CHAIR
Dr. Linda Iwenofu
Email: linda.iwenofu@utoronto.ca
Dr. Linda Iwenofu is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), and she is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Ontario. Dr. Iwenofu specializes in the psychological assessment and treatment of children, youth and families presenting with a wide range of difficulties (e.g., learning problems, relational issues, trauma, ADHD, behavioral problems). She has experience providing psychological services in diverse settings including public schools, community mental health agencies and various private practice clinics.
Dr. Iwenofu is the Director of the Power in Youth Research Lab (www.powerinyouthlab.com), where she specializes in research examining how racism impacts the health of Black children and youth. She provides clinical training and teaches graduate-level courses on anti-racist and anti-oppressive approaches to professional psychological practice. She regularly provides consultation and support to health and educational practitioners who work in schools, community, and private practice settings. Her firm commitment to community-centered practice and to minimizing inequities in professional mental health service shines through in her involvement in numerous advocacy roles at local, national and international levels. Dr. Iwenofu is passionate about decolonizing school and clinical child psychology education and practice, hoping to help inspire a new generation of diversified scholar-practitioners.
CHAIR-ELECT
Dr. Chez-Roy Birchwood
Email: crbirchwood@hotmail.com
My name is Dr. Cheval Chez-Roy Birchwood. I am a Psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. I completed a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California. I also hold a master’s and an honours degree in Sociology from the University of Manitoba. I have over 20 years of experience in community mental health, including the roles of Cross-Cultural Specialist and Clinical Specialist. I also held clinical positions at federal correctional institutions as well as the Canadian Mental Health Association, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Manitoba Health, Forensic Psychological Services, Health Sciences Centre, and St. Boniface General Hospital. After completing my Ph.D., I focused on providing clinical and supervisory services in two group private practices. Currently, I work in a solo private practice, in the Niagara Region, providing both assessment and treatment for individuals with varying mental health conditions and co-occurring addictions. My primary area of research pertains to psychological resilience, the ability to thrive despite severe life difficulties. Additionally, I am seeking research partners to explore two clinically relevant concepts that I have been developing: Empathy Regulation and Post-Error Dysphoria.
Personally, I am married with three adult children and three grandchildren. In 1980, I moved from Tobago to Winnipeg for post-secondary education. I lived in Winnipeg until 2014, when we moved to the Niagara Region.
PAST-CHAIR
Dr. Helen Ofosu
Email: helen@ioadvisory.com
Dr. Helen Ofosu has been practising industrial /organizational psychology (also known as work or business psychology) in the public and private sectors for almost 20 years. She completed her studies at McMaster University and the University of Windsor. In addition to career and executive coaching, her specialties include the assessment and development of leadership skills, and navigating the complex issues of workplace bullying, harassment, diversity and inclusion.
Prior to starting her consulting practice in 2012, Dr. Ofosu worked for the federal public service at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (now Global Affairs Canada), the Department of National Defence, and the Public Service Commission. She has developed online screening tests, structured interviews, role plays and simulations, etc. for evaluating job applicants’ skills and behaviours as part of the hiring and promotion process.
Dr. Ofosu has always been interested in business and entrepreneurship. Consequently, she’s excited about her new role as a board member with the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce. She’s also thrilled to be one of the founding officers of the Section on Black Psychology, CPA. In addition to the official/stated goals of the section, she hopes this becomes a safe space and community for black students and practitioners of psychology (and their allies).
Click here to learn more.
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Dr. Tatijana Busic
Email: tatijana@busicpsychology.com
Dr. Tatijana Busic, Ph.D., is a licensed organizational and clinical psychologist with nearly two decades of experience. She has dedicated her career to enhancing resilience and emotional intelligence in individuals, both personally and professionally. Her organizational work focuses on developing values-driven and purpose-driven cultures by transforming leadership from the inside out. Dr. Busic also provides trauma-informed psychological services to individuals, with a mission to help people heal and thrive through difficult experiences. Her life’s mission is to cultivate greater well-being in our world by empowering people to inspire change in themselves, their relationships, careers, and organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology and Human Development from the University of Toronto and has been featured in several media outlets, including the Harvard Business Review and CBC.
MEMBER-AT-LARGE
Dr. Manal Guirguis-Younger
Email: Mguirguis-younger@adler.edu
Manal Guirguis-Younger, Ph.D., R. Psych., is the Director of the PsyD program at Adler University in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dr. Guirguis-Younger’s research is focused on the areas of community, homelessness, palliative care, volunteer resources, and alternative models of health-service delivery to marginalized groups. Her work maps the unique health and social needs of various under-serviced populations at the end of life, providing recommendations on how to overcome the challenges impeding access to equitable health services. Throughout her career, and more strongly in recent years, she has been involved in academic leadership, models of governance, and program development. Prior to her appointment at Adler University, she served in multiple roles at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, including Director of Graduate Studies, Director of MA and Doctoral-level Counselling Programs, as well as Dean of the Faculty. She has been extensively involved in EDI and Indigenization initiatives.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Ms. Heba Elgharbawy
Email: hebael@uvic.ca
Heba is a PhD student in the Clinical Lifespan Psychology program at UVic. She completed her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at UVic and her Honours Bachelor in Applied Science degree in Psychology at the University of Guelph-Humber. Her research interests include mood disorders in youth, the impact of COVID-19 on youth mental health, and improving mental health services and quality of care for all-particularly for people of colour and other minority groups. Heba hopes to identify current gaps in mental health services, barriers to accessing services, and how to support youth mental health. In her spare time, Heba is learning to sew and salsa dance and enjoys cooking and painting.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Gideon Oti-Gyamfi
Email: gideonotig@gmail.com
Gideon completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in industrial/organizational psychology at Carleton University. He is currently a Master of Counselling Psychology student at Yorkville University. Gideon plans to become a registered Psychotherapist upon completing his program, and be an option for black men and women who are seeking mental health support.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
Ms. Faniole Louis-Charles
Email: fanioleduc.louischarles@gmail.com
Faniole D. Louis-Charles holds a Master’s degree in Social, Occupational, and Organizational Psychology from the University of Rennes 2, France.
Now based in Ottawa, she works as a Consultant/Sub-contractor for I/O Advisory Services, Inc. She is also enrolled in the Master of Education Program, Counselling Psychology at the University of Ottawa.