Chair (2025-2026)
Alzena Ilie
Dalhousie University
Email: chair.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Alzena Ilie is a fourth-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. Her doctoral research focuses on developing and evaluating eLearning programs to train healthcare providers in pediatric insomnia and other sleep disorders. Her broader research interests include pediatric sleep in marginalized populations and in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Alzena is also deeply engaged in student advocacy. In addition to serving as Chair of the CPA Student Section, she is the graduate student representative for the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and the co-student representative on the Executive Board of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia (APNS). Clinically, Alzena works with children and adolescents at the IWK Health Centre and Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health, providing assessments and interventions for a range of concerns. Outside of her academic and clinical roles, she enjoys playing and teaching piano, traveling, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
Past-Chair (2025-2026)
Anisa Nasseri
University of British Columbia
Email: pastchair.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Anisa Nasseri is a second-year PhD student in the School and Applied Child Psychology Program at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Her research interests broadly revolve around understanding the experiences of newcomer students and families in Canadian schools and ensuring that programming is responsive to the needs of this population. Her dissertation explores the adaptation of a social-emotional learning intervention for refugee middle-school students as a means of boosting resilience. She currently works as a doctoral student clinician providing therapy for children and youth. Additionally, she works as a psychologist assistant assisting with psychoeducational assessments, and as a research coordinator on a project with the Squamish Nation focused on inclusive education. Anisa has engaged in various community service roles, such as mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters, facilitating youth groups, leading English classes for refugees and newcomers, and conducting peer-support sessions. In addition to her position as Past-Chair of the Student Section, she serves as the student representative on the CPA Board of Directors. Apart from her academic and community service involvement, Anisa enjoys travelling, trying new restaurants, thrifting, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Chair-Elect (2025-2026)
Adnan Zoubi
Adler Graduate Professional School
Email: chairelect.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Adnan Zoubi is a graduate student in the Master of Psychology (MPsy) Clinical Psychology program at Adler Graduate Professional School in Toronto, ON. Designed as a prequel to a future doctoral dissertation, his research is focused on creating and testing a novel approach to psychoanalysis that is culturally, socially, neurodevelopmentally, and neuropsychologically-informed with adult and geriatric populations presenting with various psychological symptoms. His other research interests include neuropsychoanalysis, empathy and psychopathy clinical scales, and treatment approaches for personality disorders. Adnan is very involved in student and professional advocacy – he is his cohort’s student representative at Adler Graduate Professional School, and serves as a Non-Council Member in the Nominations and Elections Committee at the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Clinically, Adnan is the founder and director of the Centre for Psychodynamic Insights, one of Canada’s largest psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy clinics, where he provides treatment for adults and geriatric populations presenting with various symptoms and disorders. In his free time, Adnan enjoys exploring rare musical pieces and films, reading, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
Graduate Student Affairs Executive (2024-2026)
Noémie Viens
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Email: gradaffairs.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Noémie completed a Bachelor’s degree with Honors from Bishop’s University in applied psychology. Since September 2021, she is completing a graduate degree in clinical psychology (Ph. D.) at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, under the supervision of Mr. Frédéric Langlois and Ms. Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel. Her research interests focus on romantic relationships, sexuality and psychopathology. Her thesis work focuses on the associations between perfectionist tendencies and couples’ sexual and relational difficulties.
Undergraduate Student Affairs Executive (2025-2027)
Sarah Gallant
Dalhousie University
Email: ugaffairs.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Sarah Gallant is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Psychology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, with plans to pursue an Honours thesis in her fifth year. Her research interests include couples and intimacy, sexual health, psychopathology, and eating disorders. Sarah has volunteered with several organizations, including Best Buddies and Play4All, reflecting her passion for inclusivity and community engagement. She also enjoys traveling, baking, spending time with family and friends, and reading!
Administration and Finance Executive (2024-2026)
Marie-Pier Mazerolle
Université de Moncton
Email: adfinance.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Marie-Pier is a second-year graduate student in the Psy.D. (Clinical Psychology) program at the Université de Moncton. Her research and thesis focus on the perception and production of emotional facial expressions, masking expressions, and the authenticity of expressions. Additionally, Marie-Pier is interested in school psychology, sports psychology, and health psychology. Beyond her academic work, she has held several leadership positions, including vice-president of her psychology student association and co-chair of the National Youth Advisory Council of the Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC). She is currently a member of the MDSC Board of Directors. In her free time, Marie-Pier enjoys travelling, teaching dance, and spending time with friends.
