Gender Issues Research Lab (GIRL)
Ho Kwan Cheung, Ph.D.
Principle Investigator
Ho Kwan Cheung, Ph.D.
Dr. Ho Kwan Cheung is an assistant professor at University of Calgary. She is originally from Hong Kong, but lived most of her life in the Northeast of the U.S. before moving to Canada in 2022. She received her Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Spanish from Penn State University (2014), and her Master (2016) and Ph.D. degrees (2018) in Industrial- Organizational Psychology from George Mason University. Her research focuses on understanding experiences of women in the workplace, particularly as they intersect with the work-family interface. She was recognized as an early career fellow at the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN) and her work has been supported by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in Canada and Society of Psychological Studies in Social Issues (SPSSI). Outside of the lab, Ho Kwan enjoys baking in small batch, finding new hole-in-the-wall restaurants, hiking to see breathtaking views, and taking photos of her beloved bird.
Graduate Lab Personnel
Bhindai (Katie) Mahabir, M.S.
Katie Mahabir is a 5th year Ph.D. student in the Industrial and Organizational Program at the University at Albany. Originally from New York City, Katie attended Baruch College and has received her Bachelor in Quantitative Psychology (a dual major in Mathematics and Psychology). Katie has two cats, Oreo and Pucci, that are quite the character and keep her entertained. In her spare time, she likes to go for long walks, explore and dine in new restaurants which taking pictures of aesthetically pleasing food. Her research interest includes mental health issues in the workplace and how training can be designed to support more inclusive populations.
Jacob Belliveau
Jacob is a student in the M.Sc. in Psychology (I/O) program at the University of Calgary. Originally from Nova Scotia, Jacob received his B.Sc. Honours in Psychology at Dalhousie University in 2020, where he continued working for 4 years as a Research Coordinator. His research interests include employee wellbeing for marginalized groups, as well as how different organizational policies surrounding pregnancy and motherhood can impact women in the workplace. He also has interest in topics relating to data quality and survey-based research methodology. Outside of his professional interests, Jacob enjoys gardening, cooking, doing crafts, and spending time outdoors.
Jonah Kimmel
Jonah Kimmel is in his first year of the MSc in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the University of Calgary. He completed his BSc in Psychology with First Class Honours at McGill University. Jonah’s research studies the cognitive underpinnings and consequences of stereotyping and discrimination. He has a broad interest in all aspects of organizational functioning arising from his experience as a professional chef. When he is not delving into the literature, he enjoys anything that gets him exploring outside, where he travels by paddle, ski, and rope.
Olha Mendelenko
Olha is a M.S. Psychology (IO) student at the University of Calgary. Olha completed a B.A. Hons. with high distinction in Criminal Justice and Law at Carleton University, followed by a Post-Degree Psychology Program at the University of Waterloo. Olha is interested in investigating issues and developing interventions that address barriers women face in the workplace, particularly sexual harassment. Ultimately, Olha would like to contribute to research and practice to help create healthier workplaces that have a better representation of women in upper management. Outside of academia, Olha enjoys reading, hiking, playing boardgames, learning new things (currently: playing tennis and skiing), and generally spending time with her family.
Kimberly Taylor
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Kim is a student in the University of Calgary's M.Sc. in Psychology program (I/O). She completed her BA in Psychology with First Class Honours at University of Calgary. Her research takes an intersectional approach to gender experiences in the workplace. Additionally, Kim is interested in how complex research findings and ideas around EDI can be communicated effectively to broad audiences. She enjoys writing poetry, exploring nature, and spending time with her family.
Undergraduate Lab Personnel
Angelina Tiutiunnyk
Angelina is an Honours Psychology student at the University of Calgary, joining the Gender Issues Research Lab in her final undergraduate year. With a background in finance and professional experience in banking abroad and in Canada, she developed a strong interest in organizational behavior, leadership, efficiency, and motivation. After moving to Canada in 2019, she experienced firsthand the dynamics of multicultural workplaces, highlighting not only opportunities for creativity and innovation, but also the challenges of navigating diverse cultural norms. Her current research interests center on strategies for fostering effective and inclusive collaboration in diverse organizational environments, with a particular focus on immigrant experiences and the role of cultural differences in shaping employee behavior.
Bryan Lentz
Bryan Lentz was born and raised on a cattle farm in northern Alberta. A graduate of NAIT's Television Broadcasting Diploma, he worked in journalism in Saskatchewan before changing career plans and moving to Calgary. Bryan is now in his final year of the University of Calgary's Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and will be applying to I-O Psychology Masters programs this fall; his research interests include LGBTQ experiences in the workplace and the evaluation and application of EDI strategies. His hobbies include video games, kayaking, coffee, and trying to convince his partner to play D&D with him.
Feathery Lab Personnel
Butter
Butter is a 4.5-year old half moon conure. Born in Western Massachusetts, he spent over a year in upstate New York before relocating to Western Canada. His primary research interests include effects of squawks on Ho Kwan's allotment of attention to him and semantics of human-influenced bird speech, though it is gradually expanding to workplace diversity and discrimination issues. In his free time, he enjoys tasting Ho Kwan's baked goods, destroying anything and everything he can see that is bitable, and making cameo appearances at Ho Kwan's Zoom classes and meetings.
Pierre
Pierre is a 27-year old golden capped conure. Born in North Carolina, he moved to Pittsburgh, PA at 3-years old. His primary research interests include effects of naps on performance and importance of solitude in one's well-being, though he also has a secondary interest in experience of working mothers (see Ho Kwan's dissertation). Throughout his career, he has travelled extensively throughout the U.S. (from Niagara Falls to Glaciers National Park). In his free time, he enjoys tasting Ho Kwan's baked goods, contemplating the meaning of life (and all scholarly pursuits), and cuddling with his favorite humans.
