Dr. Lori Harper’s current job title reads like some people’s entire resume. But teaching at MacEwan and guiding psychology students through their clinical field placements, supervising University of Alberta psychiatry residents and Edmonton Consortium psychology residents, and performing neuro cognitive assessments and conducting therapy at Covenant Health are all in a week’s work for the sessional instructor in the Department of Psychology. 

“I feel quite blessed. It’s the best of everything,” says the 2025 Sessional Instructor Teaching Excellence Award recipient. 

To top it off, she’s also writing a textbook on aging – a topic she is very passionate about, and the focus of one of the courses she teaches at MacEwan. 

“Students often arrive in class with negative attitudes about aging and a fear of getting older. It’s just so rewarding to have them come up after class with a completely different attitude about their own aging and older adults. I love that.” 

Welcome to one of my offices

While Dr. Harper holds regular office hours at MacEwan, we caught up with her in her cozy space at Villa Caritas, a geriatric psychiatric hospital. 

Having an office that feels comfortable is important to Dr. Harper, who recognizes how much students are balancing – school, work, personal lives and families.

“If they’re stressed out about things, they're not going to learn as well. Being able to help them feel at ease and support them with whatever issue they're dealing with is the best part.”

She believes it’s not just about physical space. “If they come and see me and I’m in a calm and welcoming space, that will help them to relax. Then we can talk about what’s going on.”

Caption: A framed cross-stitch of Eeyore that Dr. Harper received from a former patient. 

“A patient I saw for quite a few years made this for me when she was in a better spot. I just appreciate it so much. And who doesn’t love Eeyore?”

It was one of the first mementos she placed in her office. 

“When I have a tough client or a student who is struggling, seeing it reminds me of the good work that I can do with both my patients and my students.” 

Caption: A basket of thank-you cards Dr. Harper has received over the years from students and patients. 

Not everyone creates art for Dr. Harper. Some write simple notes of thanks. 

“I’m such a sentimental person,” she says, gesturing to an overflowing basket of thank-you cards from students. Several students keep in touch even after they write their cards. 

“Those are meaningful relationships that last – I treasure them. Everybody has hopes and dreams, and I wonder ‘How did it all go?’ I’m just thrilled to see how well they do and where they end up.”

Caption: Small keepsakes from Dr. Harper’s children and husband. 

Family, says Dr. Harper, also keeps her grounded. She keeps small homemade gifts from her children – a paper heart that says “I’m thankful for my mom” from her oldest son and a tiny pig created by her youngest son. The owl she got from her husband on a family trip to Italy. 

“I collect owls and this little guy is a favourite. I always keep him really close. He makes me feel good.”

What does it mean to be nominated for this award?

“This one is special. You just go along, doing your job, and you're not sure you’re having any kind of impact. To know that the students are actually getting something – it means the world to me.”