Alyssa Blais

About

Hello! My name is Alyssa Blais. I have a background in adult education, community development, and applied health research. My work sits at the intersection of community development, education, and health research. I’m interested in how social and structural conditions influence well-being and in supporting community-informed approaches to health and learning.

I’m an ambivert who thrives on deep conversations but finds peace in my garden and joy in solo pursuits. I run (reluctantly), hike, and try to eat mostly plant-based food as a form of quiet resistance against industrial agriculture.

My mind holds constant tension, as I crave the sensory richness of city life—global food, culture, music – and yet I feel most grounded in the stillness and simplicity of rural living. 

Podcasts – what can I say – I listen to so many (especially by Kara Swisher), while walking my gentle retriever.

RESEARCH

My research interests include health equity, health literacy, and the social factors that shape well-being across the lifespan. I’m interested in how lived experiences, social contexts, and systems influence health and access to care.

CV​

  • Master of Applied Health Services Research, (MAHSR – Thesis) – Saint Mary’s University (in progress)
  • Master of Adult Education (M.Ad.Ed.) in Women’s Leadership and Community Development – St. Francis Xavier University
  • Certificate in Knowledge Mobilization – MobilizeU at Simon Fraser University
  • Certificate in Project Management – Saint Mary’s University
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Women’s Leadership – Coady Institute and Canadian Women’s Foundation
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Institutional Administration – Concordia University
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology – Concordia University
  • Certificate in Open Studio Project Facilitator Training
  • Certificates in Mental Health First Aid, Working Mind, and Peer Support

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP/VOLUNTEER

Co-Chair of Annapolis Community Health Board

Member of CASAE | ACÉÉA

AWARDS

Audrey Fenwick Award (2025): In honour of lifelong learning, this award recognized my graduate research in women’s lived experience of menopause and academic excellence.

PUBLICATIONS

Blais, A. (2024). Women, Menopause, and Menopause Learning: A Critical Feminist Analysis. https://stfx.scholaris.ca/items/5d5276f2-19bb-4412-88a6-de538630fa02 

Hypersexualization: Countering Exploitative Child Girl Images in the Media

CONFERENCE PROCEEDING

Blais, A. (2025, June). Women, menopause, and learning: A critical feminist analysis of lived experiences. In Proceedings of the 2025 CASAE Conference. Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE).

CURRENT WORK

Currently, I serve as a Strategic Initiatives Coordinator with the County of Annapolis, where I lead projects related to poverty reduction, community well-being, and inclusion.

I also serve as a part-time Project Coordinator for a five-year, multi-university research initiative led by St. Francis Xavier University on nature-based solutions to climate change. In this role, I manage financial reporting and support compliance with the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) funding agreement.

REFLECTIONS