Drexler Ortiz  @DrexlerOrtiz

Drexler is doctoral candidate in Clinical-Lifespan Psychology and is currently on internship. His research interests involve the intersections of marginalized communities, social justice, and mental health. He is currently involved in research projects partnering with various community organizations that examine the involvement of police officers on mental health teams (IMPACT) and the experiences of racialized communities during COVID-19. For his master’s thesis, he studied the different religious identities of Filipinx Canadian youth and their correlates with mental health. Continuing his interests in Filipinx Canadian psychology, for his dissertation, he is examining the intergenerational transmission of colonial mentality (a formed of internalized oppression) among Filipinx Canadian
families.

Debra Torok

Debra is doctoral candidate in the Clinical-Lifespan Psychology program. She is grateful to have lived and studied as an uninvited guest on the traditional and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples for the past five years. Her research focuses on experiences of forced migrant youth living in transit in Malaysia and Thailand. Currently, Debra is involved in a partnership project with a migrant-serving agency along the Thai-Myanmar border, collaborating on the implementation of a psychosocial peer support method for youth. Drawing on her experiences in this project, her doctoral research explores the ethics, benefits, and challenges of engaging in virtual, transnational partnership research with forced migrant communities. When Debra isn’t studying, she can often be found hiking, cooking, and cross-stitching.

Emilie Longtin @EmilieLongtin 

Emilie is a doctoral student in Clinical-Lifespan Psychology. Her broad research interests encompass fostering belonging and safety for marginalized communities. Emilie currently researches the strengths and areas for improvement within the Canadian private sponsorship program. Her dissertation will focus on the nuances of resettling refugees who are also members of the LGBTQ+ community. She hopes this work, in combination with BRANCH Research’s various projects, will aid in fostering reciprocity and respect between newcomers and long-term residents across Canada. When not on campus, Emilie can be found with her menagerie of pets Doug, Sully, Wally and Peach.

Jie Li

Jie is a doctoral student in Clinical-Lifespan Psychology. Her research interests include immigrant family systems, acculturation and enculturation, and mental health. Her current study focuses on mapping out immigrant family acculturation profiles and examining their impacts on individual adjustment and family processes. In her spare time, Jie enjoys playing squash, skiing and travelling.

Jessica Li @YJessLi

Jessica is a second-year master’s student in Clinical-Lifespan psychology. Her master’s thesis hopes to examine immigrant and/or POC wellbeing and relationships in Canada. She is excited to be involved with lab projects focused on immigrant and refugee wellbeing. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Jessica thinks the Stampede isn’t complete without corndogs, Bloomin’ Onion, and that mayo-based Bloomin’ Onion dip. 

Elvis Eze

Elvis Eze is a fourth year undergraduate student completing a BSc in Psychology at the University of Victoria. He has enjoyed working in the lab so far, and his areas of research interest revolve around topics such as acculturation and overall immigrant well-being. In his spare time, Elvis enjoys dancing and reading.

Cheiyenne Fontanilla

Cheiyenne is a recent BSc Honours graduate in Psychology at UVic. Supervised by Dr. Costigan and Drexler Ortiz, her honours thesis examined the early developmental stages of colonial mentality among Filipinx Canadian youth. Currently, Cheiyenne is assisting Drexler with his doctoral research and works as a case manager with the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Integrated Case Management Unit. Her overarching research interests surround the influence of colonial legacies and acculturation on psychological well-being. Cheiyenne is passionate about community, accessibility of all kinds, and research. She hopes to pursue graduate school in Clinical Psychology in the near future.

Jacky Hou

Jacky Hou is a fourth-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Victoria. His academic interests focus on research concerning immigrant family relations, the well-being of marginalized communities and reciprocity among newcomers and local communities. He hopes to raise awareness of the importance of mental well-being and reduce the barriers that impede its widespread influence.

Maiya Gillespie

Maiya is a fourth year undergraduate student at UVic completing a Bachelors in Psychology with a Minor in Social Justice Studies. Dr. Costigan has been supervising her research on the accessibility of harm reduction services for street involved youth through the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award (JCURA) and Independent Study. She is also currently engaged in an Environmental Scan of Indigenous-led, youth-centered housing and harm reduction services for the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) alongside Alyx Monteith. She is interested in pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology or Counselling and working with youth who face mental health and substance use challenges.

Sydney Rayner

Sydney Rayner recently earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Victoria. Throughout her academic journey, she concentrated on mental health and well-being and social psychology. Sydney is particularly interested in collaborating with community partners to enhance services for immigrants and refugees through her role as a research assistant.

Rebecca Reinink 

Rebecca Reinink is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Victoria completing a Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics. With BRANCH lab she has enjoyed exploring research in acculturation, social cohesion, immigration policy, and social integration in local communities. 

Elena Stalwick

Elena Stalwick is in her third year of her undergraduate psychology degree at UVic. Her research interests lie in bridging gaps in accessibility for families and how to foster strong starts for their children. Elena is looking forward to contributing to BRANCH Lab’s research on interpreter provision and whatever else may lie ahead.