Riham Al-Saadi
Assistant Professor
Office: 240, 167 Ferry Street
Windsor ON N9A 0C5
Phone: (519) 253-3000 ext. 6752
Email: rihama@uwindsor.ca
Scholarly Interests/Areas of Expertise
- Acculturation, adjustment, and settlement
- Immigrant and refugee populations
- Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality
- Application of Principles of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
- Arab immigrants and refugees’ acculturation
- Immigrant emerging adults and youth identity development
- Immigrants and refugees’ social and emotional competence
Educational Background
- Ph.D., University of Windsor, 2023
- M.S.W., University of Windsor, 2013
- BSc. Behaviour, Cognition & Neuroscience, University of Windsor, 2010
Biography
Dr. Riham Al-Saadi completed her Ph.D. studies in Social Work at the University of Windsor, with her dissertation focusing on immigrants and refugees’ acculturation; the process of maintaining one’s heritage and actively participating in the larger, Canadian society. Dr. Al-Saadi has been a Sessional Instructor at the School of Social Work since 2016 teaching Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D. courses. Her research portfolio includes collaborations with faculty from both the School of Social Work and department of Psychology where she explored studies of immigrant and refugee populations; Arabs’ experiences in Canada and the United States; as well, recently the concept of presence (online vs. physical presence) and its impact on professional practice and learning environments. These topics and more continue to shape Dr. Al-Saadi’s interests. Dr. Al-Saadi has also been a practitioner for over 10 years working in private practice, direct mental health supports to individuals and families, working with immigrant and refugee populations as well as in palliative care. Dr. Al-Saadi continues to serve on multiple professional and academic committees, enabling her to respond to diverse populations and advocate for the enhancement of social justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Professional Affiliations
2021-Present Ontario Association of Social Workers Local Engagement Network (OASW LEN)
2020-Present Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WE LIP) Executive Committee
2013-Present Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
2013-Present Member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW)
Publications
Peer Reviewed Articles
Kuo, B. C. H., Granemann, L., Najibzadeh, A., Al-Saadi, R., Dali, M., & Alsmoudi, B., Examining Post Migration Social Determinants as Predictors of Mental andPhysical Health of Recent Syrian Refugees in Canada: Implications for Counselling, Practice, and Research., Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 54(4), 778-802, 2020.
Book Chapters
Hakim-Larson, Thompson, J., & Al-Saadi, R. (In Press, July 2023). Psychosocial Development and Developmental Psychopathology in Arab Americans. In Nassar McMillan, S. C., Ajrouch, K. J., & Hakim-Larson, J. (Eds.), Biopsychosocial Perspectives on Arab Americans: Culture, Development, and Health (2nd ed.). Springer US.
Oda, A., Adnan A. M. Al-Saadi, R., Arya, N., Awwad, M., Hajjar, O., Hanley, J., Hynie, M., Ives, N., Jamil, R., Khalaf, M., Khyar, R., Kuo, B. C. H., Massijeh, M., Mohammad, & Sherrell, K. (2022). Ethical challenges of conducting longitudinal Community based research with refugees: Reflections from peer researchers. In K. Grabska & C. R. Clark-Kazak & (Ed.) (p. 29-55). Documenting displacement: Questioning methodological boundaries in forced migration research. The McGill Queen's University Press.
AlSaadi, Riham (2019). Facilitative Factors and Impediments to Newcomer Youth’s Initial Integration Milestones: The Arab Newcomer Youth Experience. In Y. Daniel (Ed.), Tikkun Beyond Borders: Connecting Youth Voices, Leading Change (p. 242-261). University of Windsor Digital Publishing, DOI: https://doi.org/10.22329/digital-press.156
Acknowledgements
Acknowledged for contributing as a Research Assistant for the Arab focus group for the study: Transition to Kindergarten: Experiences of Teachers and Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. IWK Health Sciences Centre, June 2011
Conference Papers (Peer Reviewed)
Al-Saadi, R. (2013, May). Acculturation Strategies and Arab Youth Cultural Identity Development: A Review. International Symposium on Arab Youth, Windsor, Ontario. Retrieved from: http://scholar.uwindsor.ca/arabyouthsymp/conference_posters/conference_posters/2/
Presentations and Invited Lectures
Al-Saadi, R. (2023, January). Basics of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: What Do We Know So Far? Speaker as part of role at the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WE LIP), Windsor ON, Virtual Presentation.
