Congratulations to our 2024 CPA Award winners!

We are pleased to announce that six of our APHD students received the 2024 CPA (Canadian Psychological Association) award! The CPA award is a Certificate of Academic Excellence that acknowledges top thesis students at the Honours, Master’s, and Doctoral levels.

Below we learn more about our award recipients and their journey in academia (in no specific order):

Melissa Hunte
Dylan Johnson
Sarah Kuburi
Ariana Simone
Teresa Beaulieu (not pictured above)
Katherine Finegold (not pictured above)

Dr. Melissa Hunte is a recent graduate from the DPE PhD program and recently begun a post-doctoral fellowship at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health. Coming from a psychology background, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) was her first choice for doctoral studies because it remains at the forefront of the latest research and innovations in human development and education. "The work emerging from OISE significantly contributes to global research scholarship and informs policies in Ontario", says Dr. Hunte. Her greatest growth during her Ph.D. journey resulted from the interdisciplinary approach to learning and research at OISE, which has made her a versatile scholar with specialized skills and experiences. Dr. Hunte's goal is to continue to utilize her niche skillset to impact individuals and systems in meaningful and measurable ways.

Dylan Johnson is a dedicated doctoral candidate pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in School and Clinical Child Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). He has built a strong academic foundation, earning both a Master of Arts in School and Clinical Child Psychology and a Master of Science in Epidemiology. His research delves into the complex interplay between adversity, resilience, and mental health, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dylan's clinical training has been extensive, encompassing practicum experiences with the York Region District School Board, The Hospital for Sick Children, and the Family Psychology Centre. Currently, he is completing his pre-doctoral residency at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, where he is honing his skills and preparing for his future career.

Upon graduation in 2025, Dylan aspires to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship that integrates clinical training with research in psychiatric epidemiology. He aims to contribute significantly to the understanding of mental health challenges and resilience in children and adolescents, ultimately enhancing intervention strategies and outcomes in the field.

Sarah Kuburi is a PhD student in Developmental Psychology and Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University and a Master of Arts in Developmental Psychology and Education from OISE. Her research focuses on the mental health of post-secondary students, with an emphasis on student stress and coping strategies. Currently, Sarah serves as the Lab Manager for the Coping, Affect, and Resilience in Education (CARE) Lab, where she oversees research projects on student mental health and mentors graduate students. She is also currently a Research Trainee at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where she leads a project on the impact of clinical dashboards on mental health care, collaborating with youth to integrate their perspectives throughout the research process. In the future, Sarah aims to continue her research in applied settings, focusing on the practical applications of her work.

Dr. Ariana Simone is a recent graduate from the School and Clinical Psychology program and is currently working as a full time Psychologist at the SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health in Toronto. During her time at OISE, Dr. Simone was involved in the creation and development of the “SCCP Student Hub”, a student-initiated information website for students in the program. In addition, she co-founded a student-led podcast with four peers, titled “Accidental Intellectual”, which successfully produced two seasons. She was also student member of the Ontario and Canadian Psychological Associations, and the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, where she had the opportunity to present her research locally and internationally.

Dr. Simone has always been interested in the mind-body connection. When she completed her undergraduate degree in Biology & Psychology, she had a strong foundation in the physiological processes that underlie psychological risk and resilience. She then started the SCCP program as a Master’s student, and then continued on in the PhD program where she received her training in psychological assessment and intervention with children, youth, and families. Dr. Simone's various practicum opportunities while in the SCCP program allowed her to hone in on her deep appreciation for community mental health, where she is now happy to be working. She has a special appreciation for psychological prevention and intervention from birth to age six years, though she is really enjoying working with children and families all the way up to age 18