Sean Gray

Sean Gray is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Undergraduate Program Director at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He holds a BA from Queen’s University and a PhD from the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on democratic theory, civic engagement, political ethics, and the history of political thought. Prior to joining Memorial in 2022, he taught at Harvard University’s Committee on Degrees in Social Studies and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and completed postdoctoral work at Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.

Gray’s work explores the intersection of democratic theory and public policy, emphasizing deliberation, participatory governance, and institutional design. He has consulted on participatory governance models for organizations such as the City of Vancouver and Canadian Institutes of Health Research. His recent courses include Introduction to Political Theory, Democracy and Its Discontents, and Ethics, Leadership, and Policy Analysis.

Gray has held fellowships at the Centre for Advanced Studies Justitia Amplificata and the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, and was a Fulbright Scholar. His publications include co-edited volumes like Empowering Affected Interests: Democratic Inclusion in a Globalized World (2024) and Silent Citizenship: The Politics of Marginality in Unequal Democracies (2017). His research has appeared in International Theory, Political Studies, and Critical Review of Social and Political Philosophy.