Jaden Dela Rosa

I am in the second and final year of my Master’s degree in Social and Personality Psychology at the University of Manitoba. I will be continuing on to a PhD in the same area and hold a BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology from the same institution.

I bring both quantitative and qualitative research expertise to SPECTRUM. Under the supervision of Dr. Katherine Starzyk in the Social Justice Laboratory, I conduct quantitative survey research on intergroup relations, solidarity, attitudes, and collective action. For the past four years, I have been a member of the ongoing, nationwide Canadian Reconciliation Barometer project, which tracks Indigenous and non-Indigenous perceptions of reconciliation progress. I have also supported a range of projects that broadly seek to improve relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. I became a SPECTRUM fellow to gain experience with social policy analysis and applied research that align with my values of empathy, listening to others’ perspectives, and working together to develop better solutions than we could on our own.

I was born and raised in Winnipeg alongside Indigenous foster siblings, and I deeply understand how colonial systems continue to harm Indigenous people and fail to meet their needs. As a settler, I am committed to respectfully working alongside Indigenous peoples, addressing inequities within social systems, and building positive relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

Outside of research, I have experience as a respite support worker, reading tutor, and advocate for low-income community members. In my free time, I love traveling, watching movies, trying different restaurants, and spending time outdoors.