Stella Harden

Geography doctoral student in the Faculty of Environment

I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at SFU from Mechanicsville, Virginia (USA). My studies began at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, where I received a B.S. and M.A. in Geography. I research the accessibility of environments which promote wellbeing and explore gendered experiences within running. In my free time, I enjoy spending time on the beach and gardening.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO SFU?

I decided to pursue my PhD at SFU because I wanted to work with Dr. Nadine Schuurman and develop novel Geographic Information Science (GIScience) methods for promoting population wellbeing. Dr. Schuurman encourages me to combine my interest in feminist GIScience with my health geography background.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RESEARCH OR YOUR PROGRAM TO A FAMILY MEMBER?

My research explores factors which mediate the accessibility of health-promoting spaces. Specifically, this research seeks to understand elements that contribute to the conduciveness of an environment for running and how privilege influences patterns in participation. Further, this work analyzes potential harms of using big social media data in geographic research and simultaneously proposes ways big social media data can be used to expose societal inequalities.

WHAT ARE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYING ABOUT YOUR STUDIES/RESEARCH AT SFU?

I have enjoyed collaborating with professors and graduate students both in the Department of Geography and from other disciplines. The support network I developed at SFU has been invaluable during my doctoral studies.

HAVE YOU BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ANY MAJOR OR DONOR-FUNDED AWARDS? IF SO, PLEASE TELL US WHICH ONES AND A LITTLE ABOUT HOW THE AWARDS HAVE IMPACTED YOUR STUDIES AND/OR RESEARCH.

I am a 2023 Vanier Scholar. Additionally, I received the Special Graduate Entrance Scholarship. These awards, alongside graduate fellowships in the Department of Geography, allow me to focus on my research and share findings with a broader audience.

Contact Stella: stella_harden@sfu.ca