Laurentian University Honours Excellence in Social Work: Dr. Isabelle Côté and Dr. Diana Coholic Named 2025-2026 Research Award Co-Recipients

(May 21, 2026)— Laurentian University is proud to announce that Dr. Isabelle Côté and  Dr. Diana Coholic  have been named co-recipients of the 2025-2026 Research Excellence Award. The award will be officially presented on June 1, 2026, during the Convocation ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Both professors are researchers in the School of Social Work, their selection highlights a shared commitment to community-driven research that protects the vulnerable and fosters resilience.

While their specific projects range from domestic violence intervention to arts-based mindfulness, both scholars emphasise that their work is fuelled by deep collaboration and a desire for tangible social change.

"By co-naming Dr. Côté and Dr. Coholic as this year’s recipients, we are celebrating work that leaves the lab and the classroom to directly support the safety and mental health of families in our community and beyond. Their leadership in the School of Social Work is a testament to the power of purposeful, collaborative inquiry." said Dr. Tammy Eger, Vice-President, Research at Laurentian University.

Dr. Isabelle Côté

For over 15 years, Dr. Isabelle Côté’s research has focused on the experiences of women and children living in contexts of domestic violence and coercive control. Since joining Laurentian University in 2017, she has secured over $4.7 million in external grants to evaluate and improve intervention practices.

Driven by what she describes as "indignation" toward social injustice, Dr. Côté’s work goes beyond the academic. She led a landmark provincial study evaluating the effectiveness of women’s shelters and spearheaded the creation of the Institut Protection des enfants en contexte de violence conjugale (Protecting Children Against Domestic Violence), which provides specialised training for professionals navigating high-risk family violence situations.

"We don’t do this work for recognition; my commitment is first and foremost to the women and children," says Dr. Côté. "However, this recognition is touching. It reflects that several people feel my contribution deserves to be highlighted: the colleagues who nominated me, those who wrote letters of support, and the evaluation committee".

Looking ahead, Dr. Côté is exploring the implications of Bill C-16, which seeks to criminalize coercive control in Canada, analysing how these legal shifts will affect professional safety mandates.

Dr. Diana Coholic

Dr. Diana Coholic, a Full Professor who joined Laurentian University in 2001, has spent two decades developing and studying an arts-based mindfulness program designed to help young people build essential coping skills.

Her research has touched diverse populations, including children in foster care, youth leaving the child welfare system, and even Laurentian University’s varsity sports teams. By combining mindfulness with creative expression, Dr. Coholic makes mental health support accessible and engaging.

"Arts-based mindfulness methods are important, relevant, and effective because they bring creativity and enjoyment to work that is often really challenging," Dr. Coholic explains. "It makes the concepts and practices truly accessible".

Her work has gained international attention, with a recent partnership in Portugal where her program is being adapted for youth in group homes. She credits her success to "dynamic, like-minded colleagues" at Laurentian University and the establishment of a Canada Foundation for Innovation-funded research lab that allows for deep community collaboration.

Mentoring the Next Generation

As award-winning researchers, both professors encourage students to lean into their passions. Dr. Côté advises students to choose a field that moves them, noting that a "certain dose of indignation" can be a powerful lever for change. Similarly, Dr. Coholic urges students to build a supportive community of mentors and to always seek scenarios where everyone involved in the research process benefits.

This dual recognition of Dr. Côté and Dr. Coholic underscores the School of Social Work’s role as a leader in research that directly improves the lives of individuals across Northern Ontario and beyond.