April 2025 News | Faculty Projects and Publications

April News at the College of Arts

Check out what our faculty at the College of Arts have been up this March 2025!

From exciting projects to new publications, read more about their work and connect with us to learn more about the College of Arts.

🤳 Follow us on Instagram

💼 Follow us on LinkedIn

📥 Subscribe to our Arts Newsletter

College of Arts

On April 15, 2025, UFV’s Associate Dean of Social Sciences, Dr. Wade Deisman, was interviewed by CBC News to discuss the federal parties’ platforms on crime and public safety. This followed an announcement from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre regarding his intent to use the notwithstanding clause to allow consecutive life sentences for individuals convicted of multiple murders. Opponents argue that this promise undermines Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Psychology

Andrea Albonico, Assistant Professor, co-authored the article Face and word superiority effects: Parallel effects of visual expertise with Marko (Chi-Wei) Tien and Jason J. S. Barton.

English

Adrea Johnson, Sessional Instructor, co-authored the book Negotiating Feminism and Faith in the Lives and Works of Late Medieval and Early Modern Women with Holly Faith Nelson.

Criminology & Criminal Justice

  • Dr. Jon Heidt, Associate Professor, served as guest editor for a special issue on cannabis policy. Wheeldon, J., & Heidt, J. (2025). Introduction to the special issue on cannabis legalization: Cannabis policy at the twilight of prohibition. Sociological Inquiry, 95(2), 231–234.
  • Dr. Irwin Cohen, Associate Professor, delivered the keynote address “Bridging the Gap: Academia, Policing, and the Pursuit of Safer Communities” at the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts annual training event.
  • Amneet Sran, a Criminal Justice student, presented her research on gender and police attitudes toward intimate partner violence at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. She was supported by Dr. Amanda McCormick, Associate Professor, and Dr. Kevin Burk, Assistant Professor.
  • At the same event, Dr. Amanda McCormick and Dr. Irwin Cohen, along with B. Stickle, B. Vahldiek, and A. Stickle, presented a paper titled Police Perceptions of Risk in Intimate Partner Violence, and Dr. Carlos Ponce, Associate Professor, presented The Silencing of Criminology: Online Attacks on Crime Researchers Under Autocratic Rule in El Salvador.

Bridging Psychology & Criminal Justice: Logan York’s Practicum with Correctional Service of Canada

Logan York is a recent BA graduate in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Originally from Red Deer, Alberta, Logan found his way to British Columbia, where he has lived most of his life and began shaping his career aspirations.

Logan’s fascination with psychology grew from a lifelong curiosity about human behaviour, particularly in understanding criminal behaviour.

I’ve always had a fascination for psychology. More than that, I’ve always been interested in why people behave or act in certain ways. (…) I have always wanted to know why criminals commit serious crimes. Crimes that ordinary people would find unfathomable. These curiosities are the foundation of why I chose a BA in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice.”

Envisioning a career working with individuals who end up in the judicial system, Logan’s academic journey took an exciting turn when he secured a practicum placement with the Correctional Service of Canada. During his semester-long placement, Logan had the opportunity to visit various correctional facilities throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, spanning from minimum to maximum security. Immersed in diverse environments, he gained a deeper understanding of each facility’s dynamics and worked closely with a wide range of working professionals. Stepping into the high-security environment of a prison was an impactful moment for him as it offered firsthand insight into the complexities of the correctional system.

Nonetheless, the journey presented its own set of obstacles. Logan found himself navigating the delicate balance of establishing boundaries within the confines of the prison walls. “Ensuring that I set appropriate boundaries between myself, and the inmates was a significant challenge,” he admits. Yet, through perseverance and determination, he learned the importance of maintaining both spatial and personal boundaries, a valuable lesson that shaped his experience.

Reflecting on his practicum experience within the correctional system, Logan remains inspired by the multitude of career opportunities it offers. “My practicum opened my eyes to the plethora of positions within Correctional Service Canada that I did not know existed,” he shares. As he thinks about his next steps, Logan’s career path remains open-ended, with a keen interest in working with offenders either within the Correctional Service of Canada or in the broader community.

For future students embarking on a similar journey, Logan offers some wise advice:

“If you have interests, explore them. You do not need to wait until you have chosen a career before exploring these interests. I would also recommend completing a practicum during your undergraduate degree as this was a defining moment for me during my time at UFV.”