Alyssa Blais

About

Hello, my name is Alyssa Blais. I am a community health and nonprofit leader with over 15 years of experience working across the nonprofit and public sectors. My work focuses on strengthening community systems, advancing health equity, and supporting initiatives that address the social and structural conditions shaping well-being. I have held senior leadership roles in national organizations, municipal government, and community-based nonprofits.

CURRENT WORK

Currently, I serve as a Strategic Initiatives Coordinator with the County of Annapolis, where I lead initiatives focused on poverty reduction, community well-being, and inclusion, working with municipal leadership and community partners to address complex social challenges.

I also serve as a part-time Project Coordinator for a five-year, multi-university research initiative led by St. Francis Xavier University on nature-based solutions to climate change. In this role, I manage financial reporting and support compliance with the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) funding agreement.

RESEARCH

My research focuses on health equity, health literacy, and the social determinants of health, with particular interest in how lived experience and community context shape access to care and well-being.

EDUCATION​

  • Master of Applied Health Services Research – Saint Mary’s University (in progress)
  • Master of Adult Education (M.Ad.Ed.) in Women’s Leadership and Community Development – St. Francis Xavier University
  • Certificate in Knowledge Mobilization – MobilizeU at Simon Fraser University
  • Certificate in Project Management – Saint Mary’s University
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Women’s Leadership – Coady Institute and Canadian Women’s Foundation
  • Graduate Degree in Institutional Administration – Concordia University
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology – Concordia University
  • Certificate in Open Studio Project Facilitator Training
  • Certificates in Mental Health First Aid, Working Mind, and Peer Support

PUBLICATIONS

Blais, A. (2024). Women, Menopause, and Menopause Learning: A Critical Feminist Analysis. https://stfx.scholaris.ca/items/5d5276f2-19bb-4412-88a6-de538630fa02 

Blais, A. (2025, June). Women, menopause, and learning: A critical feminist analysis of lived experiences. In Proceedings of the 2025 CASAE Conference. Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education (CASAE).

Hypersexualization: Countering Exploitative Child Girl Images in the Media

AWARDS

Audrey Fenwick Award (2025): Awarded in recognition of academic excellence and graduate research exploring women’s lived experiences and understanding of menopause.

Saint Mary’s University Master’s Scholarship (2025): Awarded on the basis of academic merit in support of graduate studies in Applied Health Services Research.

SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (CGS-M): Awarded in support of graduate research focused on the co-design and evaluation of community-based menopause peer support.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP/VOLUNTEER

Co-Chair of Annapolis Community Health Board

Member of CASAE | ACÉÉA