Ingrid Handlovsky is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria. Ingrid completed a BSc. from McMaster University, followed by a BSN from the University of Toronto, and a Masters and PhD from UBC. Her dissertation focused on enhancing equity with gender and sexual identity and was supported by a CIHR doctoral award, UBC four Year Fellowship (4YF) and the CIHR-funded Intersections of Mental Health Perspectives in Addictions Research Training (IMPART) fellowship. Her research is informed by a commitment to health equity with an emphasis on situating discrimination (structural and interpersonal) as a determinant of health. In particular, she am interested in exploring how our complex and multi-faceted social environments-inclusive to historical, political and cultural dynamics – inform health practices, perspectives and experiences of well-being for – specifically – 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. She draws on social justice and critical perspectives to appreciate the structural conditions that subject individuals, groups and populations to disadvantage while highlighting, and learning from, tremendous demonstrated resiliencies. 

To operationalize her research interests, Ingrid maintains several foci of inquiry: 

1. Exploration of social environments on health and well-being experiences, perspectives and practices 
2. Investigation of conceptualizations of, and approaches to, promoting mental health and navigating mental health (and/or substance use) challenges
3. Application of resilience/strength-based approaches while maintaining recognition of interpersonal and structural impediments to health and well-being
4. Critical and emancipatory approaches to teaching and learning