People

Xu Zhao is an associate professor at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. She has a doctorate in Human Development & Psychology, and her research focuses on adolescent social, moral and civic development in cultural and intercultural contexts. In the last 15 years, she has studied competition and compassion in Chinese secondary education as multi-level (ideological, sociopolitical, interpersonal, and intrapsychic) and multi-disciplinary (psychological and sociological) constructs. Her current research explores the psychological, social, and structural factors that facilitate or hinder the social integration of young newcomers in Canadian high schools.  She also conducts applied research to develop intervention strategies for the protection and promotion of youth mental health and wellbeing.
 

Jingfeng Wu is a Researcher and Entrepreneur in multidisciplinary fields, including Engineering, Education, and Psychology. She is passionate to use her academic knowledge and skills to solve the most pressing problems in the community. Jing graduated from University of Calgary with a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2020. Upon graduation, she decided to explore research area in social integration of newcomers in Canada, focusing on K12 students. As a life-long learner, Jing has completed a 300-hour Certificate in Adult Learning, specialized in Career and Academic Advising, through Continuing Education at University of Calgary. She also has working experience in non-profit organizations. To make positive impact to student life and education, Jing will start her new adventure in the Engineering Education Research PhD program at University of Michigan soon.

Danielle Smith is a PhD student in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of Calgary. She previously completed a BA in psychology at the University of Alberta, followed by a MSc in Counselling Psychology at the University of Calgary. Danielle’s masters’ research focused on the experience of newcomer high school students integrating into Canadian high schools. Her current research interests involve newcomer youth and family mental health. Danielle’s experience working with youth and families, in a variety of capacities (i.e., counsellor, youth worker, parental support worker, etc.,) has inspired her passion to promote mental health and wellness in youth and families, especially families who are often overlooked or marginalized by our current health system.

Jeannine Guenette is a MSc student in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of Calgary. She holds a BA in Psychology from Saint Mary's University, as well as a MA in Cultural Studies and Critical Theory from McMaster University. Her previous experience in cultural studies continues to inform her perspective on individual mental health as a sociopolitical issue. Jeannine's current research interests revolve around existential anxieties related to large-scale environmental concerns, the role of hope in coping with uncertainty, and the role of social connectedness in supporting well-being. 

Maria is a student in the MSc Counselling Psychology program at the University of Calgary. Her interest in mental health began with a 13-month clinical psychology internship involving the rehabilitation of adult psychiatric inpatients from a psychosocial lens. After graduating from the University of Alberta with a BSc in psychology, she gained experience in psychological assessment with youth and adolescents, as well as research coordination and program evaluation experience in mental health care. Generally speaking, her current research interests involve intervention design and evaluation for youth and young adult mental health programs. On sunny days, you may catch her rolling around campus and the city on inline skates (and maybe hit a cool trick or two.

Moonkyung Min received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Ewha Womans University and was previously a visiting researcher at the City College of New York. She is currently a PhD student in Counselling Psychology at the University of Calgary. Her areas of professional interest include trauma and resilience, refugees’ and immigrants’ mental health, and how immigrant families approach and handle conflicts around various cultural identities.   

Sarah Naseer is a recent B.Sc graduate from the University of Calgary in psychology and biological sciences. She joined the lab this summer as a research volunteer and is interested in learning more about immigrant and refugee newcomers, their integration into Canadian society, and their mental health. Most of her education and volunteer experience has been focused on children and youth, as she intends to work with them later on in her career. Sarah is looking forward to exploring these ideas and developing research skills under the guidance of Dr. Zhao. 

Solafa Ahmed is an MSc student in the Counselling Psychology program at Werklund School of Education. She graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in Psychology in 2019. Solafa previously completed a BSc and MSc in Medical Laboratory Technology (Microbiology) at the Sudan University of Science and Technology. Before moving to Canada, she worked in several clinical laboratories and diabetes research centers for eight years in the United Arab of Emirites. Her current research interests involve immigrant' and refugees' challenges and mental health, ethnocultural variation in stigma, and posttraumatic growth amongst refugee populations.

Judy graduated from the University of Calgary’s M.Sc. Counselling Psychology program in November of 2018. Her thesis project centered on how second-generation Chinese Canadians navigate acculturation-based conflicts with their parents. She currently lives in Edmonton, where she is working towards becoming registered as a psychologist. On her time off, she enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her pets and family.

Born in China, Renee moved to Edmonton for her Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Sport and Tourism at University of Alberta. She started career in higher education after graduation, working in post-secondary admissions, recruitment and retention. Renee worked as an undergraduate admissions advisor, international student advisor, continuing education student advisor and graduate admissions advisor. Renee is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Adult Learning. Her research aims to understand how diverse cohorts can contribute to redressing the gender imbalance and enrich the classroom learning experience in Business Graduate programs.

Yangyang has 10+ years of qualitative research experience (MSc '11, London School of Economics and Political Sciences; MA '13, New York University, PhD '20, UCalgary) in the areas of community health, art therapy, and intercultural communication. She has worked in broadcasting and education in Beijing, Milan, and the Netherlands. In Calgary, she has represented graduate students on dozens of educational and advocacy-related organizations, including the Graduate Students' Association and the Alberta Graduate Provincial Advocacy Council.