People

Staff

Linda Hawkins - Director

Linda provides leadership, strategic direction, knowledge brokering and facilitation of research teams for the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) and the Research Shop. She works collaboratively with community partners and institutional partners: faculty, staff, students in the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences, and the wider university.
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Barbara Harrison - Research Associate

Barbara partners with community organizations, interns and project managers to collaboratively build capacity for and engage in community-based research. With a background in Education, Barbara has a particular interest in faculty members’ various approaches to incorporating community engaged learning in their teaching and research.

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Kendra Schnarr Kendra Schnarr - Research Project Assistant

Kendra provides research and project support at the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute. She brings a background in Canadian history, museum and archives curation, and diverse research experience to the team, working with staff members, faculty, and community partners to ensure that projects are organized, on track, and well-supported at every stage of development and implementation.

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Caroline Duvieusart-Déry- Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator

Caroline develops and implements knowledge mobilization strategies for the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. She builds on her experience in immigration policy, community development, and cross-sector collaboration to offer effective knowledge brokering, facilitate communication with internal and external audiences, and support faculty, student, and community driven research projects.

cduvieus[email protected]

Shirley Shanahan - Administrative Assistant

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Mary Magyar - Event Assistant

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Project Managers

Warren Dodd - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: To learn more about and participate in community engaged research in a local context.

Program of Study: I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Population Medicine where I specialize in Epidemiology and International Development Studies. Using a mixed methods approach, my research investigates the associations among labour migration, health, agriculture, and community development with small-scale farming households in southern India.

Jane Robson - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I am interested in community based research and knowledge translation in the hopes of disseminating research and making it accessible to a greater population. I hope to further my research skills and gain insight into the importance of utilizing academia as well as community collaborations to inform research.

Program of Study: Family Relations and Human Development. My research interests are focused on the phenomenon of rules within parent child interactions. More specifically I am studying the negotiation of rules and development of leeway highlighting the child’s contributions to these interactions.

Kim Chuong - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I was drawn to the Research Shop’s initiative of engaging and collaborating academic research and community expertise. I saw this position as a unique opportunity to learn more about community-based research and develop skills related to this area.

Program of Study : Applied Social Psychology. My research interests include social issues related to multiculturalism and immigration. Specifically, my research explores the mutual adjustment processes in both immigrants and the receiving society, including how immigration impacts the sociocultural adaptation of immigrants and the ideologies, policies and institutes of the receiving society.

Sara Crann - Project Manager

Why I'm working at the Research Shop: I believe that community-engaged research is essential to better understanding social issues, developing strategies and solutions for those issues, and creating positive, sustainable change. I work at the Research Shop because the research questions and projects are generated by the local community and create collaborative, ongoing relationships between the community and university.

Program of Study: Applied Social Psychology. My research focuses on women's experiences of violence and the process of recovery from those experiences. My PhD dissertation will be a community-based project related to sexual assault and domestic violence.

Monika Korzun - Project Manager

Why I’m working with Research Shop: The Research Shop is a wonderful example of how academia and community can work together to create meaningful social change. I hope to utilize the skills I have gained via my academic training and other life and career experiences to further community-engaged scholarship in the Guelph –Wellington area.

Program of Study: I am currently pursuing my PhD in Rural Studies at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development. My dissertation will examine various agricultural and rural policies in North America and Europe using the framework of scientific and non-scientific knowledge. I wish to illustrate the degree to which various knowledge systems contribute to rural and agricultural policy decision making and the impacts these processes have on communities.

Agnieszka Wozniak - Project Manager

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I decided to join the Research Shop because I am very interested in learning about how the Research Shop collaborates with local social service agencies in order to positively impact the lives of children, adolescents, and their families. Furthermore, I have a strong desire to gain experience with community-engaged scholarship in order to understand collaborative and mutually beneficial university-community research partnerships.

Program of study: PhD Candidate in Family Relations and Human Development. My dissertation is entitled “ A grounded theory exploration of the experience of disclosure and non-disclosure in mother-adolescent daughter relationships ". I am also a Registered Early Childhood Educator.

Andrea LaMarre - Project Manager

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop’s focus on community partnerships and knowledge mobilization appeals to my interest in taking academic research beyond the confines of the classroom. I am enthusiastic about community-engagement and volunteerism, and the Research Shop is the ideal place to learn more about fostering connections and strengthening the practical applications of research knowledge.

Program of Study: I am a PhD student in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. My research focuses on eating disorder recovery, using qualitative and arts-based approaches.

Thomas Armitage- Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I began my journey as a community-engaged scholar through Dr. Leah Levac's graduate level CES class in the winter of '14. Through this class I was exposed to a new understanding of how research, knowledge generation, and dissemination could be a collaborative effort. I am very interested in strategies to increase community capacity, empowerment, and justice, particularly as it relates to food security. The Research Shop has allowed me to supplement my M.A. experience with a number of projects that fulfill these interests.

