By joining the Psychology Second-Year Learning Community (SLC), you will be surrounded by a small community of second-year students who are learning to navigate their academic and co-curricular pathways to make the most of their experiences as a psychology student. The SLC program is designed to help you make the most out of your degree by engaging in various social, academic and professional development opportunities.
For more information about psychology, visit the Psychology website.
Apply to a Psychology SLC
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year will open June 1, 2026, and close July 1, 2026. Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered for a waitlist, pending space.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Psychology SLC, you must be a second-year student enrolled in any of the following psychology undergraduate programs:
- Psychology Specialist (science program)
- Psychology Major (science program)
SLC Course Overview
Students in the Psychology SLC will meet biweekly for core sessions beginning the week of September 14, 2026, with informal hangouts offered in the alternate weeks.
Time: Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Your SLC Team
Department: Psychology
Title: Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Eight years at U of T with three of those years being in this full-time, continuing status role.
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Psychology Major at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
Hometown: Rochester, NY (just across Lake Ontario)
Why you decided to serve as a faculty advisor: My favourite part of being a professor is working with undergraduate students, so I really enjoy the opportunity to get to know undergrads in the SLC program. Supporting students in and outside the classroom is important to me.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Be open to a wide range of opportunities. Some may seem perfect but lead nowhere, while others may not match your expectations, but open new doors you didn’t anticipate. You don’t need to land your dream internship, research assistantship or job right now. Your goal is to learn as much as possible so you are ready for that opportunity when the time is right!
Hobby or interest: Too many, but to name a few: Skiing, pottery, stand-up comedy, baking, lifting and building Lego.
Department: Psychology
Title: Undergraduate Administrator
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: At Psychology since 2023
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Fine Arts (Intergrated Media) at OCAD University
Hometown: Toronto
Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: Life as a student is intense and transformational, and serving in a role that provides support, guidance, resources and a sense of community through SLC is a joyful privilege.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Stay open to opportunities both inside and outside of school. Take the time to enjoy your studies, explore your interests, and engage in extracurricular activities. This time in your life is unique, with so many options in a supportive environment.
Hobby or interest: Scuba diving and travel.
Department: Psychology
Title: Undergraduate Administrator
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: One year at Psychology, over 10 years at U of T
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Human Biology & Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto
Hometown: Markham, ON
Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: This is a great chance for us to connect with second-year Psychology students, and seeing their growth makes it all the more meaningful.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: It’s great to plan ahead and think about your future, but it’s also totally okay if things don’t go exactly as planned. University is just one part of a much bigger journey, and it’s normal to grow, try new things and even change direction along the way. The most important thing is to stay open and go with the flow as things evolve.
Hobby or interest: Spending time with my family and friends. I'd love to travel more.
Program: Psychology Major
Year: Three
College: University College
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
An interesting fact: I have a blackbelt in taekwondo!
What do you enjoy most about your studies: I enjoy studying and researching neural circuits in the brain. In particular, I'm fascinated by the experimental methods used in animal research to identify which neural circuits are activated during specific tasks, and how we can refine these approaches to yield more actionable insights.
Hobby or interest: I love to travel, and especially love to take local transit and immerse myself as much as I can in other cultures. I also love playing basketball with my friends and supporting the Raptors and Tempo.