Rate My Professor Catherine Volpe

Dr. Catherine Rita Volpe Johnston serves as Senior Lecturer in Social Science Education at the University of New England’s School of Education, within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education. Her academic background encompasses a BA Honours from Trent University, an MA from the University of Toronto, a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education from Griffith University, a Postgraduate Graduate Diploma in Research from Monash University, and a PhD in Human Geography from the University of the Sunshine Coast in 2018. Prior to her academic appointments, she taught as a secondary school teacher specializing in English and Social Sciences. In her current role, she chairs the School Education Committee, serves as Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary Arts/STEM), and coordinates units including EDSS223 Humanities and Social Sciences in the Primary School 1, EDSS324 Humanities and Social Sciences in the Primary School 2, EDSS325 Secondary Education: Society and Culture, EDSS329 Secondary Education: History, and EDSS379 Primary School Society and Environment Teaching.

Volpe Johnston’s research specializations include children and young people's geographies, emotional and gaming geographies, digital and visual methods, participatory research, identity performativities, the digital divide and the Pacific Islands, social science/HSIE education, and artificial intelligence in higher education and secondary schools. Key publications feature Rogers et al. (2025) 'How "childcare deserts" in rural Australia impact parent and child wellbeing: An analysis of parental voices' in Issues in Educational Research; Adlington et al. (2024) 'Using interpersonal meaning making resources to build relationships and improve engagement in online teacher professional learning' in The Australian Educational Researcher; Volpe (2019) 'Digital diaries: new uses of PhotoVoice in participatory research with young people' in Children’s Geographies; Volpe (2023) 'Diaspora as practice for young migrants' in Migrations and Diaspora; and Volpe (2023) 'Feeling sexy and cool in the diaspora: The construction of hybrid identities for young migrants through dressing and dancing' in Transitional Selves. She has received the Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, University of New England Vice Chancellor Citation for Education Excellence (2024), Faculty and School Citations for Education Excellence (2023), New England Education Cooperative HTB Harris Memorial Award (2023), and Australian Postgraduate Award (2013-2016). Her influence extends through editorial roles as Assistant Editor for Linking Research to the Practice of Education, Associate Editor for Children, Youth and Environments, and Commissioning Editor (The Pacific) and Social Media Editor for Children's Geographies. She holds positions on the Academic Board, Curriculum Committee (Deputy Chair), and Human Research Ethics Committee.