Research Team
Pat Spadafora, M.S.W.
Director, Sheridan Elder Research Centre
Pat Spadafora is the founder and Director of the Sheridan Elder Research Centre. Ms. Spadafora's research interests include, among others, global population aging, aging in place, accessible technology, civic engagement in retirement, and the impact of the creative and performing arts on health. Her expertise includes program evaluation, knowledge translation, and helping to prepare organizations to meet the demands of a growing aging population. Ms. Spadafora is a member of a number of organizations, including her role as a Director with the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), and as a member of the NGO Committee on Ageing for the United Nations.
Lia Tsotsos, PhD Candidate
Principal Researcher, Sheridan Elder Research Centre
Lia Tsotsos is excited to be one of the newest members of the SERC team! A resident of Richmond Hill, she spent much of her childhood playing music, performing in dance competitions and being on sports teams. Her love of movement led to an Honours undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University, where she was involved in research studying how the brain takes in information and uses it to move the eyes. She followed her undergraduate degree with doctoral studies at McMaster University, where she investigated the effects of age on the ability to perceive and understand motion. Now in the final months of her PhD studies, Lia is looking forward to expanding SERC's research mandate and using all her experiences (both academic and non) to help bring innovative aging research 'From Lab to Life'
Ann Anas, BSc.
Research Consultant, Sheridan Elder Research Centre
Ann Anas received her Honours BSc. at the University of Western Ontario in 1969. She is presently ‘retired’ after working for over 30 years as a Research Assistant and Research Coordinator in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario and the Departments of Psychology and Gerontology at McMaster University. She now is a research consultant at the Sheridan Elder Research Centre (SERC), and is Editor of the quarterly Sheridan Elder Research Centre for Creative Aging (SERCCA) newsletter.
Monika Strzalkowska, BSc., PCCOM, MPC
Communications Coordinator, Sheridan Elder Research Centre
Monika, a twice over Sheridan alumna, first started as a volunteer technology tutor at SERC in 2006. After completing her Masters in Professional Communications at Edith Cowan University in Australia, she has joined the team once again as SERC's Communications Coordinator. Monika's expertise spans social media, research, and public relations in the field of post-secondary education.
Paulina Camino, SSW
Research Assistant, Sheridan Elder Research Centre
From Ecuador with a background in contemporary dance (Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, 2006), Paulina came to SERC as a volunteer in 2010. As a Sheridan Grad from the Social Service Worker Program, she believes that active aging and lifelong learning are important steps towards abolishing ageism. Paulina is very much involved in the community, volunteering in various senior organizations, activities that reflect her passion for the field of Geriatrics.
Faculty Researchers
Susan Pratten, MSW, RSW
Susan Pratten has been a full-time Professor in the Social Service Worker Program at Sheridan College since 1980 and a Researcher at the Sheridan Elder Research Centre (SERC) since 2003. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Queen's University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and is a registered member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Susan has over 30 years of post-secondary teaching, direct practice and supervisory experience in diverse social work settings including mental health, addictions, and gerontology. Her current research interests include family caregiver support, empowering elders through technology, self-directed training for service providers in the aging, mental health and addictions fields, and strategies to combat ageism.
Alexa Roggeveen, Ph.D.
Dr. Alexa Roggeveen has been a professor in the Social Service Worker program at Sheridan College since August, 2011. Prior to this appointment, Alexa was the Principle Researcher at the Sheridan Elder Research Centre for two years. During this time, she designed and implemented a diverse array of applied research projects intended to improve the lives of older adults and their caregivers. Alexa completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology at the University of British Columbia, and a post-doctoral fellowship at McMaster University specializing in vision and cognition in older adults.
Sheridan Elder Research Centre for Creative Aging (SERCCA)
Gillian Saunders
Creative Director, SERCCA
Ms. Saunders trained at the Royal Ballet School in London, and upon graduating at age 18 went on to perform with several ballet companies over the next seven years. Her debut in Musical Theatre was in the The Phantom of the Opera, where she performed the principle roleof Meg Giry. She then spent six years touring with Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as performer, children's choir director, and Dance Captain. Having recently completed her M.A. in Dance at York University, she is currently Head of Dance in the Music Theatre - Performance Program at Sheridan Institute, where she is excited to be witnessing the future stars of musical theatre. As a much sought-after guest teacher, Ms. Saunders continues to share her knowledge, enthusiasm, and encouragement across the country, and is delighted to be with SERCCA.
BA:IEN
Cathryn Oliver
Coordinator, BA:IEN
Cathryn is a Professor in the Sheridan College Faculty of Business and has taught advertising and marketing since 2010. She brings more than 20 years of marketing and advertising experience to the BA:IEN team. As former Publisher of Forever Young Newsmagazine, Cathryn is a specialist in mature consumer marketing. She has worked with businesses from all categories to develop effective marketing communications strategies and advertising campaigns. Cathryn is also a Sheridan College Alumni and has participated in multiple professional development programs including The Ivey School of Business.