Alexandria Pavelich
Alexandria is a current SSHRC CGS-M and Dean’s Scholarship recipient studying at the University of Saskatchewan’s Department of Sociology. Her academic pursuits revolve around pain and social suffering, where her work is informed by an interdisciplinary background combining elements of social psychology, medical anthropology, critical psychiatry, and sociological theory. An aspiring suicidologist, her primary academic interests include the medicalization of everyday life, chronic pain, trauma-informed treatment practices, spontaneous healing, mattering in the context of mental health promotion, mental health reform, biophilia, One-Health and integrative medicine.
Alexandria’s current MA thesis - “Exploring animal-assisted intervention among military veterans: The potential social significance and impact of psychiatric service dogs” - is a secondary thematic analysis conducted with Canadian military veterans to analyze the potential impact psychiatric service dogs may have for those at high risk for suicide. Due for defense Spring 2021, Alexandria aims pursue her PhD under the continued supervision of Dr. Dell where her dissertation will further explore alternative approaches to preventing suicide and reducing chronic pain among veteran populations.
Alexandria received her Sociology Honours B.A. at York University in Toronto. Here, Alexandria was the sole sociology research assistant in the Infant and Child Mental Health Psychology Lab working on a CIHR-funded Inuit youth suicide prevention project – “Making I-SPARX Fly in Nunavut.” Having been employed in various medical settings prior to attending university, Alexandria also previously held the position of “PAWS Your Stress” Program Coordinator for the USask campus (May 2019 – July 2020). She acts as a graduate RA in support of various research endeavours exploring suicide prevention, as well as the implementation of Therapy Dogs in institutional settings. More information regarding her research and administrative skills can be found on LinkedIn.
Alexandria grew up on a farm in central Saskatchewan. She now lives in Saskatoon with her partner, their two dogs, and one grouchy cat. Alexandria currently acts as a Therapy Dog recruiter and evaluator for St. John Ambulance, while also working alongside local rescue organizations to scout for potential service or therapy dogs. When not focusing on her studies, Alexandria is busy gardening, restoring El Camino’s, or taking photos. Her academic and photographic resume can be found at www.alexandriapavelich.com
Photo Credit: Matt Smith