Coming Home to Psychology is an opportunity to hear from a psychology alumnus, connect with the psychology community, enjoy some great food, and learn about the latest psychology research. Plus, we’ll be fundraising to support our students!
Event schedule
- 4:00 – 5:00 pm: Psychology Research Area Showcase & Student Booths
Location: Kenny 2nd Floor
Explore the latest psychological research. Meet our students and purchase some psychology merchandise! - 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Talk with a psychology alumnus
Location: Kenny Room 4001 and over Zoom
Featuring Dr. Jelena Brcic, Associate Professor at the University of Fraser Valley’s School of Business.
- 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Mixer with food and refreshments (Food tickets for purchase coming soon!)
Location: Kenny Building
Enjoy some great food and mingle with psychology faculty, peers, and fellow alumni.
You Can Do Hard Things Too: What Life and Science Show Us
My research explores how humans thrive under pressure—on the International Space Station, in the Arctic and Antarctic, and in Earth-bound teams like Search and Rescue. These extreme and unusual environments serve as natural laboratories for understanding human resilience, stress management, and psychological growth. While our goal is to support these teams, the broader aim is to prepare the next generation of explorers—those headed to the Moon and Mars. To do so, we must learn from those already pushing the boundaries of human capability on and off this planet.
What we’ve discovered is inspiring: humans are far more resilient than we give ourselves credit for. In fact, even when we leave the familiar behind and venture into discomfort—even outer space—we don’t just cope; we often grow, care more, and thrive.
This isn’t just something I study—it’s something I’ve lived. Whether navigating the demands of graduate school, the challenges of an academic career, or the adventure of convincing my eight-year-old that sailing isn’t terrifying, the evidence holds true: we can do hard things—and often better than we expect.
Dr. Jelena Brcic (PhD'2013) is an Associate Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley’s School of Business and a TEDx Speaker. She is an expert in the study of teams in extreme “workplaces,” among which are the International Space Station, the Canadian Artic, and the BC wilderness. Dr. Brcic is trying to understand how these extreme teams deal with adversity, maintain resilience, build their own culture, and solve problems. Informed by her research, she also teaches classes on how to build great teams in typical organizations and how to lead happy, satisfied employees. When she isn’t working, she is exploring the local beaches while engaging in land-based whale watching, with her husband, two boys, and a lazy Labrador Retriever named Buzz.
Watch for more updates this summer!
