Dan Vena

Dan Vena is a Continuing Adjunct Associate Professor and Undergraduate Chair in the Department of Film and Media at Queen’s University. He holds cross-appointments as an Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies at the School of Graduate Studies. His research focuses on visual and popular cultures, genre cinemas, horror films, feminist-queer-trans histories of Classical Hollywood, and curricular design. Vena’s work intersects with disability studies, anti-racist pedagogy, and death positivity advocacy.

Academic Training: Ph.D. (Queen’s University, Vanier CGS & OGS funded); Postdoctoral Fellowship (Carleton University, SSHRC funded). Additional certifications include a Death Doula training from Going with Grace. Courses taught include FILM 110, 206, 210, 218, 225, 331, 332, and 435.

Research emphasizes decolonial, anti-capitalist, and neurodivergent approaches. Current projects include a monograph on feminist horror cinema with Rutgers University Press and co-editing THE WITCH INSTITUTE for PUBLIC Journal. Past projects include organizing the Witch Institute conference (SSHRC-funded).

Community involvement includes guest lectures at Queen’s School of Medicine on queer-trans healthcare, collaborations with psychologists, and volunteer film instruction for seniors. Pedagogical practices integrate spirituality and death positivity to challenge capitalist productivity norms.