Al-Saadi, R. (2022, November). Working with Immigrant and Refugee Populations: Social Work Insights. Invited Speaker at the School of Social Work Field Integration Course, University of Windsor, Windsor ON
Al-Saadi, R. (2022, October). Intersectional Look at Domestic Violence: Providing Culturally Sensitive Support to Immigrant & Refugee Victims. Invited Speaker at the Take Back the Night Event, Roxdale Women’s Center, Virtual Presentation.
Al-Saadi, R. & Park, W. First Generation Recent Arab Immigrant Emerging Adults’ Perspectives on Acculturation Experiences and Canadian Society’s Role in Fostering Equitable Participation (2021). Poster presented at the 10th Conference on Emerging Adulthood, Virtual Presentation.
Al-Saadi, R. First Generation Recent Arab Immigrant Emerging Adults’ Perspectives on Acculturation Experiences and Canadian Society’s Role in Fostering Equitable Participation (2021). An oral presentation delivered at the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 52 Symposium, Virtual Presentation.
Al-Saadi, R. Addressing workplace bullying and harassment: maintaining equality and equity in the workplace. Invited Speaker at Women Enterprise Skills Training (WEST), Windsor ON
Al-Saadi, R. & Park, W. Understanding Syrian Newcomers' Acculturation: Facilitative Factors and Impediments to Social and Emotional Wellbeing (2019). Poster presented at the annual Canadian Association for Social Work Education Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Kuo, B. C. H., Granemann, G., Najibzadeh, A., Al-Saadi, R., Dali, M., & Alsmoudi, B. (2019). Syrian refugees in Windsor, Canada: Social relationship, general health, and mental health. An oral presentation delivered at the 2019 Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies Conference at York University in Toronto, Ontario.
Al-Saadi, R. (2018, November). Understanding Syrian Newcomers' Acculturation: Facilitative Factors and Impediments to Social and Emotional Wellbeing. Presented at the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) Executive Directors Forum. Toronto, ON
Al-Saadi, R. & Park, W. (2017, May). The Influence of Intersectionality of Arab culture and Islam on Arab Youth Integration: A Review of Sociopolitical Milestones impacting their Emotional and Social Resilience. Poster presented at the annual Canadian Association for Social Work Education Conference, Ryerson University, Toronto ON
Al-Saadi, R. (2016, November). Acculturation and Arab Youth: A Review and Application of Berry’s Acculturation Framework to the Arab Youth Experience. Presented at the Phi-Alpha Society research night, Windsor ON
Al-Saadi, R. (2016, November). The Social Welfare of Immigrants: Fostering Multiculturalism and Income Security. Presented as a guest lecturer at an undergraduate Social Work course at the School of Social Work, University of Windsor, Windsor ON
Al-Saadi, R., Hakim-Larson, J., Johnson, E., & Menna, R. (2016, June). Perceived Parental Acculturation and Youth in Canada: Influences on Ethnic Identity Development. Poster presented at the annual Canadian Psychological Association conference, Victoria, BC.
Al-Saadi, R. (2016, May). Acculturation and Arab Youth: The influence of acculturation strategy on their cultural identity development. Poster presented at the annual Canadian Association for Social Work Education Conference, Calgary, AB
Al-Saadi, R. (2016, March). Syrian Refugees Resettlement. Keynote speaker at the Ontario Association of Social Work Southwestern branch (OASW) Annual Grand Meeting, Windsor ON
Camodeca, A. Scott, S. A., Al-Saadi, R., Gidak, S., Daniel, G., & Voelker, S. (2012, August). Creative skills in the broad autism phenotype. Poster presented at the 120th meeting of the American Psychological Association, Orlando, FL.
Paterson, A. D., Al-Saadi, R., Camlis, W., Gidak, S., Scott, S.A., Hakim-Larson, J. Voelker, S. (2010, August). Accuracy of emotion decoding among mothers and children with a developmental disability, Poster presented at the 118th meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Diego, CA.