Program of Study: I am in the final stages of my work towards an M.A. in Geography. I have been working with Community Food Centres Canada to answer the question, do community food centres create new markets for farmers and pathways for consumers that would not exist in their absence?

Mary Ferguson - Project Manager

Rashelle Litchmore - Project Manager

Sara Kafashan- Project Manager

Current Interns

Oriana Vaccarino - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I have always been interested in understanding communities' and people's lived experiences, and having their perspectives shape how we define concepts. I work at the Research Shop because through community-engaged research we can better understand these perspectives and issues, and help to inform policy and practice.

Program of Study: PhD student in Applied Social Psychology. My research interests include health, well-being, stress, community, perspective-taking, and disadvantaged populations. My dissertation research focuses on re-defining successful aging based on older adults' experiences and perspectives.

Alex Robinson - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I enjoy working at the Research Shop because of the great atmosphere of people, researchers, and community partners we get to work with. Gaining insight from other great minds in different disciplines is always a great experience! I also love the connection that can occur between the community and the academic world and the Research Shop provides a great outlet for this. I hope to expand my knowledge as a researcher and community member and to help others do the same.

Program of Study: I am a Master’s student in the School of Environmental Sciences, where I am studying water quantification and sustainable use on Ontario dairy farms.

Doran Hoge - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: The power of knowledge acquisition is most evident in it’s synthesis and application. Through the Institute for Community Engaged Scholarship I hope to contribute to the application of knowledge in the areas of sustainable democratic governance structures, sustainable environmental leadership, civic engagement and gender equality. Through this process I hope to contribute to the creation of a more just sustainable and harmonious planet.

Program of Study: I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, specializing Communities and Rural Change. Using mixed methods, I am focused on civic engagement, and the kinds of the behind-the-scenes organizing that may result in transformations of social organizational and/or governance structures.

Nicole Jeffrey - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop facilitates strong research partnerships between academia and community. I am working with the Research Shop because I am highly interested in learning with and from community partners in order to enhance scholarship and create social change. I also wish to learn skills to better engage with communities when both conducting and disseminating research.

Program of Study: I am a PhD student in Applied Social Psychology. Using mainly qualitative methods, my research focuses on issues of violence against women, including women’s experiences of sexual coercion in intimate relationships.

Why I am working with the Research Shop: Linking research, knowledge, and education to local, community-based, practical work is very important to me, and is something that I pursue in my work, research and life experience. The Research Shop provides a unique opportunity to share a wealth of research and knowledge with community partners, and to engage with, and learn from those partners through experience. I am very excited to be a part the intern team!

Program of Study: MA Public Issues Anthropology and International Development. My research focuses on issues around health care access, and health-related identity and agency development for immigrant and mobile populations.

Yuriko Cowper-Smith- Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: Understanding how academic and community partners can learn from each other to attain social goals and enrich scholarship is of great interest me. I think that the potential for creating meaningful impact is much greater when diverse groups come together, and the Research Shop presents that opportunity.

Program of Study: I am a first-year PhD student in Political Science and International Development. My research interests include issues of gender, migration and political engagement.

Ryan Hill- Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: I decided to pursue this internship because The Research Shop offered an opportunity to work with local partners on issues that are directly influencing Guelph and the surrounding community. Part of the reason I returned to school was the possibility of making a positive impact on the world around me, and the Research Shop gave me that opportunity almost immediately.

Program of Study: I am an MA student in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program. While still refining my specific research topic, I am interested in illicit drug policy here in Canada, as well as the social forces that contribute to addiction that do not necessarily influence the 'functional' addict or casual user.

Faria Rashid- Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: The Research Shop is a great platform to connect with knowledge mobilization and academic research by participating in collaborations between academia and the local community. Through the Institute for Community Engaged Scholarship, I hope I will be enriching my research skills and develop my career in International Development area.

Program of Study: I am doing my Master's degree in Capacity Development and Extension (CDE) in collaboration with International Development Studies at the University Of Guelph. I am currently working as Research Assistant in the research project “Mobilizing Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture – Radio +Working Group”, on Sri Lanka. My research interests involves on the rural development projects and use of ICT.

Faiza Omar- Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: Working at the research Shop has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience. The Research Shop gives me a good balance between academia and community based research. It provides a great opportunity to engage with local communities, to learn about knowledge translation and to grow as a researcher.

Program of Study: MSc Capacity Development and Extension (International Development Studies). My research interests include human rights and gender related issues, and capacity building in rural and marginalized communities.

Natachia Bond- Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: I joined the Research Shop because it provides a unique opportunity to develop skills in research that can provide direct results and benefits to the Guelph community. Interning can afford me insight into community issues that you cannot always gain from a traditional academic setting and an opportunity to invoke a lasting, positive change.

