Mary Okin

Dr. Mary Okin is an Associate Professor at the University of Maine, affiliated with the Sociology department, and teaches across Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Franco-American Studies, and History. She holds a PhD in Canadian History with a Women’s Studies concentration (2008) and an MA in counseling. Her research focuses on French Canadian history, gender construction, and the history of psychiatry, particularly examining Quebec women’s experiences in late 19th-early 20th century. She has presented widely on Acadian colonial history, gender roles, and mental health narratives.

Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary gender studies, exploring topics like digital education in women’s studies and the sociocultural impacts of psychiatric diagnosis. With a decade of clinical counseling experience, her interdisciplinary approach integrates mental health perspectives into historical scholarship.