Education
MFA in Creative Writing 2022
University of British Columbia
PhD in Psychology 2012
McMaster University
BA in Psychology and Philosophy 2005
Simon Fraser University
HONOURS & AWARDS
VIURAC – Explore Grant 2022-2023
VIURAC – INNOVATE research 2021-2022
BC Ministry of Health COVID 19 Research Grant 2020-2021
VIURAC – COVID-19 research 2020-2021
Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS M) 2018-2019
McMaster University, Graduate Fellowship 2006-2011
SSHRC, Doctorate Fellowship 2008-2010
The George and Alice Rivett Ontario Graduate Scholarship 2007-2008
TEACHING & ADVISING
Professor, Psychology Aug. 2019- present
Vancouver Island University, Powell River and Nanaimo
- Prepared and delivered multi-media lectures in fundamental theories for Introductory Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and adult development.
- Integrated current research in pedagogic theory in order to inspire more profound learning.
Instructor, Psychology Oct.2019-Dec.2019/Sept 2021-Aug 2022
North Island College, Campbell River & Comox
- Prepared and delivered multi-media lectures in fundamental theories in Introductory and Developmental Psychology
- Integrated current research in pedagogic theory in order to inspire more profound learning.
Instructor, Psychology 2008
Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour,
McMaster University
- Prepared and delivered multi-media lectures in fundamental theories for third year Psychology (Evolution & Human Behaviour).
- Integrated current research in pedagogic theory in order to be inclusive of different learning styles and competencies.
PUBLICATIONS
Rutherford, M.D., and Anderson, M.V. (2020). Changes in intelligence across pregnancy and the postpartum. Human Ethology, 35, 90-104.
Anderson, M.V. and Rutherford, M.D. (2013). Evidence of a nesting psychology during human pregnancy. Evolution and Human Behavior. 34(6): 390-397.
Anderson, M.V. and Rutherford, M.D. (2012). Cognitive reorganization during pregnancy and the postpartum period: An evolutionary perspective. Evolutionary Psychology, 10 (4): 656-681.
Anderson, M.V. and Rutherford, M.D. (2010). Recognition of novel faces after single exposure is enhanced during pregnancy. Evolutionary psychology, 9 (1): 47-60.
Anderson, M.V. and Henderson, A.J.Z. (2005) Pernicious portrayals: the impact of children’s attachment of animals of fiction on animals of fact. Society & Animals, 13, 297-314.
SUBMITTED MANUSCRIPTS
Morden, M.V. (Submitted, 2022).Young adult status and low household income worsened the mental health impact of COVID-19 on Canadians: Summer 2020-2021
Morden, M.V. & Ferris, E. (Submitted, 2022). A qualitative study of how COVID-19 transformed – for better and worse – the pregnancy and postpartum experiences of Canadian women.
WORKS IN-PROGRESS
Morden, M.V. (in progress, 2022). A detailed analysis of how COVID-19 impacted the mental health of school-aged children in three school systems: Face to Face, Distance Learning, and Home-school. (Longitudinal study, data collection ongoing)
Morden, M.V. (in progress, 2022). Innovative methods for investigating cognitive reorganization during pregnancy (REB approval; pilot study commencing fall 2022)
Morden, M.V. (in progress, 2022).Evaluating the use of 360 video and Virtual Reality compared to face to face decision-making in a spatial navigation tasks (REB approval; study commencing fall 2022)
CONFERENCES & SYMPOSIUMS
Morden, M.V. (2022). The mental health of young adults was more severely impacted by COVID-19: Summer 2020-2021. Presented at CPA2022, June 2022.
Morden, M.V. & Ferris, E. (2022). COVID-19 caused both major and minor losses, and some benefits, for pregnant and postpartum women. Presented at CPA2022, June, 2022.
Morden, M.V. & Cooper, T. (2022). Families in three education programs report distinct and shared impacts of COVID-19 on mental health. Presented at CPA2022, June, 2022.
Morden, M.V. & Cooper, T. (2022). Three studies show the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and well-being of Canadians across the lifespan. Presented at VIURAC symposium, May, 2022.
Anderson, M.V, & Rutherford, M.D. (2012). Evidence of a nesting psychology during human pregnancy. Presented at Human Behaviour and Evolution Society, Albuquerque, NM, June, 2012.
Anderson, M.V., & Rutherford, M.D (2010). Pregnant women show enhanced recognition of faces. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Eugene, OR, June 2010.
Anderson, M.V., & Rutherford, M.D. (2009). Pregnant women show a threat-detection advantage. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Fullerton, CA, June 2009.
Anderson, M.V., & Rutherford, M.D. (2008). Memory for Faces: How Pregnancy Impacts Cognition. Presented at Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour and Cognitive Science 18th Annual Meeting, London, ON, June, 2008.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Member, Canadian Psychological Association
Member, Human Behaviour & Evolution society
Member, The Gerontological Society