Program of Study: Geography MA. My research focuses on livelihood strategies of fishers around the Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia.

Katrin Sawatzky- Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: I joined the team at The Research Shop to gain a nuanced understanding of community engaged scholarship and to deepen my experiences of working within our vibrant community. The Research Shop is an excellent example of how we can bridge the gap between academia and grassroots work, while deepening social relations and creating more equitable partnerships.

Program of Study: I am completing a M.Sc. in Capacity Development & Extension and have a background in international development and organic agriculture. My research examines people's experiences of living in resilient communities while participating in social/environmental movements.

Taniesha Burke- Intern

Carly Fraser- Intern

Curtis Nash- Intern

Valerie Quinn- Intern

Past Interns, Project Managers and Staff

Erin Pratley - Research Associate

With a PhD in geography that focused on alternative food networks, Erin brings her passion for food and social change to the Research Shop. She works with interns, project managers and community partners to identify research needs, and design and conduct research that can lead to positive social change.

[email protected]

Carrie Herzog - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I joined the Research Shop as an intern to observe how university researchers and community members can collaborate to generate valuable data and insights on complex social issues.

Program of Study: PhD (Services Management). My research interests include restaurant services management; consumer experiences in hospitality and tourism; sustainability in business, food systems and food studies. My doctoral research focuses on consumer perceptions of sustainability in full-service restaurants.

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I am here to develop my skills and understanding of community-university partnerships, and because I believe that co-creation of knowledge and resource sharing offer ways to contribute, in meaningful and productive ways, to broader struggles for social justice. I am particularly committed to exploring and expanding models and practices of arts- and humanities-based community engagement.

Rylea Johnson - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop:

I am working with the Research Shop as my past experiences have provided me with the opportunity to complete an internship where I was able to engage with communities on a regular basis. This experience taught me the importance of engaging with the community, not just the literature. I would also like to see academic information made more accessible and useable so that everyone may have the opportunity to engage in food conversations!

Program of Study:

I am currently completing an M.A. in Geography. My research revolves around the role of produce auctions as an alternative food system while exploring the ability of alternatives to use conventional food system infrastructure and networks.

Katherine Perrott - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I am excited about the range of creative research projects and the energizing space for dialogue, reflection, and action towards social transformation.

Program of Study: I am an urban planner, currently in my second year of doctoral studies in Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. I research trends in Canadian planning and development, particularly in “sub”urban areas.

Christine McPhail- Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I was drawn to the Research Shop because of its interdisciplinary environment and its emphasis on connecting research with the community to facilitate positive and meaningful changes. I look forward to my experience working collaboratively on issues addressing the environment, food sustainability, and food security.

Program of Study: Applied Human Nutrition. I am in my second year of the MSc. AHN program. My research focuses on young adult post-secondary students who have experienced parental cancer and how this experience influences their personal health beliefs and attitudes.

Lindsay Stehouwer - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I was drawn to The Research Shop for two main reasons: my desire to participate in research that has an impact and value beyond academia, as well as the belief that learning and growth that can be fostered by exposure to interdisciplinarity. As an intern I look forward to learning more about building strong community connections, and strengthening my skills in the constructive applications of research knowledge.
Program of study: I am currently in my second year of the MSc FRHD program, and my research focuses on the lived experiences of fathers parenting a child on the autism spectrum; specifically, I am interested in how they express these experiences in the format of online blogs.

Andrew Robinson - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I want to better understand how my research and teaching can better engage with communities, and to apply my research and communication skills in a more practical, and more collaborative, setting.

Program of Study: My PhD in philosophy focuses on the moral responsibility of men who contribute to and benefit from women's oppression. Specifically, I argue that men's position of privilege grounds men's responsibility to partake in feminist social change. In addition to studying philosophy, I have enjoyed teaching several women's studies courses over the past few years.

Cayla Albrecht - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I think it is important to be able to link academic study with more practical, community-based action. The Research Shop offers a great opportunity to connect my own studies and interests to local issues in a more grounded way than through purely academic forums.

Program of Study: I'm a masters candidate in Geography, beginning my second year. My research is focused on producer-consumer relationships, perceptions, and expectations of local food and local food systems in south-western Ontario.

Carolyn Dowling - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop provides an avenue for me to engage in knowledge mobilization and research dissemination by participating in and developing informed partnerships and collaborations between academia and the community. I look forward to the opportunity to apply my experience in research and knowledge translation/transfer to practical community-engaged initiatives in order to generate impactful and lasting results in such a vibrant and diverse community.

Program of Study: I am currently pursuing my MSc. in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry in the department of Plant Agriculture. The focus of my Thesis research is the preparation of unique golden prunes from local yellow European plums at the Vineland Research Station using sulfite alternatives and the subsequent biochemical characterization of these fruits for polyphenolic and associated antioxidant capacities.

