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
Masters of Arts (Ongoing), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SK
Bachelor of Arts Honours (Summa Cum Laude), York University, Toronto ON
Medical Administrative Assistant (Honours), Saskatoon SK
FORTHCOMING: Dell, C., Williamson, L., Carey, B., Cruz, M.,Gibson, E., & Pavelich, A. (2020) Transitioning therapy dogs online during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned. Animals (ISSN 2076-2615).
Pavelich, A. (2019, May). Culture as Intervention: Applying Indigenous Knowledge & Self-Determination to Suicide Prevention Policies in Northern Saskatchewan. Sojourners: Undergraduate Journal of Sociology, 11. UBC.
FORTCHOMING: Pavelich, A. (2021). Exploring animal-assisted intervention among military veterans: The potential social significance and impact of psychiatric service dogs. Paper submitted for presentation at the Anthrozoology as International Practice: A Student Conference in Animal Studies at the University of Exeter, UK on March 4-5, 2021.
FORTHCOMING: Pavelich, A. (2021). The Depoliticization of Suicide: A Critical Discourse Analysis on the Government of Canada’s Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention. Paper submitted for presentation at the Fourth Conference of the Critical Suicide Studies Network at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, June 12-13, 2020 (COVID Post-Poned).
Carey,B. (Presenter), Dell, C., Williamson, L., Pavelich, A., McKenzie, H., Gibson,M., Cruz, M. (2020). “Transitioning a Therapy Dog Program Online during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned”. Virtual Solutions for Substance Use Care Conference. University of British Columbia. Virtual Platform. In absentia.
Pavelich, A. (2019) The Medicalization of Suicide and its Depoliticization of Social Suffering. Presenter at the Sociology Undergraduate Student Association Academic Conference on March 15th, 2019 at York University in Toronto, Ontario. Best Presentation Recipient.
Bohr, Y., Manion, I., Lee, Y., Armour, L., Pavelich, A.,& Abdelmaseh, M (2019). I(nuit)-SPARX: Design of a Culture Specific Mental Health e-Intervention by Nunavut Youth for Nunavut Youth.Paper presentation at the International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health at the Hyatt Regency in Calgary, Alberta, March 22-24, 2019.
Pavelich, A. (2018). Culture as Intervention: Applying Indigenous Knowledge & Self-Determination to Suicide Prevention Policy in Northern Saskatchewan. Paper presented at the Sociology Undergraduate Student Association Academic Conference on March 15th, 2018 at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
Pavelich, A. (2017). From Deviance to Disease: The Role of Medicalization in the History of Psychopathology. Paper presented at the Medical Practices & Processes Panel at the Mount Royal Historical Society Foothills Colloquium on April 30th, 2017 at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta.
A. Pavelich, & T. Wirchenko. (2020, January). Introducing a Therapy Dog for Staff Members in the Peter MacKinnon and Administration Building: Pilot Project Report. University of Saskatchewan, Pilot Project Report. Office of Centennial Enhancement Chair in One Health & Wellness.
A. Pavelich, C. Dell, J. Ogresko. (2019, November). PAWS Your Stress: A Therapy Dog Program on the University of Saskatchewan Campus.USask Media Production - Promotional Video. (6:24 seconds).
McQuay, J., Pavelich, A., Porter, S., Tarantini, M., Van Dusen, O., and Wong, F. (2019, August). Undergraduate Student Expectations and Experiences in York University’s Sociology Program Final Report for FLR at York University in 2018 – 2019 as supported by the Sociology Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
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