Kim Hellemans

Assistant Professor (Neuroscience); Associate Dean, Student Recruitment, Wellness and Success (Faculty of Science); (Co-Chair Academic)

Kim Hellemans is Associate Dean, Student Recruitment, Wellness and Success in the Faculty of Science at Carleton University, and an award-winning educator and neuroscientist recognized for her commitment to teaching excellence. Her contributions to education have been recognized through several prestigious honours, including the OCUFA Provincial Teaching Award. 

Hellemans’ research focuses on substance use health and mental health in emerging adults, with particular attention to how stress and early-life trauma influence vulnerability and resilience. She also examines approaches to reducing substance use related stigma and explores how scientific evidence can be effectively communicated to young people. A strong advocate for knowledge translation, Hellemans has created widely viewed neuroscience animations addressing substance use and stigma and hosts the award-winning podcast Minding the Brain, which brings current neuroscience research to public audiences. 

Through her work as an educator, researcher and science communicator, Hellemans contributes valuable expertise on student well-being, mental health, learning and evidence-informed communication, supporting institutional efforts to enhance the student experience.