I received my PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta) in 2006 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine (Department of Neuroscience) (Houston, Texas). I joined the Department of Psychology at Laurier in 2008. I have served as Associate Dean: Student Services in the Faculty of Science (2015-2018), Senior Advisor to the Provost (2018-2019), Chair of the Department of Psychology (2019-2021) and now as Dean of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, and the Wilfrid Laurier International College.

My research focuses on recreational psychoactive drug use, with particular interests in trends in undergraduate student alcohol and other drug use (with studies emphasizing cannabis, MDMA, nootropics and the use of psychedelics), relationships between alcohol and drug use and academic outcomes, the reasons underpinning recreational alcohol and drug use by students, harmful outcomes associated with excessive alcohol and drug use, and harm reduction.

• Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Award for Excellence in Teaching (2011).
• Teaching Award of Excellence – Full-time Category – Wilfrid Laurier University (2015)
• Merit Awards (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020)

Research opportunities (thesis, directed studies) are available for interested undergraduate students at both the Brantford and Waterloo campuses. Please contact me for more information.