People – Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health

In November 2024, St. Francis Xavier University announced Dr. Kara Thompson as the inaugural Director of the Victor and Mona Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health at StFX for a three-year term.

Dr. Thompson is widely recognized nationally and provincially for her research contributions on alcohol policy and substance use in young adulthood. She is an associate professor in the StFX Psychology Department and was recently appointed as the Research Chair in Substance Use Policy & Prevention within the Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health and the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government.

Dr. Thompson holds a PhD in lifespan development psychology from the University of Victoria. As a researcher, she has received over $10.5 million in funding as a principal or co-applicant for various research projects, and she has 90 peer-reviewed publications. In 2021 she was awarded the StFX President’s Research Award.

Stephanie Cooper is the Project Manager for the Victor and Mona Dahdaleh Institute for Innovation in Health, where she supports the Director in strategic planning and institutional development. In this role, she leads communications and engagement initiatives with Institute affiliates, researchers, and community partners, while contributing to website development, digital communications, and social media strategy. Stephanie also plays a central role in supporting and mentoring student researchers, fostering collaboration across interdisciplinary research teams and community networks.

In addition to her work with the Institute, Stephanie serves as the Lab Manager for the Substance Use and Health in Emerging Adulthood (SHEA) Lab. She oversees the coordination and administration of grant-funded research projects, ensuring operational continuity through management of daily activities, research ethics board (REB) applications, participant recruitment, team coordination, and data management processes.

Through both roles, Stephanie serves as a key connector between researchers, students, and community stakeholders, advancing collaborative, community-engaged research and knowledge mobilization to support innovation in health.