Through a partnership with the Foundation for Educational Exchange Between Canada and the United States of America (Fulbright Canada), Diane Carol Zelman, Ph.D., has been appointed as the first Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Marginalized Communities at Adler University.
The Fulbright Canada Research Chair is part of a unique partnership established in late 2022 between Fulbright Canada and Adler University - an institution with campuses in both the United States and Canada. The Chair will rotate annually between Vancouver and Chicago, advancing cross-campus collaboration in community mental health and systems-level change.
"This marks a meaningful and historic milestone for our University," said Adler President Lisa Coleman, Ph.D. "Hosting our first Fulbright Canada Research Chair demonstrates Adler's growing role in advancing research that improves mental health outcomes and drives real change across communities. This collaboration reinforces our presence on the international stage, strengthening our global partnerships, as well as how we are deepening our commitment to creating healthier systems wherever we are - in other words, we are investing in the future, and how we collectively get better together."
Dr. Zelman, a clinical psychologist, will focus her work on sleep health and sleep disorders in First Nations communities in Western Canada. Her research explores how cultural beliefs, lived experiences, and structural barriers affect sleep practices and access to care. A published scholar in sleep psychology, Dr. Zelman's interests also include health psychology, psychological factors in chronic pain, and culture and psychopathology.
"This Fulbright opportunity allows me to explore the intersection of sleep and culture within First Nations communities in Western Canada, addressing a critical gap in public health and mental health research," said Dr. Zelman. "By developing strategies for clinicians to engage with sleep-related beliefs and barriers, this work aims to inform culturally sensitive interventions rooted in community values."
During her time at Adler, Dr. Zelman will also teach a course on sleep psychology and sleep disorders in Adler's Clinical Psychology program. It will examine how cultural beliefs influence sleep behaviours and access, and introduce students to the concept of "sleep equity" - the idea that safe and restful sleep is essential to health, yet unequally experienced across populations. Students will also learn to conduct sleep interviews and apply evidence-informed strategies to address common sleep concerns, such as insomnia, with a focus on individuals' perspectives and systemic context.
Each year, a new scholar will be appointed. In addition to research and teaching, chairs will contribute by engaging with students and faculty, offering guest lectures, and collaborating with initiatives aligned with improving community health and building healthier systems. Each Chair is required to commit to a minimum of one semester's residency, with the possibility to remain for up to 12 months.
