Faculty Bio

Dr. Corinne Syrnyk

Director of Research, Chair of Psychology, Associate Professor, Psychology

As the Director of Research, I am responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of university research activities and initiatives building a ‘culture of research’.

As the Chair of Psychology, I am responsible for the management of StMU’s largest undergraduate program leading a team of 6 full-time faculty and upwards of 15 part-time faculty.

I am also a developmental psychologist with expertise in a) school-based mental health supports for children with social emotional and mental health issues, b) transformational post-graduate programs for marginalized adult learners, and c) development and well-being issues related to human-animal assisted interventions.

Specialization/Research Interest:

Psyc201/203 (Introduction to Psychology)
Psyc329 (Adolescent Development)
Psyc361 (Child Development)
Psyc345 (Psychology of Education)
Psyc461 (Advanced Topics in Child Development)
Psyc490 (Honours) *Typically I agree to supervise 2 students/academic year.

Education

PhD Psychology, University of Lincoln, UK
PGCE in Higher Education, University of Lincoln, UK
BSc Psychology (Honours), University of Manitoba

  • McArthur, A., Boucher, A., & Syrnyk, C. (under review). Brief report: Impact of a horseback riding lesson on youth well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Equine Rehabilitation.
  • Syrnyk, C., Williams, E., & McArthur, A. (under review). A Pilot Study of Academic Burnout and Stress in Undergraduate Students: The Role of Canine-Assisted Interventions. Journal of Further and Higher Education.
  • Syrnyk, C., McArthur, A., Zwack, A., & Handelsman, A. (in press). Supporting young readers: A mixed-methods study of their literacy, behaviour, and perceptions when reading Aloud to dogs or adults. Early Childhood Education Journal.
  • Syrnyk, C., McArthur, A., Zwack, A., & Makowsky, M. (2023). Reading to dogs at home: A pilot study. Early Childhood Education Journal, 51, 1059–1065
  • Syrnyk, C. & McArthur, A. (2022). The characteristics and motivations of human volunteers of animal-assisted interventions. Human Animal Interaction Bulletin, 10(2), 99-114.
  • Syrnyk, C. (2018). Knowing nurture: Experiences of teaching assistants for children with SEMH. British Journal of Special Education, 45(3), 329-348.
  • McArthur, A., & Syrnyk, C. (2018). Improving the post-secondary student experience: The effectiveness of animal assisted therapy events. Journal of Society & Animals, 26, 1-17.
  • Syrnyk, C. & Meints, K. (2017). Bye bye Mummy: Word comprehension at 9 months of age. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 35(2), 202-217.
  • Hyland-Russell, T., & Syrnyk, C. (2016). Teaching from the Margins: Democracy Depends on the Humanities. In C. Wright-Maley and T. Davis (Eds.), Teaching for Democracy in an Age of Economic Disparity. Routledge.
  • Hyland-Russell, T., & Syrnyk, C. (2015). Challenging change: Transformative education for economically disadvantaged adult learners. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 34(5), 514-529.
  • Hyland-Russell, T., & Syrnyk, C. (2014). Transforming the margins: Increasing Well-being and agency among marginalized non-traditional adult learners. Proceedings of the Transformative Learning Network, Columbia University, New York, USA.
  • Syrnyk, C. (2014). Capturing the nurture approach: Experiences of young pupils with SEBD. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 19(2), 154-175.
  • Syrnyk, C. (2013). Challenging behaviour in the early years: Nurturing a generation. In P. Beckley (Ed.), The New Early Years Foundation Stage: Changes, Challenges and Reflections. London: Open University Press.
  • Syrnyk, C. (2012). The nurture teacher: Characteristics, challenges and training. British Journal of Special Education, 39(3), 146-155.
  • Syrnyk, C. & Meints, K. (2012). A response to 'Regarding "Syrnyk, C. and Meints, K., 2012, Fishy fishes: the typicality of object stimuli used to assess children’s language in the Reynell
  • Developmental Language Scales-III [Letter to the Editor]. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 47(6), 753-755.
  • Syrnyk, C. & Meints, K. (2012). Fishy fishes: The typicality of object stimuli used to assess children’s language in the Reynell Developmental Language Scales-III. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 47(4), 437-450.
  • Meints, K., Syrnyk, C., & De Keuster, T. (2010). Why do children get bitten in the face? Injury Prevention, 16 (Supple). pp. A172-A173. ISSN: 1353-8047
  • Syrnyk, C. J. & Meints, K. (2006, July). Preferential Looking and the assessment of early language. International Congress for the Study of Child Language, Berlin, 37, 306. Abstracts.