VLS - Staff

VLS Staff and Collaborators

Director
Dr. Roger A. Dixon Canada Research Chair Professor of Psychology University of Alberta Canada
	Dr. Dixon has been VLS Director since 1995. He directs both VLS labs (on the campuses of the Universities of Alberta and Victoria). He remains an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria. For more information, see Dr. Dixon's personal website.

Executive
Dr. Christopher Hertzog Professor of Psychology Georgia Tech USA	Dr. David F. Hultsch Professor of Psychology University of Victoria Canada	Dr. Stuart MacDonald Associate Professor University of Victoria Canada

VLS Consultants
Dr. Lars Bäckman Professor Karolinska Institute Sweden	Dr. Cindy de Frias Assistant Professor University of Texas at Dallas USA	Dr. John J. McArdle Professor University of Southern California USA

Dr. Brent J. Small Professor University of South Florida USA	Dr. Esther Strauss Professor University of Victoria Canada	Dr. Åke Wahlin Professor and Chair Stockholm University Sweden

A VLS Loss
Photo by RAD, one of Esther's many friends	We regret that our cherished colleague and friend, Esther Strauss, passed away in June 2009. A neuropsychology maven, she was a major contributor to the VLS initiatives in that area since the late 1990s. Her loss is felt in many other dimensions as well.
Esther's Recent VLS Publications de Frias, C. M., Dixon, R. A., & Strauss, E. (2009). Characterizing executive functioning in older special populations: From cognitively elite to cognitively impaired. Neuropsychology, 23, 778-791. Dixon, R. A., Garrett, D. D., Lentz, T. L., MacDonald, S. W. S., Strauss, E., & Hultsch, D. F. (2007). Neurocognitive markers of cognitive impairment: Exploring the roles of speed and inconsistency. Neuropsychology, 21, 381-399. Bielak, A. A. M., Mansueti, L., Strauss, E., & Dixon, R. A. (2006). Performance on the Hayling and Brixton tests in older adults: Norms and correlates. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 21, 141-149. de Frias, C. M., Dixon, R. A., & Strauss, E. (2006). Structure of executive functioning tests in healthy older adults. Neuropsychology, 20, 206-214. MacDonald, S. W., Hultsch, D. F., Strauss, E., & Dixon, R. A. (2003). Age-related slowing of digit symbol substitution revisited: What do longitudinal age changes reflect? Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 58, P187-194.
Recent and Current Doctoral and Postdoctoral Collaborators
Allison Bielak, B.A. (Winnipeg), M.A. and Ph.D. (UVic, 2008) Research Interests: Cognitive Aging Inconsistency; Lifestyle Engagement Presently: Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University
Karen Cochrane, M.A. (McGill), Ph.D. (UAlberta, 2009) Research Interests: Memory and Alzheimer's Disease Presently: Clinical Practice and Research, Halifax, Nova Scotia
A.L. Cohen, B.A. (York), M.Sc. and Ph.D. (UVic, 2002) Research Interests: Prospective Memory; Intentions Presently: Assistant Professor, Yeshiva University
Carolyn B. Crow, B.A. (Calgary), M.A. (UVic) Research Interests: Implicit Theories of Aging
Correne A. DeCarlo, B.Sc. (Queen's), M.Sc. (Lakehead) Research Interests: Biological Markers of Cognitive Decline Presently: Graduate Student, University of Victoria Presently: Research Assistant, UAlberta/UVic VLS Genetics Initiative
Sanda Dolcos, B.Sc. (Bucharest), M.P.A. and Ph.D. (North Carolina State) Research Interests: Emotion, Cognition, and Aging Presently: Postdoctoral Research, University of Alberta
Sarah Feltmate, B.A. (Acadia) Research Interests: Social Engagement and Cognitive Impairment Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta
Lisa M. Gagnon, M.D. (UAlberta, 2001) Research Interests: Psychiatry; Collaborative Cognition Presently: Psychiatrist (Calgary) Formerly: VLS Postdoctoral Research
Jacob Grand, B.Sc. (Queen's), B.A. (UBC) Research Interests: Cognitive Plasticity Across the Adult Lifespan Presently: Graduate Student, University of Victoria Presently: Research Assistant, UAlberta/UVic VLS Genetics Initiative
Janine Hazlitt, B.A. (Toronto), M.A. (UVic) Research Interests: Semantic Memory Change
Tiffany Hughes, B.Sc. (Allegheny College), M.P.H. and Ph.D. (South Florida, 2008) Research Interests: Influence of Lifestyle on Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Presently: Postdoctoral Research, University of Pittsburgh
Stuart MacDonald, B.A. (Winnipeg), M.A. and Ph.D. (UVic, 2003) Research Interests: Cognition and Terminal Decline; Biological Markers Presently: Assistant Professor, University of Victoria Presently: Coordinator, UAlberta/UVic VLS Genetics Initiative
Laura Mansueti, B.Sc. (Toronto), M.Sc. (UAlberta, 2004) Research Interests: Cognitive Aging; Stroke and Memory
G. Peggy McFall, B.A. and M.Sc. (UAlberta) Research Interests: Aging, Health, Cognition Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta
Shraddha Sapkota, B.A. (Mount Holyoke College) Research Interests: Aging, Health, Cognition Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta
Bonnie Whitehead , B.Sc. (UAlberta) Research Interests: Genetics, Neurocognitive Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Presently: Graduate Student, University of Alberta

Research Assistants

Recent and Current RAs:

Michelle Audet, B.Sc.
Debbie Ball, M.A.
Anna Braslavsky, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, UVictoria]
Alina Carter, B.A. [Update: Graduate Student, UWindsor]
Teddy Cosco, M.Sc. [Update: Ph.D. candidate at Cambridge University]
Andisheh Eslamboli, B.A. [Update: Ph.D. from Cambridge University]
Meghan Evans, B.A.
Inka Fakuade, B.Sc.
Laura Fawcett, B.A. [Update: Occupational Therapist, Vancouver]
Ashley Fischer, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, SFU]
Jill Friesen, B.Sc.
Douglas Garrett, B.A., M.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, UToronto]
Lindsey Helmer, B.Sc.
Oliver Jost, M.A.
Sonia Kang, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, UToronto]
Jackie Lane, B.A.
Aislin Martin, B.A. [Update: M.A. in Physical Therapy from UBC]
Véronique Mercier, B.A. [Update: Masters in Public Administration from UVic]
Corey Naphtali, B.A.
Elizabeth Nilsen, B.A.
Lisa Okada, B.A.
Terrence Perkins, M.Sc.
Parveen Rai, B.Sc.
Alina Sotskova, B.A.
Sarah Tippe, B.Sc.
Laura van Wielingen, B.A. [Update: Graduate Student, UCalgary]
Carmen Webber
Dianne Wolcott, B.Sc., B.Ed.
Jade Wong, B.A.
Sophie Yeung, B.Sc. [Update: Graduate Student, SFU]

Participant Coordinator/Contact
Victoria Site: Dianne Wolcott and Debbie Ball are coordinating the contacts with our Victoria participants. They may be contacted at (250) 721-6296 or vls@uvic.ca.
Edmonton Site: Contact Jill Friesen at (780) 492-7602 or vlslab@ualberta.ca. For inquiries regarding the VLS Genetics Initiative contact Bonnie Whitehead at (780) 492-7602 or geall@ualberta.ca.
Retirement Notice: Maureen Pugh was with the VLS since its inception. We have missed her enormous dedication to the project and to the VLS participants since her retirement in 2002.