Dr. Lauren Cripps

Dr. Lauren Cripps is a neurodiverse bridge builder with First Nations heritage, marked by her adoption into a middle-class family where she lived as a settler. While gaps exist in her ancestral knowledge, she found solace and acceptance within the Millbrook First Nation community, where open arms, warmth, and generosity embraced her. This allowed Lauren to embark on a journey of reclamation and rediscovery, immersing herself in shared culture, wisdom, and teachings. The enduring impact of pre-adoption trauma accompanies her on her life’s journey, as does her loyal medical service dog, “Sophie.”

Lauren has been a dedicated practitioner of community-engaged scholarship for over a decade and is considered a pioneer in this field. Lauren’s mission revolves around cultivating cooperation and unity through integrating Indigenous and Western perspectives, guided by the teaching approach known as “two-eyed seeing teaching,” a philosophy shared by Mi’kmaw elder Albert Marshall. Lauren is committed to bridging cultural divides and fostering meaningful connections in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation.

Lauren holds a Ph.D. in Applied Health Sciences from Brock University, which is known for its unique multidisciplinary approach to teaching, learning, and research. She holds distinguished expertise in Youth Mental health, with scholarly interests encompassing a diverse range, from youth mental health and well-being to humanizing learning and leadership, indigenizing education and healthcare, strengths-based pedagogy, evidence-informed program design and evaluation, and animal-assisted interventions. While much of her research has centred on the mental health sector, her peer-reviewed program development model has gained national recognition for its adaptable application in community and educational settings.

With over a decade of experience in post-secondary teaching, Lauren has held numerous faculty roles across Ontario and boasts an impressive track record of securing over $4 million in grant funding spanning the education and health sectors. Her formal training in curriculum development has played a pivotal role in crafting undergraduate and post-graduate curricula for post-secondary institutions across Canada.

Despite many professional accomplishments, Lauren considers her family her greatest achievement – sharing life’s journey, love and laughter with her spouse, William and their four children, Nyla, Emma, Willa, and Luca.