Chair (2023-2024)
Melissa Lazo
University of British Columbia
Email: chair.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Melissa Lazo is a second-year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Her doctoral research looks at the factors associated with school success and well-being among students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Her Master’s thesis investigated the relationship quality between elementary school teachers and female students with ASD, as well as the associated factors. Melissa is currently working as a student clinician conducting psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults with head trauma, learning disorders, intellectual disabilities and other social- emotional difficulties. She is also a practicum student at ABLE Clinic where she provides counselling services and conducts psychoeducational and autism assessments to children and adolescents. In her free time, Melissa enjoys travelling, hiking, dancing, and spending time with her friends and family.
Past-Chair (2023-2024)
Linnea Kalchos
University of British Columbia
Email: pastchair.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Linnea Kalchos is a second year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Her research interests include school integration, transnational feminism, and arts-based approaches for research with newcomer young women, as well as critical social justice research in psychology. Her Master’s thesis focused on newcomer experiences of psychosocial support services in Canadian secondary schools. She also works as a doctoral student clinician conducting psychoeducational assessments for children and adolescents with specific learning disorders, intellectual disabilities and other social-emotional concerns. She previously worked as a research assistant for the Promoting Relationships Eliminating Violence Network of Canada (PREVNet) at Queen’s University where she completed her undergraduate degrees. Prior to her graduate studies, Linnea was a full-time teacher in Melbourne, Australia. She enjoys travelling, baking, yoga, and is learning to play acoustic guitar.
Chair-Elect (2023-2024)
Anisa Nasseri
University of British Columbia
Email: chairelect.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Anisa Nasseri is a second-year master’s student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Her research interests broadly revolve around facilitating the growth and development of children and youth to help them reach their fullest potential. She has a specific focus on understanding the experiences of newcomer students and families in Canadian schools. Additionally, Anisa is intrigued by the application of positive psychology in educational settings. For her master’s thesis, Anisa is investigating the experiences of immigrant parents during their child’s psychoeducational assessment. In terms of practical experience, she has worked as a tutor providing one-on-one instruction for children with learning differences. She has also worked as a behavioural interventionist and a preschool English teacher in China. Anisa has engaged in various community service roles, such as mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters, facilitating youth groups, leading English classes for refugees and newcomers, and conducting peer-support sessions. Apart from her academic and community service involvement, Anisa enjoys trying new restaurants, thrifting, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Undergraduate Student Affairs Executive (2022-2024)
Nicole Lento
University of Toronto
Email: ugaffairs.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Nicole Lento is finishing up her second-year of master’s in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina in Regina, SK. She completed her BA Honours at Lakehead University. Nicole’s research interests focus on the field of child psychology and parenting styles. Her current master’s thesis seeks to evaluate an online therapy program for children with anxiety. Outside of academics, Nicole enjoys spending time with friends and family and walking her pup.
Graduate Student Affairs Executive (2023-2025)
Dorothy Chacinski
University of Saskatchewan
Email: gradaffairs.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Dorothy Chacinski is a first-year graduate student of Clinical Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research interests are on the experiences of long-term care and assisted care residents. During her B.A. (Hons) at the University of Calgary, Dorothy was involved in a number of research projects, including cognition and brain imaging studies in preclinical dementia patients, interventions for families of long-term care residents, and community-engaged research on embodied microaggressions amongst immigrants and employers. In her spare time, Dorothy enjoys lifting, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Administration and Finance Executive (2022-2024)
Somayya Saleemi
University of Ottawa
Email: adfinance.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Somayya Saleemi (she/her) is a Doctoral student at the University of Ottawa in the Clinical Psychology program. Her research is focused on the effects of bilingualism on cognition and aging. Other areas of interest include child psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and research ethics. She completed her Hons. BSc. in Psychology from York University in Toronto, followed by an Ontario Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research from Humber College. Currently, she is serving as a clinical program representative on UOttawa’s Graduate Association of Students in Psychology, and is passionate about advocacy related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and spending time with her three cats named Potter, Weasley, and Hermione.
Communications Executive (2022-2024)
Juliana Khoury
University of Regina
Email: com.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Juliana is a first year PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Regina. Her research interests include mental health among public safety personnel, and sexual violence. With her master’s thesis, Juliana examined the scope of sexual violence among RCMP officers and potential impacts on their mental health. She hopes to extend this research with her dissertation, by investigating and developing implementable solutions. Juliana completed a Bachelor of Humanities (Hons) at Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology with a Special Concentration in Forensic Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University. In her free time, Juliana likes travelling, reading, going for long walks, and board games.
Francophone Affairs Executive (2023-2025)
Malika Desrosiers
University of Québec in Montreal
Email: francophone.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Malika Desrosiers is a first year student of a specialized postgraduate diploma in risk, resilience and catastrophes at the University of Québec in Montreal. She completed her Psychology bachelor degree as well at UQAM in 2023. She has worked for a year as a research assistant for a lab that studies teenage interactions and development in high school. She studied linguistics for a semester at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium. Her current fields of studies revolve around ecoanxiety and ecological trauma with the youth. She also participated in the student committee of her program during her bachelor degree. Other than her school occupations, Malika works as an psychosocial worker in a women only homeless shelter. She voluntered as well at a suicide hotline for more than a year. In her free time, Malika enjoys improv, theater and drag performances.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Executive (2023-2025)
Tosa Oliogu
University of Toronto
Email: JEDI.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Etinosa “Tosa” Oliogu is a second-year Master’s student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on cognitive control and dimensional psychopathology risk factors for highly lethal self-injurious behaviour. She is also dedicated to applying her research knowledge and skills to work being done in the Black community. Outside of her studies, Etinosa enjoys music, learning new languages, and exploring new cultures, especially the food!
Previous Chairs of the Section for Students
- 2022 – 2023: Linnea Kalchos, University of British Columbia
- 2021 – 2022: Alejandra Botia, University of British Columbia
- 2020 – 2021: Joanna Collaton, University of Guelph
- 2019 – 2020: Alexandra Richard, McGill University
- 2018 – 2019: Chelsea Moran, University of Calgary
- 2017 – 2018: Jean-Philippe Gagné, Concordia University
- 2016 – 2017: Kyrsten Grimes, University of Toronto Scarborough
- 2015 – 2016: Zarina Giannone, University of British Columbia
- 2014 – 2015: Michelle Gagnon, University of Regina
- 2013 – 2014: Missy Teatero, Lakehead University
- 2011 – 2013: Justin Feeney, University of Western Ontario
- 2011 – 2011: Brenden Sommerhalder, Saint Mary’s University
- 2010 – 2011: Rana Pishva, Queen’s University
- 2009 – 2010: Phillip Jai Johnson, McGill University
- 2008 – 2009: Kelly Smith, Queen’s University
- 2007 – 2008: Lindsay Uman, Dalhousie University
- 2006 – 2007: Kelly Smith, Queen’s University
- 2005 – 2006: Elizabeth Stanford, University of British Columbia
- 2004 – 2005: Joe Camilleri, Queen’s University
- 2003 – 2004: Mike Coons, University of Waterloo
- 2002 – 2003: Réjeanne Dupuis, York University
- 2001 – 2002: Christine Chambers, University of British Columbia
- 1999 – 2001: Andrea Perrino, University of Ottawa
- 1997 – 1999: Donovan Lawrence, University of Calgary
- 1995 – 1997: David Dozois, University of Calgary