Dr. James Gillett

Dr. James Gillett is an Associate Professor in Health, Aging and Society and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. His research interests include human to animal relationships, leisure and recreation, mental health and well-being, media and communications, perspectives on living with health and illness across the life course, and injury as an approach to education and learning. His most recent aging research focuses on using the Royal Botanical Garden as a living lab to track how older adults engage with and benefit from spending time outdoors. He is also involved in creating a platform for studying multiple generations within the same family in the Hamilton area. James is involved in many animal-focused research programs, including the Dogs at MAC program, in which the use of therapy dogs is explored among staff members on campus. His research focuses on improving quality of life for humans and animals of any age.