Vulnerable populations, including at-risk students and those living with mental illness, face significant barriers to being productive and successful members of society. Without education and skills, many people end up living in poverty and in poor health, which strains the economy. Alyson E. King, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, and Program Director of Community Development and Policy Studies in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, examines how supported education can improve opportunities for vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on the experiences of underrepresented university students and adults living with mental illness, and she is developing ways to bolster the learning environment and create engaging learning opportunities. Not everyone fits into the ‘cookie-cutter’ model of education, and too often, vocation is its focus. For youth and adults who might not normally attend post-secondary education, understanding what students have done to be successful in spite of socio-economic and health barriers is key to opening new opportunities. Dr. King also believes greater emphasis must be placed on education that improves the quality of life and community integration for people with mental illness. Through her research, she is advocating for an improved understanding of how students of all ages and backgrounds can develop the skills, independence and hope necessary for a bright future as contributing members of society. Her other research has examined graphic novels and multiliteracies, what it means to be Canadian, and how the Canadian identity is perceived among adults and children. She joined UOIT in 2004 as an Instructor in the Faculty of Education, and became a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities in 2010, before being appointed Assistant Professor in 2012. Previously, she served as an Instructor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto (U of T) and Trent University. History repeats itself as Dr. King’s inspiration comes from her father’s keen interest in the subject. During her Bachelor of Arts in Canadian History & International Relations at U of T, she began focusing on the absence of women’s history during the WWII era and beyond. She completed her Master of Arts (on 19th century women teachers in Ontario) and her Doctorate in the History of Education (on the experiences of women students in Ontario universities from 1900-1930) at U of T’s OISE.