معرفی
Michelle Lafrance is a Professor of Psychology at St. Thomas University, where she has been a faculty member since 2003. Her work centers on critical and feminist approaches to understanding psychological distress through social, political, and structural lenses, with significant contributions to women's health and caregiving research.
Her academic credentials include a BSc from St. Francis Xavier University, an MA from York University, and a PhD from the University of New Brunswick. This foundation informs her interdisciplinary perspective that bridges clinical psychology with critical social theory.
Dr. Lafrance's research critically examines how societal structures shape experiences of depression, sexuality, and aging. She employs qualitative methodologies to amplify marginalized voices, particularly in her recent work on informal caregivers of older adults in New Brunswick. Her scholarship consistently challenges biomedical frameworks like the DSM while developing community-centered interventions such as the bilingual resource Aging in New Brunswick: A User's Guide.
Her publications reveal a sustained focus on feminist critiques of psychological practice, with recent work expanding into gerontology and healthcare navigation. Key trends include analyzing ethical dilemmas in caregiving, resistance to normative sexual scripts, and discursive constructions of identity in stigmatized contexts.
Scientific recognition includes:
- British Psychological Society award for excellence in research
- American Association for Women in Psychology award for excellence in research
- Canadian Psychological Association award for excellence in research
- Dr. John McKendy Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching (2013)
- Dr. Sheila Andrew Award for Excellence in Teaching (2006)
As an educator, she teaches core courses including Introduction to Psychology (Psyc 1023), Abnormal Psychology (Psyc 2643), and Qualitative Research in Psychology (Psyc 3053), consistently integrating critical perspectives that foreground social determinants of health. Her research projects, particularly the New Brunswick caregiver initiative, demonstrate successful grant acquisition for community-engaged work.
Dr. Lafrance collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary teams across New Brunswick on aging-related projects and maintains active community involvement through organic farming and outdoor recreation with her partner and dog Ellie.
