Team Members
Inclusive Environments Lab Lead
Atiya Mahmood, Ph.D. (she/her)
Dr. Mahmood is a Professor in the Gerontology Department at SFU with a research focus on older adults, persons with disability, mobility, social inclusion/exclusion and participation, physical environment and health. Her expertise includes qualitative, mixed-method and community-based participatory research.
Her recent research in MAP can be summarized as: a) development of comprehensive and validated user-led tools in environmental assessments for older adults and people with disabilities; b) development of evidence-based Knowledge Translation tools in mobility and participation for diverse group of people using a community-based participatory process.
Research Coordinators
, Ph.D. Student, MAP-SWAN project coordinator (She/her)
Letitia holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from Beijing Forestry University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Gerontology at 91ÅÝܽ. Her research interests lie at the intersection of art-based methods, community-engaged research, and technology, with a focus on older adults with disabilities.
Cindy Wei, NeighbourABLE & COPE project coordinator (she/her)
Cindy completed her Bachelor's and Master's of Science at the University of Waterloo. In her MSc Kinesiology, she had a focus on nutrition for older adults. She has worked for several Canadian universities, under Dr. Travis Saunders (UPEI), Dr. Jenna Gibbs (McGill), and Dr. Heather Keller (UWaterloo). In her free time, Cindy works as an academic consultant, yoga teacher, and sewist.
, Knowledge mobilization coordinator (she/her)
Samna's educational background is in architecture, followed by a research Master's in Urban Management & Development from Erasmus University, Rotterdam. Her professional training has focused on interdisciplinary and collaborative planning approaches for sustainable cities. Her research interests include design of inclusive public spaces, accessibility and walkability within neighborhoods.
Research Assistants
Sarah Sikder, MPH (She/her)
Sarah completed her BSc in Biology and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health. Drawing on her public health background, she is interested in investigating how social and environmental factors influence the well-being and mobility of older adults and individuals with disabilities. She is driven by a passion for knowledge mobilization, ensuring that research findings reach stakeholders and community members to foster meaningful impact.
Xiao (Amy) Sang, B.Sc (She/Her)
Amy Sang is a Bachelor of Science Candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences at 91ÅÝܽ. Her research interests include health promotion in communities, and aging and disability services.
, B.A. (she/her)
Gehna is a Psychology undergraduate pursuing a minor in Gerontology. Her interests focus on aging, housing, and community participation among older adults and individuals with disabilities. Through her work with Burnaby Neighbourhood House, she has collaborated with older adults and community members with lived experience to better understand barriers to inclusion, accessibility, and social engagement.
, B.A. (she/her)
Melanie is an undergraduate student at 91ÅÝܽ majoring in Psychology with minors in Counselling and Human Development. Her research interests include increasing advocacy and education accessibility for older adult populations, as well as intergenerational environmental activism efforts.