Dr. Gina Cherkowski is a globally recognized learning scientist, researcher and education thought leader whose work focusses on neurodiversity, mental health, innovation, and equity in education. With a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education & Culture Studies from Washington State University, an M.Ed. specializing in At‑Risk Youth from Gonzaga University, and a B.Ed. in Sciences with a Special Education minor from the University of Saskatchewan, her multidisciplinary training informs her holistic approach to student well‑being. Dr. Gina’s scholarship has been showcased at peer‑reviewed research conferences, educational summits, and policy forums worldwide. A two‑time TEDx speaker, she combines dynamic stage presence with rigorous research to spark transformative change.

In her role at the University of Calgary, Dr. Cherkowski is leading system‑wide mental health in schools initiatives in Alberta schools by integrating social‑emotional learning and teacher wellbeing using a multi-stakeholder, systems-thinking approach to ensure sustained, transformational change. In 2023, she secured a multi‑year government research grant to pilot a collaboration with The Hawn Foundation fostering emotionally healthy school communities—a project presented at ICSEI (Dublin 2023, Australia 2025) and CASEL's SEL Exchange (Atlanta 2023), with upcoming work scheduled for the 2025 CASEL Conference in Minnesota.

A respected convenor, Dr. Cherkowski founded the Mental Health Summit and the Global Mental Health Research Forum, bringing educators, researchers, and policymakers together to accelerate evidence-informed practice in school-based mental health. She also leads the free digital publication Wellness Education Magazine, which features contributions from top global SEL and well‑being experts.