Dr. Gira Bhatt, Dr. Roger Tweed and Steve Dooley initiated the AT-CURA project at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Their commitment to the project's goals and strong relationships with community and academic experts are reflected in the steady progress of the project.
Dr. Gira Bhatt completed her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Bombay, India. She received her second M.A. and Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. Currently she is a faculty member in the Applied Psychology degree program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her academic research interest is in applied social psychology including issues of self, identity and acculturation. As the project director for AT-CURA her role is to oversee project planning, progress and grant administration, while ensuring that community partners and academic experts continue to shape the project.
Dr. Roger Tweed completed his M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Currently, he is a faculty member in the Applied Psychology degree program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. His research interest is in positive psychology, which has provided the vision and the direction for the project's strength-based approach to youth gang-prevention. As the lead researcher for the project's academic (quantitative) studies involving secondary and post-secondary students, he ensures the rigor of evidence-based research for the project.
Steve Dooley, Co-Investigator and Lead Researcher for Community Consultation (Qualitative) studies
Steve Dooley completed his M.A. at the University of Western Ontario, in Ontario, Canada. Currently, he holds a joint faculty position in the sociology and criminology departments at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. As the lead researcher for the project's community consultation (qualitative) studies, he facilitates interviews and focus groups with parents, teachers, youth, educators, service providers and policy makers. He is dedicated to the cause of community development. As such, he plays a central role in maintaining community connections.