Johnathan Stermac - Intern

Why I'm w orking with the Research Shop: To facilitate change and provide knowledge mobilization strategies within the local community.

Program of Study: MA Candidate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology studying the relationship between intelligence and work performance.

Anna Aukema - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I'm interested in community engagement and academic research, and the Research Shop provides a unique opportunity to be directly involved in both. Through working as an intern, I hope to learn and grow as a member of the Guelph community and as a student.

Program of Study: International Development with an area of emphasis in Rural and Agricultural Development.

Elizabeth Nowatschin - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: For me working at the Research Shop is an amazing opportunity to expand my research skills, meet interesting people outside of my department, and get involved in community engaged scholarship. I think all of these things will enhance my graduate studies and help me build a holistic approach to my future career in Landscape Architecture.

Program of Study: Master of Landscape Architecture

Alberto Salguero - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop brings together people of many backgrounds and talents with the intention of bridging scholarly efforts with tangible community benefits--talking about teamwork, multidisciplinary efforts, and community engagement!

I come from cultures, places and languages. I come from agriculture, rainforest, tropical lands, and iced wine. I come from within communities and from partnerships. I believe in where I come from, and in what is to come; my family have found a new home in Guelph. The Research Shop is a place where I have found a new meaning for community retribution and involvement. At the University of Guelph, I recently completed my M.Sc. in Rural Planning and Development.

Program of Study: My research interests and community collaborations revolve around project/program evaluation, community engagement, knowledge mobilization, social entrepreneurship and partnerships.

Pallak Arora - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop:
I am social scientist to the core and I love working with the people of a community. I believe strongly in the involvement of the community in academic research in order for it to be successful and ICES provides an excellent platform where the gap that we have created between academia and community is being bridged. ICES' core values hold people and their needs as central and this is what attracted me the most about it. Community engaged research is something that I see myself doing in the long run, which is why working with ICES is my effort to learn more about it.

Program of Study: I am a current undergraduate student in International Development. My area of focus is Political Economy and Administrative Change or PEAC as we call it! I hold interests in doing a master in a related to field of social sciences.

Rachel Salt - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I feel that if research is to be successful and deliver useful products then community engagement is essential. I am working with the Research Shop because I believe that the projects they are involved in are extremely valuable. I also wish to further develop my skills as a researcher and better learn the processes in which community engaged scholarship can occur.

Program of Study: School of Environmental Sciences. My research interests include cumulative effects and how they are evaluated in Environmental Assessments. Specifically, I am looking to develop regional level metrics to assess cumulative effects using food web ecological theory.

Saqib Mannan - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I decided to be a part of the Research Shop because I wanted to learn the process community-based research and how the mobilization of the gathered knowledge can drive policy and program development.

Program of Study: I am a Masters student in the Human Health and Nutritional Sciences department. My research is looking at if purple (fortified) Ontario grown carrots can reduce the risk of CVD in at-risk individuals.

Rachel Schumann - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop helps facilitate positive change within academia and the community. Of particular interest is the ability to work and engage with numerous members of the community to achieve stated objectives through research-based endeavours. Through this position, I hope to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for community engaged scholarship as well apply my current skills to more applied, experiential projects.

Program of Study: I am a first year M.A student in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy. My research focuses on understanding why there has been a substantial increase in the number of adult women sent to pre-trial custody in the last two decades. Despite the legal, human rights, and practical implications associated with pre-trial custody, minimal research exists that explains the current rise in remand rates for adult women in Ontario.

Kelly Janz - Intern

Why I’m working at the Research Shop: Before coming to Guelph I worked for four years with a Manitoba charity that was engaged in community food security and first sparked my interest in community- based research. I am working with the Research Shop to gain more experience as a researcher and to broaden my understanding of food security by working with community organizations in Guelph/Wellington.

Program of Study: Rural Planning and Development. I am in my first semester of a two-year masters program. My research is currently looking at the role of permaculture in strengthening communities in Cuba.

Jaqui De Guzman - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I joined the Research Shop out of a desire to ensure that research is informed by and connected to community needs. I am also interested in learning new and creative ways to facilitate positive social change through community-university efforts.

Program of Study: Family Relations & Human Development. My research interests are in immigrant family processes, transnational care activities, community supports for caregiving needs and social policies. My dissertation will focus on new and established Canadian families with transnational caregiving responsibilities and the implications it poses to social and caregiving policies.

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I'm very interested in how the research shop works with community organizations to address social needs and to create positive change. Having the opportunity to learn more about community-engaged scholarship will allow me to develop important skills in this area, and will serve as a complement to the academic research training that I have received.

Program of Study: Family Relations and Human Development. I'm interested in knowledge translation strategies to improve the uptake of research evidence into health care decision making, particularly in the field of mental health.

