Emis Akbari

Dr. Emis Akbari is an adjunct professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at OISE and a Senior Policy Fellow at the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto. She is also a professor and coordinator at the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College. Her initial research examined issues surrounding early life adversity on brain and behavioural development in animal models. Her current research examines determinants of children's early social, emotional, and cognitive development and the buffering effects of early childhood education in Canada and abroad. She evaluates current and changes in public policy at all levels of government. She is the co-author of the Early Childhood Education Report. This report released every three years, provides a snapshot of provincial and territorial preschool services and performance on quality criteria including access to child care programs and investments in early education. It also compares Canada to other developed economies.