Anastasia (Stacie) Ranta-Diegel

Stacie (she/her) began as a lab coordinator in September 2023. She completed her BSc with Specialized Honours in Psychology in May 2023. Her academic achievements were recognized by being awarded the Dean’s Medal for the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. Stacie got involved with research as a research assistant for the Coping Research lab in 2021. Stacie’s research interests broadly lie in the field of neuropsychology. More specifically, she’s interested in neurodevelopmental and communication disorders, neurodiverse affirming care, inclusion, and accessibility. In conjunction with her research interest, Stacie has worked with children and youth with disabilities in various capacities for the past seven years, including as a Support Service Worker at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care and as the Coordinator of Junior Inclusion Services within the City of Thunder Bay recreational programs. Outside of work, Stacie enjoys spending time with loved ones, playing volleyball, rock climbing, and camping.

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Teagan Neufeld

Teagan (She/Her) is a Métis student originally from Kenora, Ontario. She completed her BSc Honours in Behavioural Neuroscience in 2018 and her MSc in Biology in 2022. In 2021, Teagan joined Lakehead University to pursue a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Dr. Aislin Mushquash supervises Teagan for her honours thesis, which is a qualitative examination of the acceptance of the JoyPop app in post-secondary students. She volunteered at the Coping Research Lab in 2021 and later became a research assistant and lab coordinator in 2023. Teagan's research interests include adverse childhood experiences, mental health outcomes, and adaptive coping mechanisms within the population of Northwestern Ontario, particularly Indigenous youth. In her spare time, she enjoys beading, sewing, watching movies, and playing games.

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Mackenzie (Kenzie) McQueen

Kenzie is in the Specialized Honours program in Psychology (HBA) at Lakehead University. She began as a volunteer research assistant in the lab in 2023. Her areas of interest are personality psychology, psychopathology, forensic psychology, and trauma psychology. In her spare time Kenzie enjoys reading, listening to Taylor Swift, spending time with friends, and her dog Charlie.

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Jen Wyman

In May 2023, Jennifer completed her Specialized HBA in Psychology, earning first-class standing in her undergraduate studies. She was awarded the Mettler Toledo scholarship for her entire undergraduate degree, which was tied to her father’s work – a scholarship that had not been granted for 10 years. Her main research interests include mental health and wellness, addictions, trauma, coping, mood/anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Jennifer began as a volunteer research assistant in the lab in 2023. She is working towards her goal of obtaining a Master’s degree and eventually a Ph.D. Beyond her academic pursuits, she hopes to open a private practice in the future. When she is not working, volunteering, or participating in research she enjoys spending time with loved ones and pets, listening to music or spending time outdoors.

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Amelia Traer

Amelia began the undergraduate psychology program at Lakehead University in 2021. She became involved as a research assistant in the Coping Research Lab in February of 2023. Her areas of interest include Indigenous health & well-being, coping, neuropsychology, mental health interventions, and personality. Amelia's commitment to her education is underpinned by the invaluable support from the Métis Nation of Ontario Post-Secondary Education Support Program and the Indspire: Building Brighter Futures Program. She has been recognized for her academic achievements, having been named to both the Dean's List (Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences) and President's List. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, cross-country skiing, and spending time with her dog.

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Angela Ashley

Angela (She/her) joined the MA program in Clinical Psychology at Lakehead University in 2023. She completed her HBSc in Psychology: Brain & Cognition and a Minor in Neuroscience at the University of Guelph in 2020. Having been a research associate with the Family Psychology Centre in Toronto, her research interests broadly incorporate emotional coping, childhood adversity, family resiliency, and enhancing access to mental healthcare and support. Her MA thesis will largely involve analyzing the impact of an e-mental health resilience-building tool, the JoyPop app, on youth seeking mental health services in Thunder Bay. Angela was awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship to support her studies. Angela has also been a support worker for the last 5 years for individuals with developmental disabilities. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking new recipes, reading, and rock climbing!