Patricia Altass - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop : Before beginning graduate studies I worked as a front line Child and Youth Worker in a residential treatment program. This experience has grounded my research interests in community based initiatives that can result in capacity building and positive change for individuals, families and communities.

Program of Study : Sociology with a focus on work and organizations. My research interests involve looking at new methods of work organization in residential care Child and Youth Work programs and the experience of stress and burnout of workers in this field, and the stigma of living in poverty and the increase and impact of jobs involving precarious labour conditions.

Ryan Hayhurst - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: Joining the team at the Research Shop was a natural fit as I was getting involved at a community level in the area of food security through  the Guelph Wellington Food Round Table and Backyard Bounty.  Fundamentally complex problems require us to build integrated multi-stakeholder learning platforms and action plans that link researchers and service providers - the Research Shop has an important role to play in this system.

Program of Study: With a background in Sustainable Development, Environmental Design and Community Food Systems, I am in my 1st year of the Rural Studies PhD Program.  My research interests are looking at how to build resiliency into the local food system by creating integral solutions that respond to both global and local environmental challenges, dynamic economic, cultural and political realities and social justice imperatives.

Andrea Saldanha - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I have four years of experience working on biodiversity conservation and traditional knowledge issues under the Convention on Biological Diversity. I am interested in the interdisciplinary approach of the Research Shop as students connect with neat initiatives in the Guelph community.

Program of Study: I'm in my first year in the Rural Planning and Development program and writing my thesis on how home gardens in urban centres serve as repositories for biodiversity.

Carolyn Robertson - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: My reason for working the Research Shop is to gain valuable research experience and to learn more about my local community in relation to food security. Since joining the Research Shop I have had opportunities to learn more about the local food structure in the Guelph-Wellington area, and explore the impact of local urban food projects on their communities.

Program of Study: I am pursuing a MSc in Capacity Development & Extension, in collaboration with International Development Studies. This program is a unique program in Canada that develops the core competencies of students for facilitating social and environmental change.

Maria Cabal Garces - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I see my work at the Research Shop as an extension of my training as a researcher. I believe that academic research should have the ultimate goal of helping improve the lives of people in our communities and the Research Shop has provided me with the opportunity to do just that. My desire is to learn ways in which I can use knowledge to facilitate positive change in the lives of people.

Program of Study: Family Relations and Human Development. My MA thesis seeks to explore the resilience pathways used by new immigrants, more specifically Latino immigrants, in their adjustment to a new life in Canada. I am mostly interested in adolescents and the impact that being an immigrant has in their development. Furthermore, I intend to look for ways in which their development can be further supported to ensure that they acquire the competence they need to succeed in their adjustment.

Frances Dietrich-O'Connor - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I am very interested in the Research Shop’s efforts to produce community driven research and saw this as a great opportunity to learn first hand about the challenges and rewards of community driven scholarship.

Program of Study: Rural Planning and Development. My research interests include social policy, public administration and processes of policy formation. My research will examine the expansion of social health insurance schemes in Africa with a particular focus on the Ghanaian National Health Insurance Scheme.

Heather Millman - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: Working with the Research Shop is the perfect way for me to apply my training in qualitative, community-based research. As a Public Issues Anthropology student, I believe that academic research must engage with subjects that are relevant to contemporary society, and that in doing so anthropology can help to achieve community produced goals. My M.A. research has involved working with local Paraguayan medicinal plant sellers, and at the Research Shop I am able to apply my interest in social connections to health and the environment while working with the local community.

Program of Study: Public Issues Anthropology

Melisa Luymes - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I believe that when working alongside community organizations and being directed by community needs rather than our own  goals, research is more focused, purposeful and passionate.  I hope to learn with likeminded people at the Research Shop how best to bridge the gap between academia and community action.

Program of Study: I'm in my second year of an MA in Rural Sociology, writing my thesis on the perspectives of conventional farmers here in Wellington County.

Wanzirai Muruvi - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I am interested in participatory community development and joining the Research Shop provides me with the unique opportunity to learn how communities make use of information to set their own development agenda.  I believe the Research Shop bridges an important skills gap that often limits community-driven initiatives. Being part of the Research Shop team is also a great opportunity for me to get to know the community better and establish new contacts outside academia. Program of Study: I am in the Rural Planning and Development Masters Program. For my thesis I looked at community conditions that facilitate implementation of participatory poverty reduction initiatives with case studies in Ghana and Tofino, BC. I am also interested in the role of community-based natural resource management programs in poverty alleviation.

Shelley Hazen - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: What drew me to the Research Shop was my interest in working with the community and getting involved outside of school. I believe that community-based learning and research collaborations are necessary for addressing the wants and needs of a community while facilitating progress and change.

Program of Study: I am in the first year, second semester of my MA in Geography. My research is exploring the sustainability of agricultural lands and changes at the farm level in response to globalization and the evolving nature of trade regimes.

