Research Team
Dr. Kathy Gerbasi
Professor Emeritus
Psychology Department
SUNY Niagara
Dr. Gerbasi received her BA (1971) and Ph.D. (1976) from the University of Rochester. She conducts research concerning both the furry fandom and therianthropy. Her publication Furries from A to Z (Anthropomorphism to Zoomorphism), is the first peer-reviewed journal article to explore the furry culture (fandom) by collecting data from furries. Other general research interests are in social psychological aspects of anthrozoology and attributional retraining of mindsets for college student success. While not a furry, she is a avid dog lover and her four dogs are all rescue critters, one of whom enjoys stealing student homework!
Dr. Courtney "Nuka" Plante
Associate Professor
Psychology Department
Bishop's University
Courtney "Nuka" Plante is a graduate of the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. He attained his B.Sc (Honors) from the University of Alberta in 2008, his Master's of Arts from the University of Waterloo in 2011, and his PhD in Psychology from the University of Waterloo in 2014. His non-fandom research includes work on video games and aggression and the use of fantasy identities (role-playing games, video games, novels) as a means of protecting self-esteem against threats.
Dr. Stephen Reysen
Professor
Psychology Department
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Dr. Reysen completed his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, his masters in psychology at California State University, Fresno, and his Ph.D. in social psychology at the University of Kansas. He conducts research concerning personal and social identities. A personal identity is what distinguishes one person from another. A social identity is a group identity that distinguishes one group from another. Using social psychological research methods, Dr. Reysen examines fans’ personal and social identity and how fan identification affects everyday life.
Dr. Sharon Roberts
Associate Professor
Department of Social Development Studies
Renison University College at the University of Waterloo
Dr. Roberts is interested in exploring the transition to adulthood and identity resolution. She is an Associate Professor at Renison University College at the University of Waterloo. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario in 2008. She has an interdisciplinary background with degrees in sociology and psychology, a certificate in program and policy evaluation, and a diverse research background that spans multiple methodologies and areas including private business forecasting and the quantitative evaluation of major governmental interventions. In her volunteer work, Sharon has been a member of the board of directors at Hope's Garden Eating Disorders Support and Resource Centre since 2006 and is the Chair of the Program Committee. She is also the Vice President of Research and Education at the Eating Disorders Foundation of Canada. In her spare time, Sharon takes acoustic drum lessons from her husband, a professional musician.