Jesse Arseneault

Jesse Arseneault is an Assistant Professor at Concordia University, specializing in African Cultural Studies. His research interrogates the intersections of animality, postcolonialism, queer theory, and posthumanism, with a focus on representations of human-animal relations in African cultural texts. He supervises graduate students in English, Humanities, and Individualized Programs, and teaches courses on postcolonial literature, decolonization, and multispecies ethics.

• PhD in English and Cultural Studies, McMaster University (2016)
• MA in English Literature, McMaster University (2010)
• BA in English Language and Literature, Brock University (2008)

His current manuscript, Africa's Animalities, critiques anthropocentric frameworks in postcolonial discourse, while recent publications examine pestilence, reproductive control in animal trials, and South African student protests. He co-founded the Society, Politics Animals, and Materialities (SPAM) center and edits special issues on African cultural studies.

Key research themes include:

• Postcolonial critiques of human-animal binaries
• Queer and posthumanist approaches to African literature
• Multispecies resilience and environmental justice
• Decolonial pedagogy and political movements

Scientific contributions:

• FRQSC grant (2020-2024) for "The Radical Collectivity of Pests"
• Co-authored works on animal trials and resilience frameworks
• Editorial leadership in Critical Arts and Studies in Social Justice