Caroline Burnley (Lab Director)
Caroline received her PhD from Carleton University in Ottawa, ON. She has been a full-time faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Vancouver Island University since 1995. As one of the founding directors of the Resilience Research Lab, she has been running the lab since its inception in 2006. Her interests include understanding how resilience is exhibited within contextual frameworks and supporting programs that foster/support resilience. She has been involved in resilience research at the local, national and international levels with children, adolescents, adults and seniors. Caroline values the opportunity to teach her students through research and lab projects.
Stephanie McKenzie (Lab Director)
Stephanie obtained her MA at the University of Regina in Experimental and Applied Psychology and has been teaching in the Department of Psychology at Vancouver Island University since 2009. Her interests include the history and systems of psychology, theories of personhood, and emergent agency. Stephanie joined the Resilience Lab in 2017 in order to expand her theoretical and research interests into the field of resilience and support student research.
Brianne Knowles (Lab Manager)
Brianne is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. She is particularly interested in how resilience plays a crucial role in child development. Brianne aims to explore this topic further by completing an honours thesis during her undergraduate studies. After graduation, she plans to pursue graduate studies in Child Psychology, with the goal of contributing to the well-being and development of children through clinical practice and research.
Carina Morton (Research Assistant)
Carina is working toward a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology. She is interested in the processes of building and strengthening resilience, specifically in therapeutic and academic settings. Through her work with the Wellness Peer team and the Peer Supported Learning program at VIU, Carina has been incredibly inspired by student resilience in these contexts. As a person who juggles a busy schedule, Carina's personal resilience and growth are also motivational for her. Carina’s research experience is varied, including work with Edgewood Nanaimo and the Biological Rhythms lab at VIU. After graduation from VIU, Carina intends to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology, with an ultimate goal of work in practice with clients, as well as continued research through professorship.
Jenna Beveridge (Research Assistant)
Jenna is in her third year pursing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. Her interests focus on how social support and community programing can be utilized to foster individual resilience. Jenna is also passionate about exploring how to better protect support workers in various fields from the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout. She is excited for the opportunity to hone her research skills, with goals to continue with graduate studies after graduation.
Pascale Hudon (Research Assistant)
Pascale is completing a B.A. in Psychology and is (happily) obsessed with the field. Her interests include emotions and behaviours, social relationships, and positive psychology. In the Resilience Research Lab, she aims to study and understand the psychological and social factors that help people cultivate and sustain a growth mindset. After her degree, she plans to pursue a master’s and train as a clinical counsellor, helping people navigate challenges and develop practical, evidence-based skills for a meaningful life.