LILAC Lab — Literacies and Languages Collaborative

York University · Faculty of Education

LILAC

Literacies and Languages Collaborative

A research home for exploring literacies and language learning across the lifespan.

Our values

01
Literacies are political
02
Learning happens across the entire lifespan
03
Arts are research methods
04
Community is a co-researcher
05
Every learner brings knowledge
06
Social justice is the reason we do this work

Lab members

Principal Investigator

NB
Dr. Natalia Balyasnikova
Associate Professor · York University
Literacies, aging, language education, arts-based research

Doctoral Students

MV
Mercedes Veselka
PhD Candidate
SS
Sepideh Siavashi
PhD Candidate
AS
Aurra Startup
PhD Candidate

MEd Students

LH
LaToya Hinds
MEd Student
RH
Rawiya Hosein
MEd Student
LM
Lisa Maracle
MEd Student

Alumni

HM
Hilary McGregor
MA · York University

Join LILAC

We welcome students, researchers, and community partners whose work and values align with ours. If you are interested in literacies, language learning, aging, or arts-based community research — we want to hear from you.

Graduate Students
We accept applications for MA and PhD supervision in adult education, literacy studies, and language education. Prospective students should review Dr. Balyasnikova's current research before reaching out.
Research Assistants
We periodically hire undergraduate and graduate RAs for specific projects. Positions are posted here when available. Reach out to express interest and we will keep you in mind for future openings.
Community Partners
LILAC is built on community partnership. If your organization works with older adults, immigrant communities, or adult learners — and you are interested in collaborative research — we would love to connect.

LILAC is located at York University, which is situated on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples — and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We acknowledge this territory and our responsibility to work in right relation with Indigenous communities.