student Representative Chair - Scholarly, Research and Creative, School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, 10/01/20 - 08/31/22, Liaised between the SRC committee and student body. Promoted Ryerson community events. Engaged graduate students in research colloquia.

• Raby, R., Tardiff-Williams, C., Alegria, E., Oppong, F., Honouring Hardship and Fun: Reflecting on Children’s Experiences in Shelter., Manuscript submitted for publication to Children and Society.
• Alegria, Erika, Perspectives on Indigenous Mental Health, Leadership (HBECL) Capstone Research Posters., https://source.sheridancollege.ca/fahcs_student_capstones_hbecl/4

• 01/01/25, Volunteer, Hadiya'dagénhahs Pow Wow, Brock University
• 01/01/24, Volunteer, Hadiya'dagénhahs Pow Wow, Brock University
• 02/01/14 - 12/31/21, Fundraiser Host, Jumpstart Charity
• 08/01/14 - 12/31/18, Staff Volunteer, Eat, Play, Love Fundraising Event, Mini-Skool a Child’s Place

• Participant, The Lake Shift Writing Retreat, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, 07/01/25, Competitively selected for province-wide PhD writing retreat supporting academic writing and dissertation progress.
• Faculty of Social Sciences Student Research Award, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, 02/01/24
• Faculty of Social Sciences Student Research Assistantship Award, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, 03/01/23
• Council for Research in Social Sciences Research Award, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, 10/01/22
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship Award, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, 03/01/21
• Faculty of Graduate Studies Award, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, 09/01/20