Communications Executive (2024-2026)
Alexandra Brilz
University of Saskatchewan
Email: com.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Alexandra is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Saskatchewan, holding a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology and a B.Sc. in Mathematics. Her doctoral research centres on physician-patient interactions and developing patient-centred medical training programs. For her thesis, she created and tested a conceptual model of physician-patient interactions among youth with dysmenorrhea. Alexandra previously lived in Münster, Germany and volunteered with the German Red Cross, and she currently manages studies in the USask Family Health Lab. In her free time, she enjoys going on adventures with her Border Collie, Juniper, and spending time with her partner and their cat, JamJam.
Francophone Affairs Executive (2024-2026)
Chloe McLaughlin
Université de Moncton au Nouveau-Brunswick
Email: francophone.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Chloé is a second-year graduate student in the Psy.D. (Clinical Psychology) program at the Université de Moncton. Her research focuses on parenting practices, more specifically on parental apologies. As for her clinical interests, Chloé is interested in parental coaching and family dynamics. She is also working in a clinic as a psychology assistant for psychoeducational evaluations for children and adolescents. Apart from her academic activities, Chloé loves to be involved in university and community life. Among other things, she has held some positions in various student councils and as coordinator of the peer-helper program for the mental health of students at Université de Moncton. She continues to work for the French youth of New-Brunswick as an animator with the Fédération des Jeunes Francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick (FJFNB). Outside of her studies and commitments, Chloé loves to travel, meet new people and spend time with family and friends.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Executive (2025-2027)
Kethmi Egodage
University of Waterloo
Email: JEDI.cpastudentsection@gmail.com
Kethmi is a graduate student currently completing her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Waterloo under the supervision of Dr. Uzma Rehman. She holds an Honours B.Sc. from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in Psychology Research and majored in Criminology. Currently, Kethmi’s research is grounded in a commitment to understanding how early life experiences shape adult relational functioning, particularly within historically marginalized communities. Her work explores the long-term impacts of childhood maltreatment and abuse on intimacy capacities in adult romantic relationships, examining both sexual and non-sexual forms of closeness. She is especially interested in how these patterns manifest in BIPOC and LGBTQ2IA+ populations, with the goal of informing trauma-informed, culturally responsive clinical practices. Outside of her studies and research, Kethmi enjoys reading, yoga, and cooking.
Previous Chairs of the Section for Students
- 2024 – 2025: Anisa Nasseri, University of British Columbia
- 2023 – 2024: Melissa Lazo, University of British Columbia
- 2022 – 2023: Linnea Kalchos, University of British Columbia
- 2021 – 2022: Alejandra Botia, University of British Columbia
- 2020 – 2021: Joanna Collaton, University of Guelph
- 2019 – 2020: Alexandra Richard, McGill University
- 2018 – 2019: Chelsea Moran, University of Calgary
- 2017 – 2018: Jean-Philippe Gagné, Concordia University
- 2016 – 2017: Kyrsten Grimes, University of Toronto Scarborough
- 2015 – 2016: Zarina Giannone, University of British Columbia
- 2014 – 2015: Michelle Gagnon, University of Regina
- 2013 – 2014: Missy Teatero, Lakehead University
- 2011 – 2013: Justin Feeney, University of Western Ontario
- 2011 – 2011: Brenden Sommerhalder, Saint Mary’s University
- 2010 – 2011: Rana Pishva, Queen’s University
- 2009 – 2010: Phillip Jai Johnson, McGill University
- 2008 – 2009: Kelly Smith, Queen’s University
- 2007 – 2008: Lindsay Uman, Dalhousie University
- 2006 – 2007: Kelly Smith, Queen’s University
- 2005 – 2006: Elizabeth Stanford, University of British Columbia
- 2004 – 2005: Joe Camilleri, Queen’s University
- 2003 – 2004: Mike Coons, University of Waterloo
- 2002 – 2003: Réjeanne Dupuis, York University
- 2001 – 2002: Christine Chambers, University of British Columbia
- 1999 – 2001: Andrea Perrino, University of Ottawa
- 1997 – 1999: Donovan Lawrence, University of Calgary
- 1995 – 1997: David Dozois, University of Calgary