Andrew Brankley

Psychologist

Trying to write a biographical sketch without reiterating your CV is a challenging task. The following are values and some reasons why I think they provide meaningful descriptions of me. 

About me

 

Curiosity. My thought process is driven by answering “why” questions, sometimes for a secondary purpose, but most often simply because I find learning pleasurable. I specialized in philosophy in my first university degree and felt kinship with those classmates who were primarily interested in understanding the course material rather than those focused only on obtaining high grades. “Philosophy” loosely translates from Greek as “love of wisdom”; it is this curiosity, this love of wisdom, which was nurtured in my philosophy coursework and which continues to characterize my psychology career.

Service. While I enjoyed my philosophy degree, it was not the right professional path for me. The future I saw in philosophy was best described by Nietzsche: suspension of obligations to the community and pursuit of difficult questions in relative solitude. Ending my philosophy degree, I wanted a future similar to Plato’s allegory of the cave in the Republic; he argued that those who pursue wisdom are obligated to help others, not just educate them. The image of philosophers re-entering the cave to free those who are still living in shackles resonated deeply with me. I chose clinical psychology as I believe it to be a synthesis of the pursuit of knowledge and serving others. I feel the duty to serve strongly. For instance, I have volunteered with at-risk and street-involved youth in Toronto for more than 10 years because I believe that successful intervention can transform lives and prevent future criminal behaviour. I furthered this involvement in 2015 when I founded the Youth Psychology Service, a student-run psychology service for at-risk youth in Toronto. Using a street medicine model, we ally with community organizations and deliver individual and group treatment, as well as staff consultation and training under the supervision of a registered psychologist.

Leadership. My vision of leadership is an enhanced form of service. Through service, contributions are made to positive changes in the lives of others. Leaders create opportunities for positive change and influence others who are motivated to serve. Winning the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship in 2014 not only provided me with momentum but an increased sense of responsibility to create change in my community. My vision of leadership is built around service to others, whether they are the clients I treat, students who I teach or supervise, colleagues who I support and represent on committees, or the general public who I seek to inform and protect. To help my local professional community, I created the Toronto Forensic Research eXchange (FRX), a local professional network to improve interdisciplinary communication and learning opportunities. After recruiting like-minded students and faculty, I hosted a free networking and data sharing event in June 2016 attended by over 70 individuals. What made it special for everyone involved was the diversity of attendees, from researchers and students to police officers, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and lawyers.

I am curious, I want to help others, and I thrive in leadership positions. Balancing my curiosity for knowledge and service to others is what drew me towards the scientist-practitioner model of clinical practice. My work is devoted to creating new opportunities to learn, to help rehabilitate clients and protect our community, and to contribute to an increasingly interdisciplinary professional community.

Grants, Programs, & Fellowships

  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada (CAD$90,000)
  • 2017 Ontario Graduate Scholarship (CAD$15,000)
  • 2017 Criminal Justice Section Grant
    Canadian Psychological Association
    Program: Forensic Research eXchange (CAD$2200)
    Principal Investigators: Jessica Sutherland, MA; Danielle Loney, BA (Hons.)
    Role: Co-Principle Investigator
  • 2016 Help For Children: Prevent & Treat Child Abuse Grant
    Hedge Funds Care and Private Equity Cares
    Program: Integrated Model of Care (CAD$22,500)
    Principle Investigator: Rosemary McCusker
    Co-Investigators: Anna Kozelsky, MSW, Tania Correa, MSc, NP-PHC, Gavin Brissett, BSW, Saara Siddqui, BSW, Jessica Sutherland, MA, Danielle Loney, BA
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • 2016 Student Initiatives Fund
    Ryerson University
    Program: Forensic Research eXchange (CAD$1400)
    Principal Investigators: Jessica Sutherland, MA; Danielle Loney, BA (Hons.)
    Role: Co-Principle Investigator
  • 2015-2016 Clinical Section Educational Activity Grant
    Canadian Psychological Association
    Program: Forensic Research eXchange (CAD$1000)
    Principal Investigators: Jessica Sutherland, MA; Danielle Loney, BA (Hons.)Role: Co-Principle Investigator
  • 2014-2018 Doctoral Fellowship – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada; Declined (CAD$80,000
  • 2014-2017 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada (CAD$150,000)
  • 2013-2014 Ontario Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Level; (CAD$15,000)
  • 2013 Ryerson Students Union – Travel Funding for The Behavioural Analysis of Crime and Investigations Conference, 2012 (CAD$250)
  • 2013 International Conference and Research Support Fund – Travel Funding for The Behavioural Analysis of Crime and Investigations Conference, 2012 (CAD$300)
  • 2012 Yates School of Graduate Studies – Travel Funding for The Behavioural Analysis of Crime and Investigations Conference, 2012 (CAD$300)
  • 2012-2013 Ontario Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Level; Declined (CAD$15,000)
  • 2012-2013 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Canada – Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships Program Master’s Scholarship (CAD$17,500)
  • 2004 Aurora Rugby Michael Hodson University Scholarship (CAD$1,000)

 

Awards

  • 2019 Graduate Research Award (US$1,000) from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers
  • 2016 Poster Award (EUR500€) for Cross-cultural validity of the STATIC-99R and STABLE-2007 risk tools: Results from a prospective canadian field study at the International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2015  Best Poster Presentation award (Third Place) for Using a police investigation tool to enhance case management of severe sexual violence at Ontario Shores’s 4th Annual Research Day
  • 2014 Nominated for Governor General’s Academic Medal for Master Thesis
  • 2012 Best Brief Talk award for Escalation from fetish burglaries to sexual offenses: A case study of col. russell williams at the 14th annual International Academy of Investigative Psychology Conference in London, United Kingdom
  • 2012 Best Poster Presentation award for Escalation from fetish burglaries to sexual offenses: A case study of col. russell williams at the 4th annual Psychology Research Symposium in Ryerson University (CAD$100)
  • 2012 Ryerson Graduate Award (CAD$7,000)
  • 2012 Dean’s List, University of Toronto
  • 2011 Dean’s List, University of Toronto
  • 2008 Football Award of Merit based on Academic Achievement (CAD$1,715)
  • 2006 Football Award of Merit based on Academic Achievement (CAD$3,500)
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