2024 Graduate Profiles
THE 100TH ANNUAL CONVOCATION OF ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Olutayo Stephen Shodipo
Olutayo Shodipo is an ordained minister with decades of experience in Pastoral Care and Educational ministry in Nigeria and abroad. He is currently the Executive Director of Disability Empowerment Foundation, a non-profit organization registered in Nigeria and Canada. He is the author of Possible Models of Disability and Their Application in the Pastoral Care Ministry Practices of the Church in Journal of Disability and Religion (2023).
Dissertation Title: The Importance of Spirituality in the Lives of Adults with Disabilities (AWDs) and How Church and Pastors can Improve their Ministries to Meet these Spiritual Needs
Favourite SSC memory: St. Stephen’s Collegium that brings both students and lecturers from different backgrounds, culture, education and worldviews for meaningful scholarly engagement and interactions.
Future Ambitions: To be more involved in advocacy work that promotes the social inclusion and spiritual integration of people and families with disabilities in faith communities and a wider society.
Master of Theological Studies
Claudia Garcia Martinez
Originally from Mexico and with German nationality, Claudia Garcia completed her Master's Degree in Education and Master's Degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy in Mexico City. She has a PhD in Educational Sciences from the University of Salzburg, Austria, and a doctorate in Educational Innovation and Administration, graduating from the Gestalt University of Mexico. She also obtained a Certificate in Theology at St. Stephens' College. During her career, she has perceived that one of the educational opportunities to be covered is the diffusion of the benefits of a productive and socially welfare-conscious education. She has collaborated with several educational institutions as a teacher, academic coordinator, course developer, content creator and teacher trainer in international competencies and new technologies. She is a postgraduate coordinator and psychotherapist at Gestalt University. In conjunction with the EuroCsys Foundation, she designed the Integral Wellness and Spiritual Coaching system, which has been applied in educational institutions and companies in order to raise the levels of learning, performance and emotional well-being.
Culminating Paper Title: Multi-faith Centre in a higher educational community in Mexico: An exploration of spirituality and particular practices in a spiritual space
Favourite SSC Memory: My favourite memories at Stephens' College have been seeing a light-filled path in each course to share new knowledge with my academic and student team and offer new alternatives for spiritual development.
Future Ambitions: I intend to apply everything I learned in the MTS program in my life, maintaining and increasing my spiritual connection with God and contributing to the social improvement of my community.
Master of Psychotherapy and Spirituality
Erin Antoniuk
Capstone Title: Architectural Mindscapes: Bridging the Gap Between Design and Neurobiology
Miranda Dolphin
Miranda Dolphin is a MPS graduate presiding in Edmonton. She is passionate about person-centered care, championing diversity and multicultural competency and questioning systems in power. Miranda feels her spirituality deeply in nature and community connection..
Capstone Title: Fat Free: Dismantling Fatphobia in Future Healthcare Practitioners One Workshop at a Time
Favourite SSC Memory: Having heartfelt, reflective discussion in any of the in-person classes.
Future Ambitions: Splitting private practice with community care.
Cassandra Janovsky
Cassie Janovsky, BSW, RSW, MPS, lives in Sherwood Park, Alberta with her husband and daughter. She is currently a Registered Social Worker in health care and works primarily in complex long-term care.
Capstone Title: Easing the Existential Threat: A Workshop for Practitioners in Counselling People Living with Early-Stage Dementia
Favourite SSC Memory: Cassie has so much gratitude for the connection and friendships she has made during her time at SSC in the MPS program.
Future Ambitions: Cassie has a passion for working with older adults and hopes to continue and expand that work in her future counselling practice.
Jennifer McKeever
Jennifer McKeever lives in Vancouver. She facilitates workshops, retreats, and trainings that focus on the intersection of embodiment, trauma healing, and spirituality. Her joy as a counsellor and workshop facilitator is empowering people to feel at home in their bodies and develop the skills to live a life they love.
Capstone Title: Embracing Change: A Guidebook for Integrating Transformational Experiences
Favourite SSC Memory: Walking the labyrinth during Spirituality from Contemplation to Action and feeling immense grateful for finding a Masters program that brings together my biggest passions in life.
Anne Moyls
Anne Moyls is a Mental Health and Substance Use Counsellor living in Kitimat on the unceded territory of the Haisla First Nation. Her research focuses on how the personhood of psychotherapists impacts those they serve and how therapists’ development of somatic, experiential, and spiritual self-awareness may increase positive outcomes in their profession. Anne is passionate about the intersection of neuroscience, contemplative practice, and embodied divinity.
Capstone Title: Psychotherapist, Know Thyself: A Spiritually-informed, Self-study Guide through Embodiment
Favourite SSC Memory: In-class ceremony and ritual that fostered cross-cultural, multifaith/secular inclusion, such as when guest speaker Jean Tait of the Saulteaux First Nation showed us how to make tobacco ties while teaching us their significance.
Future Ambitions: To become a Certified PsychoSpiritual Therapist as I integrate a somatic, experiential approach into my counselling practice.
