Assistant Professor
Accepting MA, EdD, and PhD students for the 2026-2027 year
Dr. Melanie Nelson is proud to be a member of Samahquam First Nation (St’at’imc Nation) who is presently residing and working on the unceded lands of the Musqueam People. It is also noted that traditional Tsleil-Waututh territory extends through Vancouver to the US, and that Frank Charlie (Ayatak) of Musqueam reported Squamish people staying in the area now known as West Point Grey in the summer for several months (The Squamish Nation, 2024). She is grateful to be here and is actively working on personal commitments to each of Vancouver’s host Nations.
As an Assistant Professor in the School and Applied Child Psychology program, her work challenges clinicians and the profession of psychology to adopt a more responsive approach when working with Indigenous populations. Dr. Nelson’s research has focused on the experiences of Indigenous caregivers within Western systems, including the assessment and diagnosis process, given the construct of disability is absent in traditional thought. Additionally, she investigated how Indigenous youth identify and access support for mental health and wellness in schools and their communities. Her current research and community-based projects include literacy screening with Indigenous students and inclusive education with Indigenous communities as changes are made to their education systems within the context of Education Jurisdiction Agreements and treaty processes.
Scholarly Interests:
Indigenous communities, Indigenous youth mental health and wellness, inclusive education with Indigenous people, early childhood & K-12 education, psychological services with Indigenous people, Two-Spirit and queer youth, literacy screenin.
Theoretical Orientation:
Indigenous Knowledge
Western Phenomenal Logical
EPSE 317 Development and Exceptionality in the Classroom
EPSE 348 Family-Centered Practice for Children with Special Needs
EPSE 421 Assessment of Learning Difficulties
EPSE 535 Social and Emotional Assessment
EPSE 560A Laboratory in School and Applied Child Psychology
EDUC 440 Aboriginal Education in Canada
EDUC 442 Supporting Indigenous Infants and Young Children within the Context of their Communities
EPSE 534 Academic Assessment
EPSE 588 Indigenous Pathways Through Social Emotional Learning
EPSE 561 Laboratory Practicum
EPSE 661 Doctoral Practicum in School and Applied Child Psychology
University of British Columbia, 2023, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia, 2017, M.A.
University of British Columbia, 2007, D.Ed.
University of British Columbia, 2005, B.Ed.
University of British Columbia, 2004, B.Sc.
–Nelson, M. & Ford, L. (2022). Linking assessment and intervention: Toward culturally responsive ways of supporting mental health and wellness of children and youth who identify as Indigenous. In The Psychology Commons. Kingston, ON: eCampus Ontario. Licensed under CC BY NC 4.0. Retrieved from https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/psychologycommons/chapter/supporting-indigenous-mental-health-nelson-m-t-ford-l-2-28-2022.This resource is recreated with permission from the Canadian Psychological Association: Nelson, M. T. & Ford, L. (2019). Linking assessment and intervention: Toward culturally responsive ways of supporting mental health and wellness of children and youth who identify as Indigenous. Psynopsis, 41, (3), 23-24. Retrieved via https://cpa.ca/docs/File/Psynopsis/2019-Vol41-3/index.html.
-Schroeder, M., Lacerda-Vandenborn, E., Nelson, M., & Wendt, D. (2023). Introduction to the special issue-school psychology and Indigenous peoples: Critical perspectives and Indigenous-led approaches. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 38(1), 3-9. doi:10.1177/08295735231156984.