Meet The Team
Dr. Kara Thompson
St. Francis Xavier University Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Director of the Victor and Mona Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health
Research Chair in Substance Use Policy & Prevention
Collaborating Scientist Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR)
Dr. Kara Thompson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University. She is a prolific scholar, with over 80 peer-reviewed publications and is widely recognized for her research contributions on alcohol policy, and substance use in young adulthood. She is a scientist on the Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project, and was a scientific expert for the development of Canada’s new guidance on alcohol and health.
.jpg)
Lab Manager
Stephanie supports Dr. Thompson on all grant funded projects. Her responsibilities include coordination of participant recruitment and data collection, troubleshooting any data collection challenges, booking and scheduling program sessions, and participant compensation. She also schedules and coordinates meetings among research team members and lab team members, and review manuscripts prior to submission. Stephanie is interested alcohol and cannabis labelling, marketing, and policy.
Research Scientist
Dr. Darien DeWolf earned a PhD in Mathematics at Dalhousie University in 2017. His research interests include category theory, (inverse) semigroup theory, and applied statistics. Darien is currently a research associate of the SHEA lab and specializing in statistical analysis.
Rachael MacDonald-Spracklin
Master's Student
Rachael is a 2022 StFX graduate from the BASc Health Program. She has been with the SHEA lab as a research assistant since 2020. Rachael pursued an honours thesis in her fourth year under the direction of Dr. Thompson, focusing on the simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis, based on the Sex and Cannabis study. She continues to further her knowledge and work on substance use and population health at the University of Ottawa pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. Rachael recently accepted a summer 2023 practicum placement at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) focusing on the Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms Project.
_edited.jpg)
Stephanie McAlister
Research Assistant
Stephanie serves as Kara's Research Assistant, supporting research projects within the lab. Her responsibilities include assisting with data analysis, organizing research materials and datasets, and supporting the preparation and publication of findings. She works closely with the research team to support in substance use related projects specifically. Stephanie holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and is passionate about contributing to research that informs evidence-based practice and public policy.
Allyson Hayward
Research Assistant
.png)
Melia Landry
Research Assistant
Coming soon!
Olivia Harding
Honours Student
Olivia Harding is an incoming fourth-year Health student with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences at St. Francis Xavier University. Originally from Alberta, Olivia has become deeply involved in both the StFX and broader Antigonish communities through her work as a teaching and research assistant, hospital volunteer, and executive member of many campus societies. As an honours student under the supervision of Dr. Kara Thompson, Olivia works in the SHEA Lab and was awarded a Student Summer Research Award to support her honours project examining the influence of socioecological factors on stigma, isolation, and health outcomes among individuals living with Endometriosis. Driven by her own experience managing endometriosis as a university student, she is passionate about advancing patient-centered research, improving awareness and care, and advocating for women’s health. Following graduation, Olivia plans to attend Physician Assistant school and pursue a career in women’s and children’s health.
.png)
Katherine Harding
Honours Student
Kate Harding is an incoming fourth-year student in the BASc in Health program at StFX University with a concentration in biomedical science. She is an honours and summer research student supervised by Dr. Kara Thompson. As a recipient of the Walker Wood Foundation Award, Kate is conducting a mixed-methods research study on lived experience, coping, and quality of life among university students with endometriosis. This is a topic she is extremely passionate about and closely affected by, and she hopes to make a meaningful difference in women’s health research and care. Outside of the SHEA Lab, Kate is involved on campus as a research assistant and teaching assistant in the Health and Chemistry departments, as well as across numerous student societies, including Motionball for Special Olympics Canada, the StFX Health Society, and as an advanced medical first responder for XMED. Most notably, Kate helped establish StFX’s first Global Medical Brigade chapter, bringing a team of 23 student volunteers to provide care to refugee populations in Athens, Greece. Following graduation, Kate hopes to pursue her MD with the goal of working in women’s or children’s health.
Abigail Carleton
Honours Student
Abby Carleton is an incoming fourth-year Applied Forensic Psychology student at St. Francis Xavier University. She is an honours and summer research student supervised by Dr. Kara Thompson, where her research examines the psychological and health-related impacts of alcohol use on women. Through her research experience, Abby has developed a strong interest in applying psychological science to address complex public health and social issues. Beyond her research, Abby has been actively involved in student leadership throughout her undergraduate studies, working with the Students’ Union and as an executive member of the Psychology Society. Her academic interests include mental health, women’s health, substance use, community well-being, and the translation of psychological research into policy and practice. Following graduation, Abby hopes to pursue a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Alexa Archer
Undergraduate Student
Lexi Archer is entering her third year in the BASc Health Program at StFX and is currently working as a Research Assistant. In this role, she contributes to multiple aspects of the research process, from survey development and manuscript preparation to knowledge translation activities. Her research interests include women's reproductive and preconception health, pregnancy, maternal well-being, and neonatal and infant development. Following graduation, Lexi hopes to attend medical school and pursue a career in maternal and child health.
Past SHEA Lab Contributors
