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PresidentRichard Querel
I was the Ph.D. Representative on the 2008-2009 GSA Council. I lead the GSA’s UPass program, and, amongst other things, have been continuing to work towards negotiating the first Collective Agreement for University of Lethbridge graduate students. I have lived in Lethbridge 4+ years and am not yet curious about Stampede. |
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Vice-President InternalLesley Terry |
 I was born and raised in beautiful Nova Scotia, where I also received my BA in Psychology from St. Francis Xavier University. My undergraduate research focused on gender differences in stress, anxiety and pain perception. I also helped launch a region wide study for Correction Services Canada on gender differences in stress and coping techniques among employees of correctional facilities. In addition to my research and course work, I was the president of the psychology society and volunteered at a variety of community organizations. Before starting my graduate studies I lived in Toronto for a year and worked at the Center for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH). I then continued my trek across Canada when I moved to Lethbridge last Fall to begin my Masters degree. I am currently conducting research on gender differences in sexual arousal and the relationship between food and sexual arousal. I also have been investigating a unique population of women known as Feedees.When I am not in the lab, I enjoy sewing, painting, and cooking. I also enjoy going for hikes in the Coulees and trips to the many national parks that surround Lethbridge! |
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Vice-President ExternalKristy Kutanzi
My name is Kristy Kutanzi. I am in my second year of the Ph.D program, majoring in cellular and molecular biology. My research focuses on the role of estrogen in the development of breast cancer. I also investigate the effects of different doses of radiation, which is often used in treating cancer. Unfortunately, radiotherapy is often considered a double-edged sword, as it is also a well-known genotoxic agent with mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. As VP Members Communication on the Alberta Graduate Council, I will be meeting with governmental officials to lobby for graduate student rights. My focus is on increasing accessibility to informative resources to raise awareness and maximize graduate student opportunities while providing a channel for graduate students to voice their concerns to the government. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns you would like me to bring forward. I am also actively involved on the following committees: University Senate; School of Graduate Studies Committee; Associate VP (Academic) Appointment Committee; and the Graduate Student Representative for the Biology Department. I look forward to serving graduate students as their GSA VP External. |
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Vice-President FinanceScott Jones |
 My name is Scott Jones and I am the new VP Finance for the GSA. As of May, I am beginning my second year in the MSc program, majoring in physics. I am a part of the Astronomical Instrumentation Group (AIG) led by Dr. David Naylor, and currently find myself involved in a number of projects with Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS) as my central point of research. These instruments are central to large telescopes, both space- and ground-based, while the group has also built one for use locally at the University of Lethbridge. I am particularly excited about the role that the FTS, and its ultra-sensitive detector, will play as part of SPIRE, on-board the recently launched HERSCHEL space observatory. As the European equivalent to Hubble, HERSCHEL should provide us with many staggering discoveries.As the VP Finance I will head the UPass committee, something that I hope to spread the merits of to more of the graduate population. This is in addition to all of the bookkeeping duties of the GSA.I have lived in Lethbridge for most of my life, so anything in the city or surrounding area foreign to you, likely isn’t to me. |
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Ph.D. RepresentativeDoug VanderLaan |
 My name is Doug VanderLaan. I am currently in the second year of my Ph. D. program, majoring in Evolution and Behaviour with Dr. Paul L. Vasey in the Department of Psychology. I completed my undergraduate degree in Hamilton, Ontario at McMaster University before coming to the University of Lethbridge to complete an M. Sc. Degree. While I was a Masters student, I served on the 2006 â 2007 GSA Council as the M. Sc. Representative. As the M. Sc. Representative, I was fortunate to be involved in a number of initiatives that have helped graduate students at the University of Lethbridge, including establishing the GSA Travel Award to help support graduate student participation at academic conferences.I am delighted to once again be a member of the GSA Council in my capacity as Ph. D. Representative. This promises to be an important year for the Ph. D. program at the University of Lethbridge. Over the course of this year, I, along with faculty from various departments, will be involved in reviewing the progress of the Ph. D. program since its inception, and making recommendations to improve the quality and consistency of the program. In addition, I will serve on the GSA Council and help in any way I can to improve graduate studies at the University of Lethbridge. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the Ph. D. program specifically, or graduate studies in general, please do not hesitate to contact me at doug.vanderlaan@uleth.ca. |
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M.A. RepresentativeCarlin Nicholson |
 My name in Carlin Nicholson, and I am in the first year of a Multidisciplinary Masters of Arts with a concentration in Sociology. I completed my Bachelors here at Lethbridge, in Sociology, and enjoyed it so much I began my masters with Jason Laurendeau. My research involves exploring how risk is constructed and sold within guided kayak tours in and around the Gulf Islands.I grew up on the west coast of B.C. and while I miss the expansion of sky that Lethbridge offers. I am very excited to be involved in the GSA and hope that I get a chance to voice the views that you the Masters of Arts students may have. I encourage you to come forward and talk to me about the Masters of Arts program, graduate studies, or for more information about the GSA and what we do for you. Please feel free to contact me at carlin.nicholson@uleth.ca. |
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M.Ed. RepresentativeCarolyn Penniket |
 I am currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Biomolecular Science at the UofL. My research is conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Lethbridge Research Centre (LRC) where I am identifying and characterizing tissue-specific gene expression patterns in cereal crops. Though I myself am not an M.Ed student, I opted to fill a vacant position on the GSA to become more involved. I have had close ties with M.Ed students (including my own mother) and understand that many are working on their own education while teaching at the same time. Feel free to contact me with any issues you would like brought to the GSA councilâs attention. |
