Who We Are
End of the 2021 school year ice cream social
Jessica V Strong, PhD, ABPP
she/her
I'm a board certified geropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island. I am passionate about working with and serving older adults in both my clinical work and in my research. Clinically, I conduct cognitive assessments for differential dementia diagnoses and provide psychotherapy for mental health issues in late life. I supervise students in the clinical Doctor of Psychology program at UPEI on developing geropsychology competencies.
My primary research interest is in cognition and aging, cognitive reserve, and how musical training and involvement protect against cognitive decline and promote well-being. I also enjoy applied research, including program development, implementation, and evaluation of services for older adults across settings. More recently, I have been involved in research related to the geriatric workforce pipeline, and how this pipeline may be impacted by factors including ageism vs. exposure to positive experiences interacting with older adults.
Lab Associates - Some of our collaborators!
Kirsten Graham, PhD
Kate King, PsyD
Olive Bryanton, PhD
Cindy Woolverton, PhD
William Montelpare, PhD
Emily
she/her
Following an undergraduate degree in psychology, a Master's degree in social work, and a (short) career in the public service, I've returned to school. I am heading off for my internship/residency this fall (2022). I'm excited to be part of the Age Strong Lab and have been enjoying working with older adults and hearing the insights that come from living long and rich lives.
In terms of research, I am specifically studying the acceptability/feasibility of a group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention in assisted living. My study will help determine whether it could be a scalable intervention for older adults experiencing depression and anxiety in these settings.
Outside of psychology, I love to bake (chocolate is always included) and go to used book sales.
Rachel
she/her
I am in my third year of the Doctor of Psychology program. I am passionate about health and wellness and fascinated by the aging process. I love working with older adults and hearing stories and wisdom stemming from lived experiences. My clinical dissertation examines the link between trauma and cognition in older adults, while also looking at the role of post traumatic growth and resiliency.
Jodi
she/her
Jodi is a third year student in the Doctor of Psychology program. She will be completing her dissertation on adult children caring for parents with dementia. Specifically, she is interested in how prior relationship quality impacts unmet needs and mental health in adult children caregivers.
Morgan
she/her
Hi! My name is Morgan, I graduated with my BSc in Psychology with a minor in Biology in 2021. I consider myself to have an “old soul” and have always been interested in working with older adults because of the connection I have with them. I’m particularly interested in accessibility, advocacy, and education for this age group, especially when it comes to accessing health care services, and I hope to go on to medical school to become a family doctor or geriatrician. In my free time I love to spend time with my dog and take care of my houseplants. In the Age Strong lab, I work as a research assistant on the Impact of MAgiC study, and I volunteer on the Seniors Survey project lots of other projects soon!
Caroline
she/her
I’m in my fifth year of the BSc of Psychology at UPEI, and I'm passionate about psychology and training dogs. Recently I have become interested in geropsychology after working as a research assistant for Dr. Strong on the Impact of Music on Aging and Cognition. I’ve enjoyed talking with older adults about their unique life experiences, which provide valuable insight and different perspectives. Piano is one of my hobbies and I recently started learning the bass. Sharing music and laughter with family and friends is very important to me, and I hope to do so for many years to come.
Maria M.
she/her
I am a returning 6th year student at the University of Prince Edward Island. I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2021 and this year I now have the pleasure of acquiring my Honours Thesis degree under the supervision of Dr. Strong. I am very excited to be a part of Age Strong PEI! I am very passionate about the older adult community and learning about how to improve healthy aging and quality of life as well as spreading awareness about ageism. I am looking forward to working with everyone here; it is great to be a part of a community that cares so much about the geriatric population!
Telimoye
she/her
Teli graduated with her BSc in Psychology in 2021 and continues to volunteer in the lab, assisting with data management (scoring, entry, etc.). She works at a local nursing home and is interested in language/communication in dementia. She is returning to school full time this year to complete her Honours' degree on changes in language in early Alzheimer's disease.
Lanlan
she/her
Lanlan graduated with her Bachelor's in Psychology in 2021 and continues to volunteer in the lab. She has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in literature and journalism before returning to school to study psychology. She will be working on her Honour's degree this year, which will examine death anxiety in North American undergraduate students, as well as immigrant populations across the lifespan.
Kaitlyn
she/her
Kaitlyn graduated with her Bachelor's degree in the summer 2022. She continues to volunteer on the dementia and running project, and has put in time across the board over the past year and a half.
Danah
Danah is a second year psychology student who has a lot of experience working with children and a recent interest in aging/older adulthood. She primarily volunteers on Rachel's dissertation (trauma, memory, and post-traumatic growth), and Lanlan's honours project (death anxiety across cultures).
Fairouz
she/her
Fairouz is in the third year of her undergraduate degree. She particularly interested in social justice issues. She volunteers on the running and dementia project, and hopes to complete her honours degree in this same area in the coming year or two.
Ryan
he/him
Ryan joined the lab in the spring 2022 and is working on his honours degree this year as a fifth year undergraduate. He is particularly interested in the intersection between mental health and physical health. He is applying for Master's in Occupational Therapy programs to begin next year.
Dylan
he/him
Dylan is in his third year of psychology studies. He volunteers on the Senior's Survey and running and dementia projects. He is particularly interested in men's mental health, access to mental health treatment and stigma in men reaching out for mental health support.
Lab Alumni
Katie (Master's in Counseling)
Madison (Master's in Education)
Clare (Master's in OT)
Aiping (paralegal, considering law school v graduate school)
