Below are some of our current working group members. We aim to update this page once a year following our fall call out for new volunteers.
Undergraduate Students
Jackie Heitzner
I joined the EDI group to learn more about the ways in which I can personally and collaboratively make a difference to support others who have a different experience then myself. I also aim to learn more about myself in this process, as well as to share the insights and knowledge I learn with those around me to help create a more inclusive space.
Rachel Kasujja
I have always been passionate about creating a positive impact in my community and university. Specifically, I strive to do this by taking actions that help shift mindsets and practices toward more equitable and inclusive spaces for all individuals. I hope that the Department of Psychology will continue to recognize the value of diverse voices and emphasize the need for inclusivity, especially as it relates to intersectionality. I'm also interested in facilitating discussions that allow students to share their experiences and struggles so that together we can support each other.
Curtis Fung
I became a part of the Psychology EDI Working Group to highlight underrepresented voices and foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all Psychology members. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have observed the implicit and explicit forms of LGBTQ+ discrimination present in our world today. I recognize the privilege I hold and am committed to learning more on how to be a supportive ally for all.
Calahndra Brake
I'm so excited to have joined the EDI Working Group to contribute to inclusivity in the Psychology Department. Psychology as a discipline has a history of not accounting for cross-cultural differences, and I will strive to address this during my time with this group. It is so important to encourage and uplift the diverse range of life experiences that our students, staff, and faculty have, and I am committed to using my platform to advocate for a safe, equitable department.
Jada McKenzie
In this role, I am committed to planning events that celebrate and educate people on the diverse experiences and perspectives of students from all backgrounds. Through my work, I hope to foster an environment where all students feel seen, heard, and valued, and where they can thrive academically, personally, and professionally. My ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on the university community and to create a legacy of equity, diversity, and inclusion that will last long after my time as a student representative is over. With a deep personal understanding of the challenges faced by Black students and a commitment to creating meaningful change, I hope to make a lasting impact.
Aleezah Faruqui
Throughout my academic and personal life, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of creating inclusive and equitable spaces. I joined the student support group to help contribute to that. My goal is to make people from all backgrounds feel valued. Through my time with the team, I aim to promote awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups, and to help develop initiatives and programs that support diversity, and inclusion.
Lorraine Chan
Min Seo
Graduate Students
Sarah English
I joined the EDI working group so that I could use my voice and my privilege to make space for and amplify the voices of those who are underrepresented in our communities. I am passionate about learning and growing as an individual and as an ally, and I am committed to taking the actions necessary to ensure the spaces I am in are equitable, diverse, and inclusive.
Jasmine Zhang
Throughout my time at the University of Waterloo, I have noticed that many of my instructors and colleagues have expressed interest in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Department of Psychology. I joined the EDI Working Group to help bring more learning opportunities, events, and resources to our community. In doing so, I hope to advocate for marginalized groups and create a positive, inclusive environment for all members of our department.
Fatima Wasif
Faculty
Wendi Adair
I grew up in a White, middle-class Philadelphia suburb. My mother was a teacher and my father a lawyer. I studied language, culture, and business, with a focus on managing international negotiations and multicultural teamwork. When a graduate student from Northern Quebec came to study identity conflict experienced by Indigenous employees in the Canadian workplace, I started paying attention to the cross-cultural, multiracial challenges in our own society (Thank you Aimy Racine!). Previously, I had the privilege of not paying attention. Only recently did I start learning about social justice and the systemic barriers responsible for the largely White and privileged population we see in higher education. I see the lack of diversity and safe spaces in our department and want to work as an ally to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces for all
Hilary Bergsieker
I trace my journey to becoming a social psychologist back to dismay about the harm caused by prejudice and stereotyping, triggering a strong desire to empirically test strategies for creating a more just, inclusive world. My research focuses understanding effects of racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry on behaviour, as well as developing interventions to increase trust, understanding, and allyship between groups. I joined the EDI working group to leverage my time (and various forms of privilege) to help our department better serve the needs of people from marginalized groups and create a welcoming environment for everyone.
Abigail Scholer
As a faculty member with a lot of privilege (a white, cisgender women), I believe in taking a lot of time to listen. I’m also in a position to leverage my own standing to be a strong advocate and support change, and that’s what I hope to do as part of this group. As a social psychologist, I am steeped in a discipline that emphasizes how powerful the situation is in influencing behaviour. This focus on the situation—on institutions and systems—as significant forces of behaviour (and behaviour change) highlights the value of trying to change systems, not only people, if we want to address social injustices.
