2023 Jennifer Mactavish Student Leadership Award Recipients
Student Engagement and Experience
Jocelyne Mendez-Guzman, Molecuar Science MSc
Jocelyne Mendez-Guzman is a recent Master of Science graduate from the Molecular Science program. During her time as president of the Molecular Science Graduate Course Union, Jocelyne spearheaded multiple events to build community across graduate programs. She also represented TMU at the provincial 3-Minute Thesis® competition, using science communication to empower students to share their research confidently. As a Graduate Educational Developer, Jocelyne led cultural sensitivity and equity workshops, fostering inclusive learning environments. Her dedication to mentorship and student success earned her the TA/GA Award for Teaching Excellence.
Committed to supporting students beyond the classroom, Jocelyne actively works to normalize failure in learning. She spoke on the Mistakes, Missteps, and Mindsets podcast, addressing the stigma of failure in academia and promoting resilience in research. Jocelyne remains dedicated to building vibrant, inclusive communities where students feel supported and empowered.
Community Engagement and Experience
Lindsey Snaychuk, Clinical Psychology PhD
Lindsey is a PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program. She is the recipient of multiple SSHRC awards, has presented at numerous national and international conferences, and has published several first-authored articles. Although she studies addiction broadly, her doctoral research primarily focuses on mechanisms that inform the assessment and treatment of compulsive sexual behaviour (i.e., sex addiction). Lindsey has worked in various capacities in the field of addiction for many years. In her current role overseeing national research and measurement-based care initiatives at EHN Canada, she has formed partnerships with multiple universities to study treatment outcomes with the goal of improving care for addictive disorders.
As a first-generation graduate student, Lindsey is dedicated to providing mentorship to honours and practicum students. She also serves as a mentor for several academic and community-based organizations, including the Canadian Psychological Association, where she won the 2022 Mentor of the Year Award.
SRC Innovation and Impact
Vincent A. Santiago, Clinical Psychology, PhD
I completed my PhD in Clinical Psychology under the supervision of Dr. Stephanie Cassin. For my doctoral dissertation, I co-developed a novel intervention combining a person-centred counseling style with cognitive behavioural therapy for the concept of “food addiction.” Recruiting province-wide, myself and others delivered a free, virtual therapy to help a diverse group of individuals who felt addicted to processed foods develop a healthier relationship with food. The concept of “food addiction” is controversial because of its overlap with areas such as eating disorders, but there is growing recognition.
I'm honoured to be an innovator, helping to push this research forward at TMU and beyond. I've been fortunate to share my work in literature reviews, book chapters, and conferences. Outside of my research, I've co-organized events to help increase the diversity of psychology graduate students and volunteered at LGBT Youth Line.
