Centre for Social Science Research and Policy

Dr. Ardith McGeown Plant

As the Executive Director, Dr. Ardith McGeown Plant brings extensive work experience in public education and post-secondary education, with a focus on research and policy analysis, including leadership and management roles in the public sector and not-for-profit organizations.

Prior to joining the CSSRP, Ardith was a Senior Research Associate, Education and Skills with The Conference Board of Canada. She has also worked as a Consultant for the Commission on K-12 Education in Manitoba and a Researcher with the School Matters Project with the Manitoba Department of Education. In addition, Ardith serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Winnipeg, where she teaches courses in public administration, public policy and research design. 

Dr. Royce Koop
Political Studies

Dr. Royce Koop is a Professor in the Department of Political Studies and Coordinator of the Canadian Studies program. He joined CSSRP as Academic Director in 2021. Dr. Koop is a keen user of a range of methodologies in his research in Political Science, from participant observation, to interviews, to original surveys and statistical analysis. He also contributes to public discourse on policy issues in Manitoba and Canada through regular commentary in the media as well as analysis columns in the Winnipeg Free Press.

The position is held by a full-time faculty member with an established reputation in social science research methodology and policy development. The Academic Director is appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. The term of the Academic Director is normally five years, renewable. The roles and responsibilities of the Academic Director include, but are not limited to: overseeing all activities of the CSSRP; liaise with internal and external stakeholders; planning and budgeting of resources; coordinate with other administrators and leaders toward collaboration efforts especially in regard to training, professional development, and research initiatives; and develop educational courses/materials to meet Faculty curriculum goals.

Sana Amjad, Qualtrics / Survey Designer

Sana is a research driven economist and public policy leader with more than 12 years of experience in public service and humanitarian aid work. As a researcher, Sana conducts projects based on evidence-based assessments, surveys, public consultations, cost benefit analysis and impact evaluations. Being proficient in quantitative data analysis, she utilizes data informed techniques to provide recommendations that could help improve vulnerable communities in Canada. Sana is a strong education professional with a MA in Economics and currently pursuing a PhD in Community Health Science with a focus on families with a low income.  In addition to her position with the CSSRP, Sana works for the Province of Manitoba.

Steven Nuss, Quantitative Researcher

Holding a Master of Arts from Simon Fraser University, Steven Nuss (he/him) has experience and leadership in academia, strategic policy development, advocacy and government relations and strategic communications and stakeholder engagement. Steven’s work focusses broadly on Canadian institutions, political behaviour and quantitative methodology including experience in a variety of statistical software. In addition to "crunching the numbers," he also has a keen ability to have them make sense to a wider audience through developing and delivering workshops for the CSSRP.

Zoë St. Aubin, Qualitative Researcher and Analyst

Zoë is a PhD student in Sociology at UM and a recipient of a doctoral SSHRC grant for her research project. She has a comprehensive understanding of qualitative and mixed methods research and possesses strong analytical and communication skills. Zoë has extensive experience designing research studies, submitting ethics applications, data instrument design and collection, and producing research reports. Throughout her career as a freelance researcher Zoë has gained in-depth experience working with a variety of stakeholders to complete research projects in numerous sectors. She enjoys every aspect of the research process and aims to continue to apply her skills as a researcher as part of a collaborative effort to inform policies and practices that best support and strengthen communities.
 

Kayla Kasian

Kayla is a recent UM graduate with a Bachelor of Recreation Management and Community Development. She is responsible for assisting the Director with organizing all CSSRP events and workshops, by coordinating promotional materials, outreach to community groups and managing social media.

The CSSRP Advisory Board provides consultations for the Academic Director on matters relating to the operation and governance of the CSSRP.

The board consists of nine faculty members appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. Board members normally serve three years.

The composition of the committee reflects the diversity of the social sciences in the Faculty of Arts, not just with respect to its departments and units, but also to its research methodologies and perspectives.

Dr. Kathleen Buddle
Anthropology

Dr. Laura Funk
Sociology and Criminology

Dr. Danielle Gaucher
Psychology

Dr. Jesse Hajer
Economics/Labour Studies

Dr. Steve Lecce
Political Studies

Dr. Veronica Loureiro-Rodriguez
Linguistics

Dr. Gregory Mason
Economics

Dr. Melanie Soderstrom
Psychology

Dr. Lori Wilkinson
Sociology and Criminology

Jason Edgerton
Sociology and Criminology
Youth mental health; youth substance and behavioural additions; education and work; social determinants of health; quantitative research methods

Laura Funk
Sociology and Criminology
Aging and social determinants; paid and unpaid care work; death and dying; qualitative and interpretive methods

Jesse Hajer
Economics
Labour Studies
Social impact bonds; the political economy of social policy, privatization and financialization; the social economy and community economic development; the political economy of Manitoba

Verònica Rodriguez-Loureiro
Linguistics
Language contact; code-switching; Spanish as a heritage language; global hip hop

Kathrine Starzyk
Psychology
Reconcilization; solidarity; intergroup relations; collective action; personality; psychometrics

Roberta Woodgate
Sociology and Criminology
Psychology
College of Nursing
Addressing the needs and improving the well-being of underserved youth and their families undergoing challenging life events, including studies investigating the experiences and solutions for youth transitioning through vulnerable contexts. 

Sarah Cooper
Faculty of Architecture
Department of City Planning
Housing security and the policy structures that shape access to housing and housing security. Areas of interest: housing, social policy, community planning, Indigenous planning.

David Delay
Faculty of Social Work
Violence in intimate relationships; social work practices addressing mental health; contemplative practices and their application in social work education and professional practice; the demand side of sexual exploitation.

Emme Pijl
College of Nursing
Clinical and social value of harm reduction programs for people engaging in problematic substance use. Social policy and perspectives on harm reduction for substance use disorders.

Rusty Souleymanov
Faculty of Social Work
Department of Community Health Sciences
HIV/AIDS community-based research; queer and trans men's health; racial, ethnic, and cultural disparities and health; critical social work and public health.

Kendra Nixon
Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse (RESOLVE)
Family violence; gender-based violence.

Lindsay Larios
Faculty of Social Work
Citizenship and immigration in the Canadian context, in particular, as it intersects with family and reproductive politics and policies. Her most recent work focuses on the politics of pregnancy and childbirth and precarious migration as an issue of reproductive justice.

Ee-Seul Yoon
Faculty of Education
Department of Educational Administration, Foundations & Psychology
How the marketization and privatization of education impact equity, diversity, decolonization, and inclusion in Canadian education systems. Examinations of the multiple inequities facing diverse learners with disadvantages in settler-colonial society in the era of neoliberalism. 

Meagan King
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
Department of Animal Science
Improving the health and well-being of humans and animals. Relationships between farm management, farmer well-being and cow welfare on dairy farms in western Canada and Ontario.
 

1. Can students become research affiliates?
   
   At this time, students do not qualify to become research affiliates. Student fees for all training programs and workshops are already discounted. If students wish to access Qualtrics, they must be sponsored by a faculty member who is a Research Affiliate.


2. Can non-UM faculty become a research affiliate?
   
   Yes! Non-UM faculty can become CSSRP research affiliates that are external to the University. External research affiliates, however, do not qualify for use of Qualtrics, but they enjoy all of the additional benefits of membership.


3. Can non-academic community members become research affiliates?
   
   Yes and No. Organizations can become community affiliates, but individuals without an academic affiliation cannot become members. There is an annual fee for membership, which is based on a sliding scale depending on the size of organization and whether it is a not-for-profit or for-profit organization. Email cssrp@umanitoba.ca for more information.