Susan J. E. Murtha

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - Department of Psychology

Degrees

Ph.D. - 1993
Carleton University
Ottawa

M.Sc. - 1988
Carleton University
Ottawa

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: Not Indicated

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: No

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: No

Current Research

Susan Murtha is an Associate Professor in Psychology and currently the Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Health.

Susan’s research explores the role of neuroplasticity in older adults. In particular, she is investigating external factors (such as technology, activity) that focus attention in older adults. Her ultimate aim is to improve cognitive performance such that older adults in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease can live independently longer in their own homes.

Susan has a range of teaching experience: from being a “guide on the side” in a 4^th year seminar course, to being the “sage on the stage” to 500 students in a first year Introduction to Psychology course.  She has tried to use technology (multimedia presentation, course website, etc) whenever appropriate in order to enable the students access and understanding of the content.  

One of her current objectives as Associate Dean is to develop in collaboration with university information technology, the teaching commons, and other Faculties at York, the infrastructure for implementing and delivering high quality, web-enhanced, blended and fully online courses. One of her aims is to promote and integrate the pedagogical and technical supports instructors need to successfully transform their existing face-to-face course to a blended or fully online format.  Susan brings to the Teaching and Learning portfolio in the Faculty of Health her love and appreciation of research to provide the evidence that informs decisions around best practices for teaching and learning in general and elearning in particular.  To this end, she has begun to publish with her collaborators in the field of technology and higher education.