Contact & People
Department of Psychology
Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
University of British Columbia Okanagan
1147 Research Road
Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
Canada
Main Office: ART 323
Email: psychology.okanagan@ubc.ca
Please direct all general inquires to the above email address.
Learn more about current psychology graduate students and alumni.
Office of the Dean
Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
University of British Columbia Okanagan
3187 University Way, ASC 413
Email: fass.reception.ubco@ubc.ca
Find Our People
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Katherine Beuerlein | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | katherine.beuerlein@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Dr. Beuerlein’s doctoral research examined the Canadian Phased Interview Model of Suspect Interviewing in homicide investigations within British Columbia.
Courses & Teaching: Adult Inpatient Psychiatry Practicum
Diana Carter, PhD | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies | Digital Arts and Humanities, Languages and World Literatures, Psychology | diana.carter@ubc.ca | CCS 323B
Research Interests: Sociolinguistics; queer linguistics; gender and language; corpus linguistics; psycholinguistics; bilingualism; Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Jan Cioe | Associate Professor | Psychology | jan.cioe@ubc.ca | Office: 250.807.8732; Home: 250-763-1225 | ART 320
Research Interests: Human sexuality [forensics if sexuality focussed]; undergraduate student-driven research program based on Directed Studies and Honours work.
Courses & Teaching: Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality I & II [PSYO 353 & 354]; Intro to Data Analysis [PSYO 271]
Erwin Concepcion | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | erwin.concepcion@ubc.ca
Paul G Davies | Professor | Psychology | paul.g.davies@ubc.ca | FIP 326
Graduate student supervisor. Considering Psychology graduate students (both streams) for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Intergroup relations; stereotypes; prejudice; discrimination; diverse forms of social identity threat; perceived stereotypicality; levels of prejudice and discrimination that target stigmatized individuals.
Courses & Teaching: Introductory psychology; social psychology; intergroup relations.
Kalee De France, PhD (On Leave) | Assistant Professor | Psychology | kalee.defrance@ubc.ca | EME4115
Graduate student supervisor. Considering Psychology graduate students (both streams) for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Emotion and emotion regulation; child development; adolescence; inequality; adversity; poverty;
Courses & Teaching: Lifespan Development (PSYO220)
Jessica Driscoll | Lecturer | Psychology | jessica.driscoll@ubc.ca | ASC 286
Courses & Teaching: PSYO 512 Ethics and Professional Standards in Clinical Psychology
Lindsay Farrell | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | lindsay.farrell@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Dr. Farrell’s research interests focus on Indigenous wellness and substance use, harm reduction, cannabis and mental health.
Taryn Fay-McClymont | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | taryn.faymcclymont@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Neuropsychological outcomes of neurological disorders in children and adolescents.
Alanaise Ferguson | Associate Professor | Community Engagement, Social Change, Equity, Indigenous Knowledges, Indigenous Studies, Psychology | alanaise.ferguson@ubc.ca | LM4 627
Graduate student supervisor. Considering Clinical Psychology graduate students only for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Qualitative, Mixed-Methods, Community-Engaged, and Decolonizing Research Methodologies; Applied research in First Nations Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) mental health, healing, and well-being; Oral First Nations Language Documentation and Revitalization; Intervention evaluation research in trauma repair and addictions reduction.
Courses & Teaching: Indigenous Research Methodologies; Residential Schools and Reconciliation; Indigenous Research Methods.
Paul Gabias | Associate Professor | Psychology | paul.gabias@ubc.ca | 250.807.9383 | ART 228
Research Interests: Interface between visual and haptic perception; comprehension and production of haptic pictures by the blind; health and adjustment; perceptual, cognitive, and social aspects of blindness.
Courses & Teaching: Introductory psychology; visual perception; non-visual perception; psychology of touch; evolutionary psychology of aggression and the blind movement.
Liane (Lee) Gabora | Professor | Digital Arts and Humanities, Psychology | liane.gabora@ubc.ca | FIP 235
Graduate student supervisor. Considering graduate students (Psychological Science stream only) for Sept 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Creativity; concepts, especially how they combine and adapt to new contexts; origins of modern cognition; cultural evolution; computer models of the above. I'm not currently accepting graduate students; however, please don't hesitate to contact me if you are exceptionally knowledgeable about and interested in my group's research program.
