Serena McDiarmid is a fourth-year doctoral candidate and Vanier Scholar with the Social Development Lab. Serena graduated with a BSc. Hons. in Health Studies & Gerontology from UW, a BEd. from Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Education, and a MASc in Developmental & Communication Science from the UW. Serena’s research focusses on children’s and youth’s sense of belonging in spaces like their schools and communities. Serena is answering questions like: How do we measure belonging? How can schools and community organizations support or improve their members’ sense of belonging? And, for young people, can wellbeing be improved through changes in their sense of belonging?
Serena emphasizes community-based research and is currently working with Waterloo Region’s Children and Youth Planning Table on the “Measurement for Change” project. Previously, Serena worked on the European Union’s Horizon 2020 “RefugeeWellSchool” project.
Outside of research, Serena enjoys teaching and mentoring. She is an Introductory Psychology instruction at Renison University College and trains teaching assistants and new instructors in her role as a Graduate Educational Developer with the Centre for Teaching Excellence. Her work with the CTE has focussed on trauma-informed teaching techniques.