Dr. Maureen Drysdale is Associate Professor of Psychology at St. Jerome’s University and Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo. She is the Director of the Mental Health and School-to-Work Transitions Research lab where she leads a large research team of graduate and undergraduate students dedicated to examining the health, attitudes, behaviors, and skills that are believed to be important for successful school-to-school and school-to-work transitions. This includes self-concept, self-efficacy, hope, learning strategies, work ethic, career identity, motivation, sense of belonging, peer support, social support, anxiety, depression, and other mental health and wellbeing constructs. Dr. Drysdale has a particular interest in vulnerable populations as well as the role that different forms of experiential education (e.g., work-integrated learning, WIL) have on mental health and the transition to and success in the labour market after graduation. In addition to the variables listed above, she and her research team are examining equitable access to post-secondary education and full-time work after graduation especially for hard-to-reach populations. Dr. Drysdale is also leading an international study that spans five countries, examining the differences in work-readiness and mental health outcomes of students preparing for full-time permanent work.