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MA StudentTyler Drawson
Dara Rosdobutko

Dara Rosdobutko graduated from the HBA in Psychology program with a minor in Aging and Health at Lakehead University in 2023. She commenced her second undergraduate degree in the 1-year HBSW program in July 2023. With a keen eye for research, Dara assumed the role of a research assistant in 2022, contributing to the coordination of participants for the pilot study of the JoyPop app within the Coping Research lab. Her primary interest lies in mental health and public health research, with a specific emphasis on evaluating service access in Northwestern Ontario.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Claire Breton-Di-Paolo

Claire is an HBA student in Psychology at Lakehead University. She is currently a volunteer research assistant in the lab. Her areas of interest include adverse childhood experiences, eating disorders, addiction, health psychology and much more. Outside of school, Claire enjoys playing guitar, dancing, swimming and just being outdoors

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Melinda D'Souza

Melinda began the HBA in Psychology (Specialized) Program in 2021. Currently, she is a volunteer research assistant for the Joypop study. She hopes to broaden her understanding of research within Psychology by volunteering at the lab. Her research interests include mood regulation, the impact of the environment on schema formation, interpersonal relationships and coping strategies. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and crocheting.

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Hailey Gilmour

Hailey Gilmour completed her honours thesis with Dr. Mushquash in 2019. Her project focused on the congruence between parent and child coping behaviours and how that related to parent-child relationship quality.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Jessica Coran

Jessica Coran is an undergraduate student who previously volunteered in the lab. She supported worked with Dr. Mushquash and Allie Popowich on the attachment, coping, and relationship quality study.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Jessica Frappa

Jessica is an undergraduate student who previously volunteered in the lab. She supported worked with Dr. Mushquash and Allie Popowich on the attachment, coping, and relationship quality study.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Kaitlyn Kotala

Kaitlyn was a volunteer research assistant and supported a study on attachment, coping, and relationship quality. Her research interests are in anxiety and mood disorders, trauma, and interpersonal relationships.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Tori Antier

Tori was a volunteer research assistant for a study on attachment, coping and relationship quality. Her areas of interest are in personality traits, emotions, and genetics.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Jaidyn Charlton

Jaidyn (She/her) began her graduate training in Clinical Psychology in 2022. Her research is focused on the coping methods used by certain personality traits in response to stressors. Her general interests include forensics, trauma, coping, social media, personality, childhood adversity, and encouraging well-being. Jaidyn completed her HBA at Lakehead University in 2021, also supervised by Dr. Mushquash. She has supported other research examining the JoyPop app, Indigenous mental health, and more. Outside of schoolwork, she is an avid reader and storyteller.

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MA StudentTyler Drawson
Kendra Ryan

Kendra Ryan is in her fourth year of the specialized HBA psychology program. For her thesis project she is examining the role of technoference and communication satisfaction on intimacy among couples in romantic relationships. Other research interests include childhood attachment, child and developmental psychology, relationship quality, and mental health.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Nolan Maenpaa

Nolan is in the third year of the HBSc of Psychology program, as well as completing a minor in Biology. He is volunteering as a research assistant for a study on attachment, coping and relationship quality. His interests are in mental development, coping mechanisms, and somatoform disorders.

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AlumniTyler Drawson
Izzy Malik

Ishaq (Izzy) Malik began the masters of Clinical Psychology program at Lakehead University in 2022 and is under the supervision of Dr. Aislin Mushquash in the Coping Research Lab. His research currently focuses on implementing and evaluating innovative e-mental health interventions to support adaptive coping. Specific interests center around evaluating the quality, usability, acceptance, and satisfaction of mobile mental health apps and examining the associations between personality, e-mental health interventions, coping, and mental health. Izzy was awarded the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) - Canada Graduate Master’s Scholarship in 2023. He is also a Fellow Member of The Digital, Inclusive, Virtual, and Equitable Research Training (DIVERT) in Mental Health Platform. In his spare time, Izzy enjoys playing tennis, cooking, reading, and caring for his dog.

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MA StudentTyler Drawson
Laija Beaulieu

Laija Beaulieu is in her second year of the HBA of Psychology program. She is currently a volunteer research assistant supporting a study on promoting resilience in undergraduate students. Laija’s interests surround early social relationships, childhood development, coping strategies, parent and child attachment relationships, and how families cope with stressful or difficult life events.

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AlumniTyler Drawson