Kimberley Fenwick

Dr. Kimberley Fenwick serves as Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research at St. Thomas University, a position she assumed in 2025 after previously serving as Dean of Social Sciences (2012-2016) and Chair of the Department of Psychology. She joined the university in 1995 following teaching appointments at the University of Western Ontario.

Her academic credentials include a BSc from Acadia University, and MA and PhD from the University of Western Ontario (UWO). These qualifications underpin her distinguished career in developmental psychology and academic leadership.

Dr. Fenwick's research program centers on developmental psychology across the lifespan, with dual emphases on childhood/adolescent development and faculty well-being. Her foundational work explores perceptual development in infants, reading acquisition in multilingual contexts, and child eyewitness reliability. Recent investigations examine adolescent tanning behaviors and motivations, while her forensic psychology scholarship addresses memory fallibility, PTSD, and legal procedures in Witnesses and the Law. This dual trajectory reflects her commitment to both basic developmental processes and applied psychological science.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly productivity since the 1990s, with recent work emphasizing health psychology applications (particularly adolescent risk behaviors) and forensic psychology. Earlier research established her expertise in infant cognition and reading development, while her ongoing work on academic stress reveals cross-cutting interests in psychological well-being across populations.

Dr. Fenwick's scientific recognition includes the University’s Excellence in Teaching Award (2006), reflecting her dual commitment to research and pedagogy. Her scholarly contributions span peer-reviewed journals, influential textbooks, and practical legal resources.

She has mentored students through courses including Introductory Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics, Principles of Development, Adolescent Development, and Advanced Seminar in Developmental Psychology, integrating her research expertise into undergraduate education. Her leadership roles demonstrate sustained institutional commitment while maintaining active research engagement.