Announcement of Faculty Appointments: Art Therapy Co-Chair and Clinical Director

St. Stephen's College is pleased to announce the appointment of Kayla Cardinal as Faculty Lecturer and Co-Chair (Art Therapy) of Psychotherapy and Spirituality, as well as the re-appointment of Olga Perju into the position of Clinical Director. Both appointments are in the Department of Psychotherapy and Spirituality and begin January 1, 2022. Kayla and Olga will work closely with Augustine Parattukudi to give leadership to our MPS, MPS-AT, PMATD, and Graduate Certificate programs.

Kayla Cardinal is an art psychotherapist, clinical social worker, supervisor, researcher, teacher, and advocate who “firmly believes in living life through decolonization, intention, inclusivity, and connection.” She brings more than a decade of experience working as an Art Therapist, holding professional credentials as both a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT) and a Registered Social Worker with the Manitoba College of Social Workers. In 2011 she founded and has since worked as an art psychotherapist at Winnipeg Art Therapy Services; she has also served on the Board of the Canadian Art Therapy Association and as a member of the Registration Committee for the Manitoba College of Social Workers. Her academic training includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Concordia University, Montreal), a Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy (Toronto Art Therapy Institute), a Bachelor of Social Work (University of Manitoba), a Master of Social Work (University of Calgary), and she is currently completing her PhD in Social Work (University of Manitoba). Kayla’s doctoral work focuses on intergenerational trauma among indigenous women. Over the course of her career, she has worked in academic and clinical contexts, including private practice, social services, and healthcare. You can read more about Kayla here.

When asked about starting at St. Stephen’s College, Kayla remarked: “Thank you for inviting me to share in your learning experiences and knowledge expansion. I hope to bring an indigenized and decolonized approach to art therapy at St. Stephen’s College and to make connections within the community.”

Olga joined St. Stephen’s in June 2020, first as Co-Chair (Art Therapy), and since January 2021 as both Co-Chair and Clinical Director. Since joining the College, her contributions have been many and they have been fulsome. In addition to the administrative duties that come with being Co-Chair (Art Therapy), Olga has established community partnerships between the College and the Art Gallery of Alberta, she has pursued and secured grant funding to support Art Hive initiatives around the city, and she has taught both the Practicum course and an Art Therapy Studio course on Art Hives and Social Action. Her transition solely into the Clinical Director position allows her to focus squarely upon the applied and clinical training needs of our students in the MPS, MPS-AT, and PMATD programs.

Olga is excited to take on this new role at the College: “Shifting my focus to the role of Clinical Director aligns with my passion for supporting students through their practicum experiences. This is a role that I continue to learn from and grow into. I hope to provide MPS, MPS-AT, and PMATD students with opportunities that are diverse, rich and engaging.”

All students and faculty are invited to a virtual “meet and greet” with Kayla, Olga, and Augustine during the first week of January 2022 (date TBD). Details will be announced closer to the day.

Please join us in congratulating both Kayla and Olga!