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
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.
Aliyah Knetsch
Aliyah is a final-year BSc Psychology student completing her thesis on gait development with the Vision and Neurodevelopment Lab. She is passionate about many areas of Psychology and intends to pursue master's programs soon.
Ashling Ayekun
I believe firmly in the importance of celebrating diversity and making sure all people feel included and supported. As such, I am really happy to be apart of the Psych EDI working group where I can be involved with EDI initiatives within the department and help highlight the experiences of marginalized groups.
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.
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 understanding more on how to be a supportive ally for all.
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.
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.
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.
Graduate Students
Ayshe Ozlu
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.
Khalil Husein
As part of the EDI team, I hope to help foster a learning and research environment that invites, supports and values people of all backgrounds. I believe that framing diversity as a strength can be beneficial to all in the department, especially in a research area that has struggled, but also recently endeavored to capture and understand the experience of underrepresented groups. I aim to contribute in upholding a department that feels welcome to everyone and encourages continuous learning from each other.
Krista Quinn
I am a part of the EDI team because I appreciate the ways that unique identities affect the experiences and stories of individuals existing within societies and communities not made for them. As a queer woman, I have experienced the obstacles that come with belonging to marginalized communities - as well as the learning and resilience that comes from the same. As a part of this team, I endeavour to increase knowledge about and understanding for each other's experiences, with the ultimate goal of reducing obstacles and increasing appreciation for diversity in our community. Furthermore, as a white woman, I commit to continue learning about my own privilege and the ways I can step aside and give a voice to those who haven't been afforded the opportunities that I have.
Monica Grove
I joined the EDI working group because I value being part of a community where everyone feels safe, welcome, and supported. I am excited about the opportunity to help advocate for equity in psychology and celebrate the diversity within and beyond our department.
Sarah English
Taranjot Padda
I joined the EDI working group because I want to be part of a department that welcomes and values diverse lived experiences, and supports students and faculty in overcoming hurdles often experienced by members of marginalized groups (particularly in academia). As a researcher who studies culture and sexuality, I am also interested in learning about and supporting others in conducting culturally sensitive research on diverse, underrepresented populations. I hope to help make the psychology department feel inclusive and supportive to all, and continue to learn from other members of our community
Faculty
Allison Kelly
I feel grateful to be part of the thoughtful and passionate group of individuals who make up the psychology EDI working group. I feel fortunate to be able to use my privilege to contribute to greater equity, inclusivity, and diversity in our department and university. I am continuously learning and strive to continue to listen, learn, and grow through my involvement in this wonderful committee.
Clara Colombatto
Evan Risko
I joined the EDI committee to help us move toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive psychological science both at the departmental level (as the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies) and within my own laboratory (Cognition and Natural Behaviour lab). Currently, I am helping the resource team put together resources for the department to supports its EDI goals.
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.
Katherine White
I joined the EDI working group because I am passionate about ensuring that students have the support and tools they need to succeed, during their time at UW and beyond. As part of the Lift mentorship program, I work towards this goal and towards creating a more diverse and inclusive Psychology.
Neil Hester
I care about the influence of identity on impressions and interactions quite a lot: much of my research is about stereotyping and discrimination, plus I grew up as a half-Filipino kid in a pretty conservative part of Texas. One thing that’s especially important to me is promoting equity in knowledge of the “hidden curriculum” of higher education. It can be hard for any student to navigate the processes involved in joining a lab or applying for grad school, but it’s especially hard for students who experience more anxiety approaching faculty members or have fewer “in the know” people to ask for help. The Lift mentorship program (one of the “branches” of the EDI group) addresses this issue, so the work feels really worthwhile.
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
