Jillianne Code

Background

About Jillianne Code

I’m a Research Professor, digital learning strategist, and national advocate working at the intersection of education, health, and equity. My work is grounded in one core commitment: making agency visible — in how people learn, how they engage, and how they shape the systems around them. As Director of the ALIVE Research Lab, I lead research on how learners navigate postdigital, algorithmically mediated environments, with a focus on immersive, game-based learning and AI-integrated pedagogy. My research bridges evidence-based design with real-world learning needs, especially in contexts where autonomy and self-regulation are critical. Beyond academia, I serve as a Co-Founder for the HeartLife Foundation, Canada’s leading patient-driven cardiovascular health charity. There, I co-develop national research and policy initiatives that center patient agency, digital access, and co-designed education. I’m particularly focused on transforming how patients engage in cardiovascular research — not as subjects, but as collaborators and changemakers. My approach is rigorous, interdisciplinary, and unapologetically impact-driven. Whether I’m writing for top-tier journals, shaping national policy, or building new digital tools, I’m here to push boundaries and reimagine what inclusive, human-centered systems can look like.