Tanya Darisi - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop : I am committed to the use of research as a mechanism of social change, with action that is community-based, reflecting the values of engagement and collaboration. The Research Shop offers an amazing opportunity for realizing this commitment, and for bringing community and academic researchers together as agents of change.

Program of Study: Applied Social Psychology, focusing on issues that affect the lives of women and their families, including violence and the marginalization of women from diverse communities in systems-level planning and decision-making. My own research examines women's experience of health, and meaningful involvement in health organizations as empowerment.

Lisa Wenger - Project Manager

Why I'm working with the Research Shop? After 6 years working as a community researcher in the areas of public health and cancer, I have a strong interest in ensuring that my academic work remains connected to, and informed by, community needs and experiences.

Program of Study: Family Relations & Human Development. My research interests are focused on meanings of health and illness.  My doctoral work is focused on an examination of how men make sense of help-seeking throughout an experience of physical illness.

Elizabeth Shantz - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: During a recent work term I conducted a study on how organizations do knowledge translation/knowledge mobilization, and developed a strong interest in learning more about knowledge mobilization and gaining some practical experience.

Program of Study: Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. I am currently studying various factors related to forgiveness after an injustice. I am interested in organizational injustice, work-life balance and training development.

Elizabeth Pinnington - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop creates spaces for dialogue and collaboration between researchers and community members with widely different backgrounds and ways of knowing.  These spaces for learning and exchange are vital for innovative thinking and social change.

Program of Study: Adult Education and Community Development, OISE/UT. My doctoral research looks at notions of accountability in Canadian governance, from the perspective of government officials, as well as community members.  I’m interested in where we learned about accountability, and how we exercise it, and how we learn to trust others through accountability practices.

Tricia Van Rhijn - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop : I saw this position as a unique opportunity to learn more about this type of research and gain valuable practical experience at the same time.

Program of Study: Family Relations & Human Development. My research interests include well-being, family relations, and social policy. My doctoral research will investigate the relationship between school-family conflict, and enrichment and well-being for student parents pursuing post-secondary studies

Jennifer Walker - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I am interested in community-engaged scholarship that can be applied to benefit the greater community. The Research Shop is a great opportunity for me to develop my community-based research skills, and to complement my academic research training.

Program of Study: Applied Social Psychology. I am studying hurt blindness, which suggests that people are often unaware of the hurt feelings that they cause in others. In particular, I am investigating if people are insensitive overall to others' emotions, or if insensitivity is specific to negative emotions.

Candice Shaw - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I see community-based research partnerships as an important tool for forging a much needed bridge between academia and the community. Through these partnerships  I aspire to glean insight into the processes involved in community collaborations while also acquiring better proficiency in community-based research skills.

Program of Study : Sociology, with a focus in Global Agro Food Systems and Rural Change. As part of this MA program, my major research project has a strong community-based focus. I am studying the impacts of neoliberalization on Indigenous communities and women workers who participate in Mexico’s post NAFTA food production industry.

Amanda Peters - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop is doing what I feel is the responsibility of academics, striving to make meaningful, positive changes in the community by working with it and sharing knowledge and experience.

Program of Study : Sociology, with a collaborative degree in International Development Studies.
I am interested in social issues of health and western biomedicine, biotechnology and identity, the body in consumer society, globalization and development. My research is in the area of organ donation and procurement in Canada and international organs markets.

Darcy Dupuis - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: The Research Shop offers excellent opportunities for students to apply their unique backgrounds to benefit the community and to further develop their own capacity for conducting community-based research.

Program of Study: Applied Social Psychology. I am currently conducting research within three general areas: (1) the unconscious effects of environmental cues on cognition and behaviour – In this area, I am currently the investigating the unconscious effects of monetary cues on thought and behaviour; (2) acculturation and intergroup relations; and (3) psychological approaches to understanding and enhancing pro-environmental behaviour.

Sarah Pugh - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop : I’ve joined the Research Shop out of a keen interest in community-engaged scholarship and the desire to work towards strengthening an academic culture in which research can be better harnessed to increasingly give back to the community in new, creative and mutually beneficial ways.

Program of Study : I have a background of international development and public health. I am in the 2nd year of an interdisciplinary, collaborative PhD programme in International Development Studies and Political Science. My doctoral research will be exploring civil society responses to xenophobia in South Africa.

Michelle Kienitz - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I am excited for the opportunity to use my academic training for results in the community. It is nice not to just document and analyze, but to come to conclusions in a participatory manner that will benefit the community.

Program of Study: Political Science and International Development MA. My research is on hunger in Canada - specifically, emergency food programs and their role in driving or impeding policy responses to hunger.  My broader research interests are on food and agriculture and their inter-connected relationships with society, the economy, and politics.

