Our Team

Ami Goulden, MA, MSW, PhD, RSW (she/her)

Director

Dr. Ami Goulden is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Memorial University, a registered social worker, and the founder and director of the CARES Lab. She holds a PhD in Social Work and an MSW with a specialization in children and families from the University of Toronto, as well as a Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University. Her research and teaching focus on disability-affirming approaches across education and social work practice that support the well-being and autonomy of disabled people across the lifespan, with particular attention to gender-based violence, sexual well-being, and access to services.

Ami’s work emphasizes equity, access, and social change. She has led or collaborated on over a dozen funded research projects, including multiple Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants, and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and government briefs. Ami values interdisciplinary collaboration and loves collaborating with students in research, teaching, and community partnerships.

Curriculum Vitae

Emily Howe, BSc, MSc, PhD(c) (she/her)

Research Assistant, PhD Candidate (Marine Institute, Memorial University)

Emily Howe is a PhD candidate in Public Safety at Memorial University of Newfoundland under the supervision of Dr. Rosemary Ricciardelli. Holding a BSc in Health Sciences (Carleton University) and an MSc in Applied Psychological Science (Memorial University), Emily has engaged in multiple research roles including a placement with the Ottawa Police Service, Stella’s Circle, and as a research assistant on Canadian public safety personnel topics (CCWORK). Her current research aims to understand the occupational experiences of public safety communicators (e.g. 911 dispatch) as it relates to health and wellbeing. Overall, Emily strives to apply her knowledge in social determinants of health, occupational health, and psychology to benefit underserved populations.

Jordan Hollahan, BA, MA (he/him)

Research Assistant, PhD Candidate (Archaeology, Memorial University)

Jordan is a PhD candidate in the Department of Archaeology at Memorial University (MUNL). Under the supervision of Dr. Barry Gaulton, he is researching the social, religious, and economic impacts of the sixteenth-century “Mansion House” at Ferryland, Newfoundland.

Jordan’s life-long disability (a mild-sloping to severe sensorineural hearing loss) has pushed him to advocate for and bring awareness to the struggles that disabled postsecondary students face. For his efforts, Jordan has been awarded the Community Advocacy Award (2017) through the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association The intersection of his love for archaeology and living with a disability has produced his passion for community/public archaeological research practices and accessible/inclusive education. As he progresses through his doctoral degree, Jordan hopes to become even more involved with initiatives that promote the use of UDL in classrooms and the community.

Tori Lewis, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW (she/her)

Research Assistant, PhD Student (Social Work, University of Windsor)

Tori is a doctoral student in the School of Social Work at the University of Windsor. Tori obtained her Master of Social Work at the University of Windsor, through the working professionals program. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Honours Bachelor of Social Work degrees from King’s University College at Western University. Tori describes herself as passionate about addressing violence against women, trauma, equitable access to healthcare, and enhancing social work knowledge and practice. If you would like to connect with Tori, feel free to reach out via email at vlewis8@uwo.ca.

Israt Lipa, BSS, MSS (she/her)

Research Assistant, PhD Candidate (Folklore, Memorial University)

Israt Lipa is a PhD Candidate in the Dept. of Folklore at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). She did her BSS and MSS in Anthropology, and with ten years of active research experience, Israt has actively participated in research projects on road accidents, reproductive health and rights, socio-cultural aspects of disability, refugee crisis, trauma-informed research, grief and death studies.

Following her passion for limiting road accidents and ensuring road safety, in her PhD research, she is exploring the human elements of road accidents; where she researched folk beliefs about road accidents, material culture and road users’ performances in roadside shrines, and personal experience narratives of road accident survivors’ by documenting their lived experiences. She believes stories of lived experiences in terms of phenomenology can be an important medium for interpreting social research into effective actions. Her methodological interests are phenomenological research, place-valence approach, experience-centred approach, narrative study, and trauma-informed practice. She is growing her new research interest in mapping systems analysis to solve social problems through storytelling.

Claire O’Brien, BA

Research Assistant, MPH Student (Population Health and Applied Health Sciences, Memorial University)

Claire is a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at Memorial University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Community Services with a focus in Disability Studies from the University of Victoria, where she completed a practicum placement in community-based research. Claire has worked in a variety of frontline youth services roles on Vancouver Island, including emergency housing and youth outreach, and is passionate about improving access and health promotion. Her research interests include youth mental health, harm reduction, disability justice, sexual health, and systems navigation.

