Arij Elmi

Arij Elmi is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at McMaster University. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work from the University of Windsor and is completing a doctorate in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto). Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the intersection of race/religion, gender, and violence, particularly through the lens of Black Feminist Decolonial Thought and Critical Muslim Studies.

Elmi’s clinical experience includes roles as a Mental Health Crisis Worker and Child and Family Therapist. Her research explores topics such as marriage/divorce dynamics in American Muslim communities, sexual assault resistance education, and the affective impacts of Islamophobia on young Muslims in Toronto. She integrates Black feminist and decolonial frameworks to analyze Muslim women’s subjectivities and ethical systems.

Education:

• Bachelor of Social Work, University of Windsor (2006–2009)
• Master of Social Work, University of Windsor (2010–2011)
• Doctorate in Social Justice Education (ongoing, University of Toronto)

Certifications:

• Critical Muslim Studies (Center of Study and Investigation for Decolonial Dialogues)
• Social and Cultural Psychiatry (McGill University)
• Advanced Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) Certificates

Teaching: Courses include Social Work with Families, Clinical Skills, and Epistemology in Social Work Practice, reflecting her commitment to integrating theory with practice.

Research Trends: Elmi’s work consistently addresses systemic inequities through lenses of race, gender, and religion. Recent projects highlight community dialogues on race, therapeutic approaches to trauma, and the intersection of Islamophobia with mental health.