Meet our incoming doctoral cohort
Meet the incoming doctoral cohort for September 2024.
"We welcome our new colleagues in the doctoral program and are very excited about their research interests" said Michael Woodford, Associate Dean for the Faculty of Social Work's PhD Program. "I look forward to working with them and supporting their growth and development as they pursue their scholarly goals."
Meet the Incoming Cohort
Jason Anderson (he/him)
BSW, MSW, RSW
My journey in social work has been unique. My two degrees sandwich a 20-year career in policing I had as a member of the RCMP which was a childhood dream for me. The realities and impact of policing resulted in a PTSD diagnosis leading to my eventual medical retirement. I now operate a private practice in the Brantford area, working almost exclusively with the first responder community who are affected by occupational stresses and PTSD. Based on my experiences, including the work I am currently doing, my interest is in researching the impact of employment-based (sanctuary) traumas on First Responders.
Fun Fact: I completed Ironman Canada in 2006 with a time of 15:51:58 as part of a Canadian Cancer Society fundraising effort.
Cristina Aquilina (she/her)
BA, TESL, MSW
My social work experience, of 15+ years, is rooted in feminist-based ideology and practice. I began supporting adolescent girls and women with multi-diagnosed mental health needs in residential treatment facilities and shelters. Expanding my career into education, I facilitated programming to neurodiverse children at the elementary level, language instruction to newcomer youth at the secondary level, and academic assessments to adults with physically diverse needs at the post-secondary level. My PhD research brings together my professional and familial experiences with mental health and neurodiversity to explore mental health support for girls with central auditory processing disorder.
Fun Fact: I am the lead vocalist and keyboardist in the band, Iron Horse.
Philip Awere-Gamrah (he/him)
BSc, MSW, RSW
I love learning and have always been passionate about social justice in all its forms. After graduating from Laurier's MSW program I worked in the public sector in housing and mental health, as well as in private practice. My research focus was hard to decide on! One of my biggest pet peeves working in the social work field were the seemingly arbitrary policy decisions that determined the options that service users were given. My hope is to research how to create multicultural, client-centred policies to improve access and efficacy of our mental health care system.
Fun Fact: I love to try different cheeses and play cute video games with my partner!
Nathan R. G. Barnett (he/him)
BSW, MA
Throughout my life I have remained involved in advocacy, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ issues and in the post-secondary sector. I was heavily involved in student politics during my undergrad, but also gained experience in the non-profit sector teaching EDI workshops on a variety of queer topics, particularly around affirming language and queer representation. I am hoping to further explore the connections between representation and language by researching how queer masculine youth use fan fiction as a form of identity exploration/formation.
Fun Fact: If I wasn’t in social work, I would be a costume designer since I love sewing and making elaborate costumes!
Utamika Cummings (she/her)
BSc, MSW, RSW
I am a Project Manager, Registered Social Worker, Community Consultant and Educator with a passion for community research, capacity building, teaching and learning who has spent the past twenty years developing my skills through education and work in social work, project management, community-based projects, youth employment programs, EDI and teaching within community and post-secondary institutions. Unpacking the impact of my identity as a Black woman within these experiences forced me to explore seen and unseen subjectivities that influence the way I am seen. I am interested to further explore social positioning and its impact on Black scholars in academia.
Fun Fact: I am a Fashion Designer and have my own business.
Rochelle de Vries (she/her)
BA, MEd
Over 25 years ago I began my career in rehabilitation and education of the visually impaired primarily in rehabilitation centers, hospitals, schools, and community service providers, and later my private practice. Having access to this community as an ally, my approach to creating positive change grew out of the strong relationships with this community, hearing their stories and concerns, and co-creating new knowledge to increase independence, self-advocacy, and autonomy. I am interested in critically exploring disability, specifically blindness, by building a platform for equal dialogue for/with blind people to share their alternative ways of knowing and understanding of the world and themselves.
Fun Fact: Staying true to my Dutch heritage, I love all things coffee, tulips in the spring, a fresh stroopwafel, and a good thrift.
Samantha Matty (she/her)
BSW, MSW, RSW
As a trained macro social worker, I am passionate about changing organizations and socio-political systems. I am committed to improving the lives of racialized and 2SLGBTQ communities. My professional background includes working in civil rights, child welfare, international development, post-secondary education, victim services, and forensic mental health care. My hope is to explore the ways that the criminal justice system and health and social service sectors respond to individuals who engage in harm or violence and explore recovery-based offender interventions. I would like to contribute to an anti-carceral state and more just and equitable communities.
Fun Fact: Every three years I grow out my hair and donate it; to date, I have made seven hair donations.
Oluseun Olayinka (she/her)
BSW, MSW
I discovered my passion for First Nations child welfare when I began my career as a child protection worker with Mikmaw Family and Childrens Services of Nova Scotia. Since then, my educational and career goals have focused on better understanding First Nations child welfare systems across Canada, and supporting those who are involved in these systems. I have worked as a counsellor at Kahnawake First Nation, providing clinical services to children and families. I also have experience in hospital social work and private practice as a children's therapist. My research interests include understanding and exploring the use and impacts of risk assessment in First Nations child welfare services.
Fun Fact: I love to spend time outdoors, especially hiking and camping!