Courses & Teaching: Psychology of creativity and humour; evolution of human cognition.
Susan Holtzman | Associate Professor | Psychology | susan.holtzman@ubc.ca | ASC 283
Graduate student supervisor. Considering Psychology graduate students (both streams) for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Health psychology; social relationships; stress and coping; adjustment to chronic illness/chronic pain; psychology of technology; digital communication and wellbeing.
Courses & Teaching: Introduction to psychology; health psychology.
Lauren Human | Associate Professor | Psychology | lauren.human@ubc.ca | ART 317
Graduate student supervisor. Considering Psychology graduate students (both streams) for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Interpersonal impressions; accuracy and bias; well-being; social relationships.
Courses & Teaching: Self and social perception
Shirley Hutchinson | Lecturer | Psychology | shirley.hutchinson@ubc.ca | 250.807.8413 | ART 319
Courses & Teaching: Introduction to psychology; personality; special topics: psychology of motivation; special topics: anxiety, fear, and uncertainty in intergroup relations; psychological theories of teaching and learning; leads the PSYO 490 Honours Seminar class.
Kimberley Kaseweter | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | kimberley.kaseweter@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Chronic Pain; Digital Health; Patient Care; Chronic Illness; Complex Care; User Experience; Mental Health; Patient Empowerment; Statisical Analysis
Sarah Kraeutner | Assistant Professor | Digital Arts and Humanities, Psychology | sarah.kraeutner@ubc.ca | ASC 204
Graduate student supervisor. Considering graduate students (Psychological Science stream only) for Sept 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Motor learning; motor imagery; stroke-related neuroscience; neuroimaging; non-invasive brain stimulation
Courses & Teaching: PSYO 230 Biopsychology of Behaviour
Kimberly Kreklewetz | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | kimberly.kreklewetz@mail.ubc.ca
Courses & Teaching: Personality Theory and Individual Differences; Program Evaluation. She also supervises the Adult Forensic Assessment practicum.
Maya Libben, PhD | Associate Professor | Psychology | maya.libben@ubc.ca | 250.807.9026 | ASC 284
Graduate student supervisor. Graduate student co-supervision (Clinical Psychology stream only) for Sept 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Clinical cognitive neuroscience; stroke; body image; hemispatial neglect; traumatic brain injury; neuropsychological assessment; cognitive bias; eating disorders; bilingualism; eye-tracking.
Courses & Teaching: Introduction to Psychology; Clinical Supervision; Clinical Intervention
Jessica Lougheed | Assistant Professor | Psychology | jessica.lougheed@ubc.ca | ART 332
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Adolescent emotional development; parent-adolescent relationships; interpersonal emotion dynamics; internalizing symptoms; externalizing symptoms.
Courses & Teaching: Adolescent development; development in family contexts.
Lesley Lutes | Professor | Psychology | llutes@mail.ubc.ca | UCH 103A
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Clinical Health Psychology; innovative cognitive and behavioural change programs aimed at improving physical and emotional well-being and happiness; Integrated primary care; Weight management
Courses & Teaching: Residency/Internship Preparation
Marla MacDonald | Senior Administrative Assistant | Psychology | psychology.okanagan@ubc.ca | 250.807.9528 | ART 321
Harry Miller | Lecturer | Psychology | harry.miller@ubc.ca
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Assessment of memory with traumatic brain injury; peripheral vascular disease and cognition; emotional function post stroke; effects of alcohol use on recovery from brain injury.
Courses & Teaching: Neuroscience of cognition; southern medical program.
Elena Nicoladis | Department Head, Professor | Digital Arts and Humanities, Indigenous Knowledges, Psychology | elena.nicoladis@ubc.ca | 250.807.8461 | ART 322
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Bilingual first language learning; second language learning; gestures
Brian O'Connor | Professor | Psychology | brian.oconnor@ubc.ca | ART 330
Graduate student supervisor. Considering graduate students (Psychological Science stream only) for Sept 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Statistics; personality; psychopathology; interpersonal behaviour; especially psychometrics, factor analysis, item response theory, Bayesian methods, dimensional models of personality and psychopathology, and software for statistical procedures.