Morgan Wheeldon - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I am currently working with the Research Shop for academic credit, but was inspired to take this course by my own interest in community partnerships and my epistemological position that academic research is most relevant and worthwhile when the knowledge generated informs and serves the greater community.

Program of Study: I am completing the joint Guelph-McMaster MA program in Public Policy and Administration in the Political Science Department. My research interests include Canadian public administration, immigration policy, immigration services, multiculturalism, multicultural policies, community engaged scholarship, and most recently, food security.

Adam Flores - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I was initially drawn to this position because I saw it as a unique experience to learn about community-engaged research while simultaneously gaining practical experience.  I am continuing on with the internship because I now have a strong interest in developing reciprocal community-university partnerships that attempt to address, and resolve, community-identified problems.

Program of Study: Political Science. My research interest is the role of municipal governments in immigrant settlement.  While immigration is negotiated through the federal government, the services municipalities deliver are often directly affected by the demographic changes caused by immigration.  My current research explores the initiatives undertaken by the municipalities of Guelph and Wellington concerning the settlement of newcomers.

Jaime Brown - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop : I have a keen interest in applied research and am passionate about learning how to address community needs through community partnerships and participatory research.

Program of Study : Applied Social Psychology . My research interests include client-practitioner communications/relationships, and procedural and distributive justice in the health care context. I recently completed my Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology and am now applying my studies in a new position as a Postdoctoral Fellow studying veterinary communications with clients in the department of Population Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College.

Ruth Situma - Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: I've always been interested in personal research. This is a great opportunity to get involved with areas outside of my focus and while gaining valuable experience.

Program of Study: Political Science and International Development . Most of my research is focused on Africa. I'm currently working on African Regional Organizations, democracy and elections in Africa and ICTs and rural development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Lila McCormick - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I have an appreciation for applied and community-based research and would like to enhance my knowledge and experience in this area. My internship with the Research Shop has also allowed me to develop my knowledge of program evaluation, another interest of mine.

Program of Study : Applied Social Psychology . I have a particular interest in applied research with a focus on health promotion. My thesis explores perceived susceptibility to Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and how it influences young women's beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Ella Henderson - Intern

W hy I'm working with the Research Shop: I was attracted to the Research Shop because of a strong belief in the importance of community-engaged scholarship, and a desire to become more involved in both the university and the greater community in the city of Guelph.

Program of Study: I am in the fifth and final semester of my MA in Public Issues Anthropology. My thesis research examines the decision-making experiences of seniors entering retirement residences and so somewhat spans the fields of Anthropology and Gerontology

Marianne Pemberton - Intern

Why I'm working with the research shop: My interest in the Research Shop comes from a more general interest in the role of research beyond academia. I’m interested in how research can be used in a practical way. Getting involved in a research group that celebrates integrated, collaborative relationships seemed like a great way to learn more!

Jon Belanger - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I was drawn to the Research Shop due to the inter-relations between my research and communities. Personally, the idea of community based research and scholarship is fundamental for the betterment of communities across the world and there is a large role that Universities can play in this. I am very passionate about playing a part in the process and serving needs of my community.

Program of Study: Geography. My research strives to enhance understanding of soil-atmosphere interactions, and specifically, to improve drought prediction, management and mitigation. Specifically, my research explores the spatial and temporal scaling of soil moisture fields and validation of remotely sensed estimates of soil moisture from satellites.

Jessica Dutton - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: I was very excited about the opportunity to intern with the Research Shop because of its emphasis on partnerships and community-based research. It has been a valuable experience for me to see the process by which research questions are negotiated using the expertise and skills of both community members and researchers. I’m looking forward to applying what I’ve learned as an intern in future research projects.

Program of Study: Political Science and International Development. My Master’s thesis examines the use of traditional food in community-based diabetes programs in Canadian Aboriginal communities and my broader research interests include community health, Aboriginal studies, community-engaged research methods, and identity studies.

Greta Chiu - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: As a graduate student, I have always had an underlying desire to change the world through my research. The Research Shop has given me an opportunity to address food security and food availability in a socially-based approach that differs from my thesis, thereby broadening my knowledge base and providing me with real-world perspectives.

Program of Study: I am in my second year of a Masters program in Plant Agriculture. My research focuses on post-harvest physiological storage disorders in apples and plant stress metabolism.

Rebecca Ivanoff - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I hope to continue to gain insight into the processes involved in community collaborations and community engagement, while also improving on my community-based research skills. I am dedicated to the use of research as an instrument of social change, reflecting the values of engagement and collaboration. The Research Shop offers an amazing opportunity for achieving this commitment, and for bringing community and academic researchers together as agents of change.

Program of Study: I have just completed a Masters degree in Public Issues Anthropology in collaboration with International Development. Through this program I was able to work with farmers in three rural communities in central Honduras, where I documented relating to food, health, and culture. My findings will be used by the farmer research committees in these communities to help improve nutrition within their households.

