The Executive Team
Alisha Davis
President
Alisha is a Ph.D. student in the Psychological Science program at UBC Okanagan, supervised by Dr. Sarah Kraeutner. Her research in neuropsychology explores how we learn through non-physical practice by identifying brain regions active during performance. She earned a B.Sc. in Microbiology and Psychology and later completed her M.A. in Psychological Science, both at UBCO. Her passion for medical and psychological research was shaped by her family’s medical diagnoses. Outside academia, Alisha enjoys adventures with her French bulldog, Bosley, listening to music, and spending time with friends.
As PGSA President, Alisha oversees operations, promotes collaboration, and helps co-host events for graduate and undergraduate students. She manages tasks, supports resource development and community outreach, and ensures strong communication between students and faculty. Her goal is to enrich the student experience at UBCO.
Kirthana Ganesh
Treasurer
Kirthana is pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychology and is currently in her third year. She is working with supervisor Dr. Liane Gabora, with her research focussing on conceptualising the impact of the therapeutic alliance on the therapist and client. Originally from Bangalore, India, Kirthana is also passionate about integrating Indian philosophy and traditional knowledges with the field of psychology. She pursued her BA (Hons.) in Psychology, and her MSc. Clinical Psychology from India, entering Canada for the first time in 2019. When not working, Kirthana can be found on beaches or hiking on various trails around Kelowna. She also enjoys cooking, knitting, and tending to the steadily increasing number of plants she owns.
Kirthana’s role at the PGSA is to ensure that adequate funding is available, and appropriately utilised for the various initiatives/events/workshops held throughout the year. In collaboration with the executive team, Kirthana helps conceptualise and organise different events, and facilitating workshops and panel discussions for undergraduate students. Ultimately, the PGSA’s goal is to offer concise, well-articulated, and relevant information to undergraduate students about the discipline of psychology, applying, getting into, and managing grad school, as well as various avenues of employment after school.
Maya Pilin
Secretary
Maya is a Ph.D. student in Psychological Science in Dr. Marvin Krank’s Cognition and Substance Use Lab (CASUL). Her research focuses on affective forecasting within the substance use context; in other words, she explores people’s emotions and expectations of alcohol and cannabis use. Maya received her M.A. in Psychological Science from UBCO and her Honours B.A. in Psychology from the University of Ottawa. Outside of the lab, Maya reads voraciously and loves watching musicals.
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Maya is the secretary of the PGSA, which means that she works on the administrative aspects of PGSA events. Along with her colleagues, Maya helps plan the workshops that the association holds for undergraduates throughout the year. This year, she is excited to once again help run events that help psychology undergraduates learn more about the field and their career opportunities!