Graduate Students

Clea Sturgess, BA (Honours), MSc

Clea is a doctoral student in clinical psychology. She studies how internalized weight stigma and embodiment affect fat people’s psychological well-being.

Elysia Desgrosseilliers, BMus, MPH, BA (Honours)

Elysia completed her honours thesis with the SWell lab and is continuing her research as a Masters student in social psychology. She is studying women’s experiences in the Canadian Armed Forces.

“My first career was as a professional musician, playing for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Discovering that I preferred music as a hobby rather than as a career, I returned to university to study public health. Although I was (and still am) passionate about the prevention of injury and illness, I couldn’t shake the idea of a full-time career in the military. I became a Personnel Selection Officer in the CAF and I returned to university to study psychology. During my undergraduate psychology degree, I became especially interested in social psychology and how an individual’s behaviours and thoughts are influenced by their surroundings. More specifically, I became interested in how a military woman’s experiences are influenced by working in the traditionally male work environment of the CAF. When I’m not studying or working, I can be found paddle boarding or enjoying a coffee and relaxing with a book.”

Erin Lowey, BA (Honours)

Erin is a Masters student in social psychology at UVic. She is studying how friendships sometimes transition to romantic relationships.

Kelby Mullin

Kelby is a Masters student in social psychology at UVic. Kelby will be conducting community-based research seeking to understand how people with disabilities heal from internalized disability stigma.

“I’ve always been interested in examining the unique differences and challenges we face as individuals. I like pondering about what makes you ‘you’, and how different lived experiences create different connections, perceptions, and ideas of self. I began my studies as an engineering/computer science major, but ever since I took a first-year psychology course as an elective I’ve been hooked.  Over the last six years, I’ve worked for several grassroots disability-related non-profit organizations. During this time, I noticed that there is a general lack of awareness and research that involves/is inclusive of people with disabilities (especially within psychology). What is published tends to focus on rehabilitation and how to ‘fix’ disabilities and the people with them. As a person who was born with a permanent disability myself, I truly believe that my disabled experience is invaluable and has shaped my interactions and who I am.  I would like to examine how other disabled people interact with the world around them as well – currently focusing on the process of recovering from internalized disability stigma. In my spare time I like to chill with my cat, play Animal Crossing, cook, and lay in my hammock as much as possible.”

Honours and Directed Studies Students

Dr. Stinson is not supervising any Honours or Directed Studies students this year.