Heather Coe-Nesbitt

Heather Coe-Nesbitt is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Education, Queen's University. She holds a PhD (2019) in Curriculum and Cognitive Studies from Queen's University, an M.Ed. (2013) in Curriculum Studies, a B.Ed. (2006) in Primary/Junior Education from the University of Ottawa, and a B.A. (Honours) in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario. She also serves as a Sessional Instructor in the Early Childhood Education (ECED) Program at the University of British Columbia since May 2021.

Her research focuses on student health/well-being, engagement, and early childhood education, emphasizing play-based pedagogy, emergent curriculum, and nature-based learning. Key areas include risky play in Forest Kindergartens, barriers to outdoor learning in Canadian schools, and media representations of educational policies like Ontario's Full-Day Kindergarten Program. She has contributed to projects such as the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.

Her publications highlight innovative approaches to curriculum design, advocating for a 'curriculum of the heart' prioritizing holistic student development. She has explored graduate student well-being through mixed-methods research and analyzed how educators can overcome practical challenges to implement outdoor learning programs.

Professional experience includes teaching Kindergarten in international schools in Shanghai, China, and research roles with the Social Program Evaluation Group. Her work bridges theoretical research with practical educational policy recommendations.