Stacey MacKinnon

Background

About Stacey MacKinnon

I am currently a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) with a Ph.D. in Experimental Social Psychology from the University of Calgary. My research focuses on meaningful learning experiences, the use of AI as a learning and feedback tool, and the impact of "Reading with Purpose" on information retention, discussion preparation, and critical/creative thinking. I am a 2025 3M National Teaching Fellowship recipient and have received the 2023 Association of Atlantic Universities Anne Marie MacDonald Excellence in Education Leadership Award, the 2022 Janet Pottie Murray Award for Educational Leadership, the 2016 UPEI Student Union Faculty of the Year award, and the 2012 Hessian Award and President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. I am the proud Vice President of the Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation (mattiespeacefoundation.org), which is dedicated to promoting peace and compassion worldwide. This foundation works to educate and empower people to choose peace, find purpose, and connect through play. In addition to these roles, I offer Professional Development to schools (including Montessori), post-secondary institutions & organizations, give keynote addresses, facilitate workshops, and develop inquiry-based learning programs designed to reignite curiosity in classrooms, teachers, and administrators. I am co-author of "Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education: A Realist's Guide to Getting Started"(2022) and co-editor of "Applying Inquiry-Based Learning Across Disciplines in Higher Education"(2025). I also host a monthly psychology/relationship research radio column on CBC Radio’s “Mainstreet”.