Amanda Guay, BA, BSW, MSW, RSW (she/her)

Research Assistant, PhD Student (Social Work, Memorial University)

Amanda is a PhD student in Social Work at Memorial University. Her research interests focus on disability, accessibility, and equity in post-secondary education, including academic accommodations, institutional ableism, and inclusive pedagogical practices. She holds a BA in Psychology from Concordia University, as well as a BSW and MSW from McGill University. She is a registered social worker with professional experience in disability and mental health support services across clinical, community, and educational settings. Her work is informed by critical disability studies and intersectional perspectives and emphasizes qualitative and participatory approaches that centre lived experience and promote equity-oriented change.

Sara Martinez Rueda (she/her)

Mitacs Globalink Research Intern, Psychology Student (Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga)

Sara is a Colombian student in third year of undergraduate studies of psychology. She’s actively involved in academic research projects, volunteer, and interdisciplinary initiatives focused on social impact and well-being. Her interests are focused on social psychology and themes such as gender equality, a feminist and inclusive perspective, mental health care, and comprehensive sexuality education.

Mariela Carolina Calderón Muñoz (she/her)

Mitacs Globalink Research Intern, Educational Management and Curriculum Administration Student (Universidad Tecnológica El Retoño)

Mariela Carolina Calderón Muñoz is an undergraduate student at Universidad Tecnológica El Retoño, located in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where she is completing a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Management and Curriculum Administration. She is particularly interested in inclusive education, learner engagement and the design of accessible and meaningful learning experiences. She has experience teaching English to learners of different ages and proficiency levels, designing structured lesson plans and classroom activities using communicative, task-based, and student-centered approaches that promote engagement and active participation. Her academic and teaching interests are shaped by a strong focus on practical, student-centered approaches that support diverse learners in real classroom contexts.

Jasmine Carey (she/her)

Youth Advisor, Undergraduate Student (Faculty of Science, Memorial University)

Jasmine is an undergraduate student at Memorial University of Newfoundland who aims to complete a BSc in Earth Science. During her first year at Memorial, Jasmine was provided with an IBD diagnosis following some time in the hospital. She hopes that sharing her experiences and representing disabled youth on this team as Youth Advisor will be able to make a positive impact for her peers.

Karen Rodriguez (she/her)

Previous Mitacs Globalink Research Intern, Modern Languages Student (Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia)

Karen is a Colombian student in her last year of the degree Modern languages with an Emphasis on English. At her home university, she has contributed to different research projects that involve inclusion in the academic spaces, creation of inclusive material for teaching languages, and the analysis of teaching practices through equity lens.

As a Mitacs research intern, she is currently working on a project that analyzes the experiences of disabled social work students in Canada. Her academic interests involve Universal Design for Learning, inclusive pedagogical practices, and disability studies. Karen is committed to promoting real-world teaching practices that encompass all learners.

Stephanie Evans (she/her), BSW

Research Assistant

Stephanie Evans is a dedicated advocate for mental health and disability rights from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. A recent social work graduate, she plans to establish her own private practice. Stephanie actively serves as the disability representative for the Canadian Federation of Students Newfoundland and Labrador and works in partnership with Wavemakers to assist students nationwide. Additionally, she collaborates with Dawn Canada on research, policy, education, and advocacy focused on women and gender-diverse individuals with disabilities. As the chairperson of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), she supports students, staff, and board members.

Sean Fardy, BA, B.Ed, M.Ed (Counselling Psychology) (he/him)

PhD Candidate (Education, Memorial University)

Sean is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. His doctoral research examines the accessibility policies at post-secondary institutions across Canada to identify how these policies can lead to barriers that may deter students with disabilities from pursuing accommodations.

Rose C. B. Singh, MSW, PhD(c), RSW (she/they)

PhD Candidate (Social Work, Memorial University)

Rose is a PhD candidate at Memorial University and a sessional lecturer at Dalhousie University. She teaches courses focusing on critical approaches to theory, practice, and policy. Her research and interests centre on critical social work education, social justice, disability justice, disabilities, mental health, online learning and teaching, and emerging technologies.

Sarah E. Norris, BA, BSW, MSW (she/her)

PhD Candidate (Health, Dalhousie University)

Sarah is a PhD candidate in Health at Dalhousie University. With twenty years of experience working with children, students, and families, Sarah has actively contributed to research projects on women’s health, gender-based violence, trauma, disability, and climate justice.

Jullye Ponsoni (she/her)

Previous Mitacs Globalink Research Intern, Psychology Graduate (Federal University of Paraná)

Jullye is a graduate of the Federal University of Paraná, located in the city of Curitiba in the southern region of Brazil. Jullye has been involved in numerous research projects and teaching assistantships. Jullye is actively pursuing an academic career. Her field of interest is health psychology, which includes gender issues, public health, disability, thanatology, and palliative care.