TMU Psychology faculty recognized by Canadian Psychological Association
The Canadian Psychological Association (external link) (CPA) is the national association for the science, practice and education of psychology in Canada. The CPA is Canada’s largest association for psychology, with over 7,000 members and affiliates.
CPA awards recognize the outstanding contributions of Members or Fellows of the Association. In 2025, faculty members from Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Department of Psychology represented a fifth of the total award recipients, demonstrating utmost excellence in their Scholarly Research and Creative Activity (SRC), dedication to advancing the discipline and enhancing the psychological community.
Stephanie Cassin, Alexandra Fiocco, Candice Monson and Ryan Persram
CPA Elected Fellows
Fellows are Members of the Association who have made a distinguished contribution to the advancement of the science or profession of psychology or who have given exceptional service to their national or provincial associations.
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Stephanie Cassin
Stephanie Cassin is a professor and the director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology, and director of the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle (HEAL) Lab at TMU. She is regarded as one of Canada’s top experts on psychosocial aspects and treatments for obesity and disordered eating. She has conducted a series of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-funded clinical trials examining the efficacy of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for individuals living with obesity and metabolic diseases. She has published one book and over 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, and she has given over 200 conference presentations and invited talks at national and international meetings. Cassin also investigates health care innovations that increase treatment accessibility. She is co-lead of Project ECHO Ontario CBT (external link) , a virtual training capacity-building model that supports healthcare providers in delivering high-quality, evidence-based mental healthcare in their local communities.
Cassin is a Fellow of the CPA and the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT). Her contributions have been recognized widely, including by the Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs Award for Excellence in Professional Training and at TMU by the Dean’s Teaching Award, Service Award, SRC Award, and the YSGPS Outstanding Contribution to Graduate Education Award.
“It is a tremendous honour to receive this recognition from the Canadian Psychological Association. I have benefited from the mentorship of many other CPA Fellows throughout my career, and I hope to serve that role for others through my position at TMU.” – Stephanie Cassin
Alexandra Fiocco
Alexandra J. Fiocco is a professor in the Department of Psychology at TMU and is director of the Stress and Healthy Aging Research (StAR) Lab. Fiocco completed her PhD in Neuroscience at McGill University, followed by two postdoctoral positions, first at the University of California San Francisco and then at Baycrest in Toronto. Her research is multidisciplinary, which stems from her training in psychology, neuroscience, and epidemiological research methods. Fiocco’s program of study is two-pronged, one of which examines predictors of cognitive health and well-being in later adulthood, and the other which examines intervention strategies that foster healthy and meaningful aging, including mindfulness-based strategies. Her research is supported across the three Canadian tri-council agencies.
“Being nominated and elected as a CPA Fellow is both an honour and a meaningful milestone in my career. This recognition affirms my past efforts and commitment to advancing psychological science in the areas of aging, stress, and brain health. It also strengthens my resolve to mentor the next generation of scholars and to continue promoting psychological knowledge in service of equity, resilience, and healthy aging.” – Alexandra Fiocco
Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science
The Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science is presented to a CPA Member or Fellow who has made significant contributions to Canadian psychology as a scientific discipline. Contributions should have either advanced the knowledge base of psychology, shaped psychological development, or created an impact through leadership roles as a teacher, theorist, advocate for the discipline, or in the development of public policy related to the field of psychology.
Candice Monson
Candice M. Monson, PhD., is a professor of psychology at TMU and Founder and CEO of Nellie Health (external link) . She is one of the foremost experts on traumatic stress and the use of individual and conjoint therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Monson has received numerous awards for her clinical, teaching, and research contributions, including Fellow status in the Canadian and American Psychological Associations and the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and induction into the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Monson has published over 200 publications and co-authored 8 books, including the treatment manuals Cognitive Processing Therapy: A Comprehensive Manual and Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD. Monson is well-known for her clinical training and therapy dissemination efforts.
“In 2009, my family and I moved internationally to join the TMU Psychology faculty, and 10 years later, I proudly became a Canadian citizen. I feel tremendous gratitude for the warm embrace of Canada and our academic community.” – Candice Monson
President’s New Researcher Award
The President’s New Research Award recognizes the exceptional quality of the contribution of new researchers to psychological knowledge in Canada. The award considers the applicant’s record of early career achievement, with a maximum of three awards conferred annually in diverse areas of psychology.
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Ryan Persram
Ryan Persram is a professor and developmental psychologist at TMU. His research spans the child and adolescent years with a specific focus on how youth form and maintain healthy relationships that are subsequently linked to social and behavioural adjustment. Prior to coming to TMU, he was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at McGill University. His research has been supported by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Société et Culture (FRQSC).
Persram is the director of the Adolescent Social Processes and Interpersonal Relationships (ASPIRE) Lab, where he and his team of undergraduate and graduate researchers examine how children and adolescents form and maintain social relationships using a variety of methods, including observational and intensive longitudinal techniques. They are also interested in how contextual factors, such as gender and culture, influence the importance of relationships and how they are subsequently related to youth adjustment. Persram and the ASPIRE Lab team are also motivated to connect their research to real-world experiences and outcomes that best support youth development and well-being.
“I am incredibly honoured to have received the CPA President’s New Research Award. This award not only recognizes and affirms the work that I have done, but it also reflects the people – colleagues, mentors, students – and experiences that have shaped my research journey. My hope is that this award will further highlight the ways in which we understand and support youth development and well-being through healthy relationships.” – Ryan Persram
