Office: Room #251-2 Chrysler Hall South
Phone: (519) 253-3000 ext. 2290
Email: olabelle@uwindsor.ca
Dr. Onawa LaBelle is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Windsor. She holds a PhD and MA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a BA in Psychology from Smith College.
Dr. LaBelle’s research draws on positive psychology and recovery science to examine how social relationships, belonging, and supportive environments shape recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders. Her work focuses on social connection and well-being, pathways to sustained recovery, and the development of recovery-supportive systems in higher education.
In 2020, Dr. LaBelle founded Lancers Recover, one of Canada’s earliest collegiate recovery programs. Her work in collegiate recovery bridges research, practice, and institutional change, with a broader focus on improving how universities support students affected by substance use and addiction. Mentorship is also central to her work, and she works closely with students at multiple stages of training through research, experiential learning, and recovery-focused leadership opportunities.
Outside of work, she is most likely outdoors with her husband and children, tending to monarch butterflies, kayaking, or taking on yet another gardening project. Most recently, she has planted a small backyard orchard.