Biography

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Photo by Carrie MacPherson

Born and raised in Montreal, Dr. Jennifer Nachshen decided at a very young age that she was motivated toward a career that enabled her to read, write, and study the thoughts, feelings, motivations, and behaviours of others. This passion drove her into the field of Clinical Psychology, in which she completed a PhD at Queen’s University in 2005. Specializing in research with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities, Dr. Nachshen has published numerous scientific papers and presented at a wide range of scientific conferences all around the world.

Although Jennifer is passionate about caring for and protecting the rights of this very vulnerable population, she always felt that there was something missing in her career.

In December, 2008, Jennifer stumbled on an opportunity to write for Vitamin Daily Montreal, a fashion and lifestyle website for women aged 20 – 40. Although her background in the world of fashion had been limited to reading Vogue magazine every month, Jennifer now threw herself into this new role enthusiastically, blogging about Montreal’s hot spots, exciting new products and services, and hidden gems.

After immersing herself in scientific writing for the duration of her doctoral training, working this new style of prose was a revelation for Jennifer, who soon began to expand her scribal horizons. With the publication of her first personal essay in the Facts and Arguments section of the Globe & Mail on September 1, 2009 and her new personal blog, My Plan Be, Jennifer is now using her interest in and scientific understanding of the inner workings of the human mind to shape her endeavours in the realm of creative non-fiction.