About me
Dr. Onawa LaBelle is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Windsor and the founder and faculty advisor of Lancers Recover, the first student recovery program in Ontario, Canada. She is also the Co-Director of the Center for Addiction Recovery Support (CARS), a SAMHSA Office of Recovery-funded initiative dedicated to advancing recovery support services nationwide through training, technical assistance, and capacity-building efforts.
With lived experience in mental health and addiction recovery since 2005, Dr. LaBelle has utilized various methods to sustain her journey, including 12-step programs, She Recovers, and Recovery Dharma, among others. Dr. LaBelle earned her Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Smith College, all in Psychology. Her educational path highlighted the impact of formal recovery support, as she experienced both its absence and presence during her studies. Since moving to Canada, Dr. LaBelle has become a leading advocate for collegiate recovery, actively working to expand the movement nationwide.
In her research, Dr. LaBelle integrates positive psychology and her personal experiences to explore recovery from alcohol and substance use disorders. She regularly lectures on topics related to recovery to mobilize knowledge and translate research findings to the public. She is passionate about sharing her expertise and experience to help individuals and communities affected by addiction.
