Student Supervision

Sarah May Lindsay, BES, MA, PhD (she/her)
Postdoctoral Associate, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing (2024-2026), Western University

PhD Dissertation: Co-Sheltering Companion, “Service”, and “Support” Animals in Ontario, Canada’s Intimate Partner Violence Shelters  

Dr. Lindsay is a Critical Sociologist, whose work and passions involve human and companion animal shelters and care systems, homelessness, speciesism, intersectional social inequities, “disability” (particularly “mental health”), and veganism. She is currently a Post-Doctoral Associate at Western University in the School of Nursing and Sessional Faculty in the Department of Sociology and Criminology Program at Trent University.

Maisha Syeda
Postdoctoral Associate, Faculty of Education (2020-2021), Western University

Colleen Lynn Van Loon, RSW, MSW
PhD Candidate, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Health Promotion (2026/2027), Western University

Thesis: Public Housing Disparities: A Cross-National Examination Exploring Policy and Health Impacts 

I currently work in Forensic Mental Health with a passion in advocating for housing deprivation at the global and federal policy levels. My research motivation is driven by the voices of lived experts in which I worked alongside during my community and institutional experiences. 

Danny Guerrero, MScN, NP-PHC 
Student, PhD candidate in Health & Rehab Sciences (2026), Western University

Working thesis: Understanding Harm Reduction Practices for People Who Use Drugs within Forensic Mental Health Facilities

I am a Nurse Practitioner with an interest in mental health, addictions and harm reduction. I am currently a PhD candidate student looking to study the effects of harm reduction for people who use drugs within secure settings, such as forensic mental health. The goal is to prevent harm, such as overdose and death for this vulnerable population through harm reduction practices.  

Olayinka Ariba, BSc/BEd, MSc 
PhD Candidate in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (Health Promotion) (2025), Western University

Thesis: Women Experiencing Homelessness and Child Separation: A Critical Feminist Narrative Inquiry 

Olayinka’s research examines the experiences of women navigating homelessness and child separation in both high- and low-income countries. Utilizing a critical feminist intersectional approach, she aims to amplify the voices of women who have experienced child separation while homeless, with a particular focus on Canada and Nigeria.

Wisdom M. K. Avor, MPhil.N
PhD Candidate in Nursing (2025), Western University

Thesis: Sustaining Long-Term Recovery Following Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation in Ghana: A Phenomenological Study

Wisdom is a PhD student and mental health nurse specializing in substance use disorders, with a focus on advancing research and supporting diverse recovery pathways. Wisdom’s research explores the factors that influence long-term recovery after substance use disorder rehabilitation in Ghana, using a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of individuals in recovery.

Bridget Osei Henewaah Annor, RN, MScN
Student, PhD candidate in Nursing, Western University  

Thesis: The Lived Experiences, Health and Resilience of Street-Living Adolescent Girls in Urban Ghana

Bridget has a passion for health promotion and health equity among vulnerable populations like the homeless. My current PhD research is focused on exploring the lived experiences of street-living adolescent girls In Ghana, their health and factors that contribute to their health promoting behaviours and resilience. 

Tracy-Ann Reid, RN, MN
Student, PhD candidate in Nursing (2025), Western University

Thesis: Promising Practices in Cultural Safety to Support Canadian Newcomers Mental Health

Tracy-Ann Reid is a Registered Nurse and PhD candidate at Western University and a Professor at Centennial College.

Corinna Easton
Student, PhD candidate in Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University

Thesis: Exploring Power Within the Context of Food Insecurity During Homelessness: Perspectives of Service Users and Service Providers

Sibel Kusdemir
Student, PhD in Nursing, Western University

Steven Rolfe, RN
Student, PhD in Nursing, Western University

Jisha James, RN, BScN, PGDip
Student, Master of Science in Nursing (2025), Western University

I am a Registered Nurse with extensive experience across diverse healthcare settings. As a clinical scholar and instructor in mental health care, I am dedicated to enhancing patient outcomes through leadership, education, and the integration of evidence-based practices in mental health and rehabilitation. My research focuses on mental health care delivery, homelessness, challenges among mentally ill patients, and leadership in nursing. My thesis explores support services for homeless mentally ill clients, conducting secondary data analysis as part of the “Homelessness Counts” project, led by Dr. Cheryl Forchuk and her team. Through this research, I aim to understand the challenges faced by these clients and contribute to policy development for community reintegration.