Ayesha Notiar
Ayesha is a dedicated therapist and educator with a deep commitment to holistic interventions that integrate the mind, body, and spirit. In addition to the MPS degree, Ayesha holds a Master’s degree in education from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Her background and training at St. Stephen’s have enriched her personal and professional life with a nuanced understanding of ethical principles and diverse worldviews, allowing her to integrate traditional evidence-based treatments, with culturally sensitive holistic interventions that honour the unique biological, psychological, social and spiritual expression of each client.
Capstone Title: The Art of Becoming: Weaving Narratives Through Self Awareness
Favourite SSC Memory: One of my cherished memories involved participating in a skit in which I embodied the internal monologue of a blonde (I wore a wig) Muslim woman contending with the inner voice of an unsympathetic therapist. This dynamic interplay between the two voices facilitated a process of mutual critical reflection, ultimately leading to a stronger and more nuanced therapeutic relationship.
Future Ambitions: Helping individuals build internal and external sanctuaries where they can rest from the world’s expectations and carve their personal and unique path through self-awareness and self-compassion.
MASTER of psychotherapy and spirituality (art Therapy Specialization)
Sandra Chapman
Over the course of her life, Sandra has been fascinated by the resiliency of human beings as they navigate life’s inevitable challenges. Sandra’s journey has included an education in psychology, and law, and eventually, a career as a commercial artist. Having dedicated the past 20 years of her life to painting, and finding emotional and spiritual healing through leading a creative life, Sandra enrolled in the Psychotherapy and Spirituality – Art Therapy Program at St. Stephen’s College to gain a deeper understanding of the process by which creativity can heal. With the constant love and support of her husband Brad, and beloved pups Bailey and Mia, she is delighted to be receiving her Master’s degree.
Capstone Title: Creating, Connecting, Healing: Spiritually-Integrated Group Art Therapy for Bereavement Grief
Favourite SSC Memory: The deep sharing and human connections made along the way, in an atmosphere that often felt like “coming home.”
Future Ambitions: It has taken me many years to learn to live in the present, so I will follow where my heart and life takes me…
Jennifer Korchinski
Jennifer Korchinski has a background in elementary education and is a mother of three elementary-aged children. Her experience and passion for working with children inspired her to create this guidebook. She hopes it serves as a valuable resource for fellow beginning therapists.
Capstone Title: Make Your Mark, Get Set, Go. An art therapy guidebook for children with trauma
Breanne McDaniel
Capstone Title: Bridges of Connection: Art Therapy Based Grief Groups That Utilize Cultural Resources
Jessica Potter
Jessica Potter lives in Edmonton with her husband and two cats. Her academic background is in Anthropology, but she worked as a floral designer for 8 years prior to her current work in the library system. She enjoys making art, gardening and sewing in her spare time.
Capstone Title: Beyond the Margins: A Mindfulness Journey for Youth in Comics
Favourite SSC Memory: Running an art hive together as a class at a community league! Also, watching the geese hatch every year.
Future Ambitions: Work as an art therapist for children and adolescents, and part-time librarian!
Kristen Powell
Kristen Powell is a passionate high school art teacher, artist and future art therapist. She believes in guiding clients through mindfulness-based art therapy to achieve therapeutic goals. Kristen holds certifications in yoga, meditation, trauma-informed practices, and Reiki. With a focus on healing and growth, Kristen is poised to contribute to the field of art therapy with the integration of expressive arts in schools.
Capstone Title: Brushing Off Stress: Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy for Adolescents in Schools
Favourite SSC Memory: Making art in the studio for any class was the best part of the program!
Future Ambitions: risten hopes to continue working as an art teacher and using her art therapy training with adolescents as she establishes a private practice part time.
Graduate Certificate in Spiritually-Informed Creative Arts
Wing Tin Winty Fu
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Winty moved to start a new page of life in Edmonton in 2018. Having worked as a clinical psychologist in the correctional setting for over a decade, she started her private practice in 2020 as a Registered Psychologist in Alberta with the hope to offer culturally sensitive, responsive and evidence-based psychological services to Chinese communities in Alberta. In addition to offer Chinese-speaking psychological services, Winty now specializes in offering Prolonged Exposure Therapy to treat traumatic experiences (especially single event traumas). She is currently a Certified Prolonged Exposure Therapist, Consultant and Trainer with dual registration in Alberta, Canada and Hong Kong.
Favourite SSC Memory: Immersing herself in the therapeutic and calming atmosphere in the College’s basement studio. The experiential learning experience at SSC had a profound impact on her.
Future Ambitions: Winty wishes to establish a clinic that specializes in offering quality and evidence-based psychological treatment for Chinese communities in Alberta. Continuing her specialization in PTSD treatment and disseminating Prolonged Exposure Therapy are two professional goals that she would like to pursue.
Laura Roberts
Adolfo Ruiz
Graduate Certificate in Spiritually-Informed Psychotherapy
Emily Brouwer
Carole Marriott