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M.Sc. RepresentativeKasia Pisanski |
 I completed my undergraduate degree in Honours Psychology at McMaster University. I am entering into my second year of study at the U of L as a M.Sc. student in the Psychology department, Behaviour & Evolution Research Group, Rendall Lab. My research focuses on the effects of voice cues, namely voice pitch and timbre, on assessments of body-size, masculinity, and attractiveness. I am also studying the degree to which voice cues correlate with facial cues, discerning whether underlying hormonal markers are cued across sensory modalities.Aside from a couple of toddler-years in the home-land (Warszawa, Poland) Iâve spent most of my life in Ontario. Moving out West has been an amazing and fulfilling experience. Lethbridge has an impressive array of hiking paths and parks (really!) and so I spend my free time outdoors enjoying the scenery and serenity.I hope to see an improved sense of community, unity and integration among U of L graduate students. On that note, Iâd like to send out a warm welcome to any graduate students that have issues/ideas that they would like to discuss with me; my door is always wide open! |
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M.Sc. Health Sciences RepresentativeJennyka Hallewell |
 My name is Jennyka Hallewell. I am in my first year of the PhD program in Biomolecular science. My research involves work with the pathogen E. coli O157:H7 which is intermittingly spread to the human population from cattle. Infection from E. coliO157:H7 is commonly referred to as the âhamburger diseaseâ since it can be present in undercooked ground beef. I intend to evaluate preventative strategies such as pre-slaughter diet modifications and phage therapy to limit the spread of this organism to the human food chain.I am a proud mother of a 1 year old boy whom I had during the last year of my Masters degree. As part of this representative position, I would like to address any concerns graduate students may have regarding maternity or paternity rights. I know first-hand the challenges graduate students can face in this situation so please feel free to contact me with your experiences, comments or concerns. As a representative in the GSA, I look forward to helping maximize your graduate experience at the University of Lethbridge so contact me for any reason. |
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M.Sc. (Management) RepresentativePatty Vadnais |
 My name is Patty Vadnais. I am in my first year as MSc candidate in the Management program focusing on Policy and Strategy. My research is currently at a very broad state of non-profit organization sustainability. I completed my BSc at Montana State University in Plant Science and recently completed the UofLâs Post-Bachelor Management Certificate Program. |
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FNMI RepresentativeMike Frank |
 My name is Mike Frank. I recently graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Art degree in Philosophy. Currently, I am in my first year as a M.A. Candidate within the Interdisciplinary Studies program within the Native American Studies department and Health Sciences Department. My research involves examining Aboriginal menâs masculinity within the Blackfoot culture. I hope to examine the stressors and tensions that Aboriginal men face towards themselves, their communities, and Aboriginal culture as a whole. As a member of the Kainai (Blood) Tribe and as a founding member of the University of Lethbridge First Nation, Metis, Inuit Alumni Chapter, I hope to provide an Aboriginal voice to the Graduate Studentâs Association. Moreover, I will provide all Aboriginal students on campus the ability to have their voices and concerns heard by the GSA, faculty, and staff members. I would like to see a stronger Aboriginal presence at the U of L in any capacity and this is possible with your help. I wish everyone the best in their studies and feel free to wave me down in U-Hall or send me an email with your thoughts. |
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International Student RepresentativeIlona Berth |
 Hallo, my name is Ilona Berth. I was born in Switzerland and grew up in Germany were I completed a Bachelor in International Business. Currently, I am in the MSc (Management) Program with Organizational Behavior as my major. My research focuses on group dynamics and characteristics. Specifically, I am looking at the relationship between efficacy beliefs and effectiveness criteria in work teams. As a former exchange student and current international student, I am well aware of the challenges one faces when studying in a country that is not your own. So feel free to contact me whenever you have questions or just want to chat. I am always looking forward to meet new people!As the International Student Representative I plan on increasing the funding for international students and on decreasing the isolation issues that so many of us deal with. Finally, donât forget to have a look at http://www.phinished.org/ a discussion and support group from and for graduate students from across the world. |
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Off-Campus Research RepresentativePetra McDougall |
 Hi, my name is Petra McDougall and I am in the second year of my Masterâs degree with the Barrett and Henzi lab in the department of psychology. I graduated from the University of Victoria with a BSc in biology and psychology, then moved to South Africa where I worked on the Lajuma Baboon Project for 8 months before moving to the Samara Vervet Monkey Project for the first year of my Masterâs program. I have also done research with howler monkeys in Nicaragua and song sparrows at the Rithetâs Bog Conservation area in BC. My interest is in comparative social cognition, and my current research investigates the proximate mechanisms governing social anxiety and relationships in female primates.In addition to chasing monkeys in Africa, I have been highly involved in equestrian sports over the last 18 years and I also have a soft spot for dogs, having spent a number of years engaged in dog sports clubs and as a volunteer at the SPCA.Recognizing the importance of international research and collaboration, and the growing number of students conducting off-campus research at the University of Lethbridge, I hope to improve communication and university services to those students who cannot physically present themselves at the school. |
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CAAP RepresentativeAndrea Andrews |
 My name is Andrea Andrews (nee Palmer) and I am in my final year of the Campus Alberta Applied Psychology Program. I sit as the representative for these students on the University of Lethbridge GSA. I have completed research on geriatric populations and child language acquisition, however, my interest lies in abnormal psychology and I hope to continue in a doctorate program geared to this interest. I am married, enjoy adventure travelling, and work a myriad of jobs to keep busy. |
