Mary Olmstead

Board Member

Mary (cella) Olmstead is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She completed a BSc in music and psychology at the University of Toronto (BSc), graduate work at McGill University (MSc, Ph.D.), and postdoctoral training at the University of Cambridge, UK. Her academic research focuses on understanding the biological underpinnings of reward systems and how these impact conditions such as drug addiction and chronic pain. Over the last 20 years, she has been involved in a variety of community organizations ranging from addiction services to environmental conservation to musical outreach for residents of long-term care facilities. This included sitting on the Board of Directors at Options for Change and the Addiction Research Foundation, along with advising for programs such as KAIROS, YMCA youth engagement, and KFLA Community Drug Strategy. She is looking forward to working with the very energetic and talented team of artists, staff, and directors at H’art.