Morgan Marini - Intern

Why I am working with the Research Shop: I have had the privilege throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies to participate in several Community Engaged Scholarship projects which have provided me the opportunity to practically apply what I have learned in my studies to real world situations. I firmly believe in the collaborative efforts between educational institutions and community organizations to cooperatively work towards shared goals, as students are such a source of energy, insight and knowledge.

Program of Study: I am currently completing my M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice Policy. My research takes a psychogeographical approach to examine to what extent crime prevention initiatives, such as beautification projects, reflect Western cultural ideologies of order maintenance and perceived safety.

Joanne Clark - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: Since my program is course-based, I look for other opportunities to participate in research projects. Interning at the Research Shop provides me with valuable experience and allows me to further develop my research skills. I am grateful to be able to learn about community engaged scholarship and support the work of our amazing community partners.

Program of Study:
Public Health. I am in my second year of the MPH program. I am particularly interested in maternal and child nutrition, health inequities, and global health issues. In my practicum placement, I am providing research support to the University of Guelph’s Alcohol Task Force.

Petrina Aberdeen - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: What drew me to the Research Shop was the tremendous opportunity to contribute my research and writing skills to community endeavours. Never before have I been part of a movement that allowed me to directly apply what I have spent years learning in university. Through my participation in the Research Shop, I am able to support community efforts while simultaneously finding meaning in my education and it has been an invaluable experience for me thus far.

Program of Study: I am a second year Masters student in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. I am currently developing a qualitative study aimed at examining the maintaining factors in Anorexia Nervosa.

Kathryn Walton - Intern

Why I’m Working with the Research Shop: I was first interested in getting involved in the Research Shop to pursue research interests separate from the perspective of my thesis. Interning at the Research Shop provides an excellent opportunity to participate in community-based research that links academia with positive change for the general population. I am very excited about strengthening my research skills while learning from the dynamic group of fellow interns around me!
Program of Study: Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. I am in my second semester of the MSc AHN program, focusing on childhood obesity. My thesis involves looking at the relationship between parent stress levels and childhood BMI in low income families.

Rachel Sim Yu Lau - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: I have joined the Research shop because I am very much impressed by the grandeur and boldness behind its initiatives. After all, it is not an easy task to bridge the academic society with the community, let alone achieve a positive change in people lives. I understand how challenging this could be and I would like learn ways to make this happen.

Program of Study: Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. My research focuses on the feasibility of health services carried out by the primary health care team.

Laura French - Intern

Why I'm working with the Research Shop: Interning with the Research Shop has provided me with the opportunity to participate in community based research within my area of interest, but separate from my thesis work. Not only am I strengthening my research skills, but gaining knowledge about an area of interest from my fellow interns.

Program of Study: Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. I am currently in my second year of the MSc program, with interests in community nutrition. My thesis involves using cognitive testing to explore consumers' comprehension of the Nutrition Facts table.

Clare Morgan - Intern

Why I’m working with the Research Shop: Working with the Research Shop continues to be an invaluable part of my experience as a graduate student, and I am immensely grateful that I have had the opportunity to both learn about and to practice community-based research in collaboration with such an inspiring group of people.

Program of Study: Sociology. My MA research examines the significance of education to social transformation. In studying innovations in Indigenous education in the Canadian context, I am exploring the significance of education in both historical colonial development interventions and contemporary processes of decolonization and community development.

Erin Nelson - Postdoctoral Fellow

With a background in Rural Studies and International Development, Erin's expertise lies in the use of community-engaged research to facilitate the development of more sustainable food systems. She draws on that to help support interns, build and maintain relationships with community partners, and guide projects.

Ingrid Mündel - Community Projects Coordinator

Building on a history of involvement with Community Engaged Learning across campus, Ingrid provides support to the Interns at the Research Shop and participates in guiding and facilitating research projects and agendas with a range of Guelph/ Wellington community organizations. She also participates in efforts to translate and connect ICES/ Research Shop work to Community Engaged Learning opportunities in the CSAHS' undergraduate curriculum.

Anne Bergen - Research Associate

Drawing on her PhD training in applied social psychology and background in community based research, Anne builds knowledge mobilization and knowledge translation capacity within ICES/ the Research Shop and the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences.

Meaghan Anderson - Intern

Erin Maclver - Intern

Melanie Kramer - Project Manager

Deanna Coop - Intern

Stephanie Lalonde - Intern

Tara Holland - Intern

Robyn Pitman - Project Manager

Laura Jane Weber - Intern

Michael CoDyre - Intern

Erika Stewin - Intern

Saifya Pindare - Intern

Sophie Maksimowski - Intern

Jorden Vander Klok - Intern

Wilson Halder - Intern

Theresa Dinh - Intern

Robbyn Sargent - Intern

Mark Affum - Intern