Faculty Bio

Dr. Alisa McArthur

Associate Professor, Psychology

After completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, Alisa moved to Calgary where she received her PhD from the University of Calgary, specializing in Cognition and Aging. Her research has evolved over the years and her lifelong love of animals, and in particular dogs, has led her to branch into animal-assisted activities. Along with her colleague, Dr. Corinne Syrnyk, she has examined the role of animals in our lives. This research has involved dogs and horses and ranges from the role of animals in children’s reading and stress levels to post-secondary students’ well-being, stress levels and burnout. She is also interested in the overall lifelong well-being of adults and how people perceive older adulthood and aging.

Alisa is the former Chair of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences section of the Canadian Psychological Association and former Chair of the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) Psychology articulation committee.

Alisa is passionate about teaching the students at St. Mary’s University. Although it is often considered one of the most ‘dreaded’ Psychology courses (on this campus and many others), one of her favourite courses to teach is the statistics and research methods course. She takes great satisfaction in helping students through the course and hopes that they will come to appreciate the importance of the scientific method, both within Psychology and in their everyday lives. She also teaches courses on Aging, Sensation and Perception, Cognition, and Neuropsychology. Finally, she aspires to pass on her passion for psychology to new students in introductory courses.

When not at St. Mary’s, you’ll find Alisa watching one of her three boys playing soccer, playing tennis or hiking with her family, or doing anything outdoors.


Specialization/Research Interest:

animal-assisted activities, adulthood and aging

Education

PhD Psychology, University of Calgary
MSc Psychology, University of Calgary
BA Psychology, University of Saskatchewan

  • Psychology Professor Studies the Effect of Exercise on Aging
  • Syrnyk, C., McArthur, A., Zwack, A., & Makowsky, M. (2023). Reading to dogs at home: A pilot study. Early Childhood Education Journal. doi:10.1007/s10643-023-01482-y
  • Syrnyk, C., McArthur, A., Zwack, A., & Handelsman, A. (2022). Supporting young readers: A mixed-methods study of their literacy, behaviour, and perceptions when reading aloud to dogs or adults. Early Childhood Education Journal. doi: 10.1007/s10643-022-01392-5
  • Syrnyk, C. & McArthur, A. (2021). The characteristics and motivations of human volunteers of animal-assisted interventions. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 10 (2), 99-114.
  • McArthur, A. D., & Syrnyk, C. (2018). On-campus animal-assisted therapy events: Post-secondary students’ reactions and mood. Society & Animals, 26, 616-632.