Dr. Mar received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and is currently a full professor of psychology at York University. He received the Tom Trabasso Young Investigator award from the Society for Text and Discourse, and the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. His lab investigates how imagined experiences affect how we think, feel, and behave in the real-world, with a particular focus on how stories engage our imagination. This includes novels, television, videogames, and other forms of narrative. His proposed research while at USC will examine whether Canadian television acts as a form of cultural diplomacy, shaping the perceptions of Canada held by Americans. Dr. Mar also has an active interest in how to best teach research methods and statistics, having authored a methods textbook and created a set of tutorials to teach R (remindery.info.yorku.ca). While at USC, he is looking forward to connecting with faculty and graduate students who share similar interests.