Hi, my name is Sarah. When I’m not in class or doing research, I am spending time with my friends and family. A perfect day would involve brunch, a bookstore and a nature walk. I love going to the gym, where my favourite activities include weight-lifting, rock climbing or practicing yoga!

I am passionate about promoting healthy outcomes through involvement in my community. I have volunteered as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for nearly three years because I believe in the power of healthy relationships as a protective factor for youth. I am also a part of the Active Minds team at the U of A, a student-led mental health awareness and advocacy group. As an executive Capture Your Mind Director, I work with students on campus to break down mental health stigma by promoting conversations about mental wellness.

I was drawn to the ACCERT lab for its interdisciplinary approach to psychological research because I have diverse research interests. I am passionate about leveraging strengths to promote healthy outcomes in vulnerable populations like FASD. Under the supervision of Dr. Pei, I am conducting my honors thesis using a strengths-based lens, investigating the relationship between resilience resources and internalizing mental health symptoms in youth with FASD. I am also drawn towards research using functional neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI, and I want to learn more about how neural networks operate and change across development in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Education