Courses & Teaching: Advanced statistics; research methods; interpersonal behaviour and psychopathology.
Jamie Piercy | Associate Professor of Teaching | Psychology | jamie.piercy@ubc.ca | ASC 285
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Lifespan neuropsychology; prematurity; hemispatial neglect; stroke; psychosocial impacts of adverse experiences including grief, loss, and substance use among children, youth, and families.
Courses & Teaching: Lifespan development; child development; developmental psychopathology
Amanda Rivet | Clinic Assistant, Interprofessional Clinic | Psychology | a.krehel@ubc.ca
Kim Snyder | Administrative Assistant | Psychology | kim.snyder@ubc.ca | 250.807.8353 | ART 323
Alison Spadafora | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | alison.spadafora@interiorhealth.ca
Courses & Teaching: Adolescent mental health; psychological assessment.
Michelle St. Pierre | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Psychology | michelle.stpierre@ubc.ca
Research Interests: Cannabis use; psychedelics; microdosing; expectancy effect and psychoactive drugs
Carolyn Szostak | Associate Professor | Psychology | carolyn.szostak@ubc.ca | 250.807.8736 | ART 324
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Rural mental health; barriers to accessing mental health services by adults 50 years and older in rural communities; media and mental health-related stigma; role of media in combating stigmatizing attitudes about mental health disorders and suicide.
Courses & Teaching: Mental health disorders, counselling and interviewing skills
Leanne ten Brinke | Associate Professor | Psychology | leanne.tenbrinke@ubc.ca | ART 318
Graduate student supervisor. Considering graduate students (Psychological Science stream only) for Sept 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Deception; lie detection; nonverbal behaviour; psychopathy; power and influence; leadership
Zach Walsh | Professor | Psychology | zachary.walsh@ubc.ca | ASC 206
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Cannabis use - medical and non-medical; substance use; hallucinogens; harm reduction; personality disorder; partner violence; aggression; third-stream/mindfulness behavior therapies; drug policy.
Courses & Teaching: Drugs and behavior; psychotherapy.
Marlis Wecels | Administrative Manager, Interprofessional Clinic | Psychology | psych.gradstudies.ok@ubc.ca | 250.807.9237 | ASC 203
Jocelyn Wentland | Adjunct Professor | Psychology | jocelyn.wentland@ubc.ca
Courses & Teaching: Interpersonal relationships; adolescence; human sexual behaviour; introductory psychology; social psychology.
Christopher Wilson | Lecturer | Psychology | christopher.wilson@ubc.ca | 250.807.8110 | ASC 286
Courses & Teaching: Psychological Assessment; UBCO Psychology Clinic Walk-In Service Practicum
Derrick Wirtz | Associate Professor of Teaching | Psychology | derrick.wirtz@ubc.ca | 250.807.8276 | ART 328
Graduate student supervisor. Not considering Psychology graduate students for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Subjective well-being; happiness; the “good life”; cross-cultural differences in emotion; flourishing & thriving; positive emotions; interventions to increase well-being.
Courses & Teaching: Introduction to psychology; introduction to research methods and design; positive psychology.
Michael Woodworth | Professor | Psychology | michael.woodworth@ubc.ca | ASC 205
Graduate student supervisor. Considering Psychology graduate students (both streams) for September 2026 intake.
Research Interests: Psychopathy; violent offending; deception detection; computer-mediated communication; assessment and treatment of forensic populations; memory and psychiatric issues primarily within a legal context.
Courses & Teaching: Psychopathy; criminal behaviour; deception detection.
Tareq Yousef | Assistant Professor of Teaching | Psychology | tareq.yousef@ubc.ca | 250.807.8212 | ART 312
Research Interests: Neuroanatomy; retinal neuromodulation; student performance; equity in academia
Courses & Teaching: Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Data Analysis, Learning, Equity in Research and Clinical Practice