About
Stephanie Howells is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Guelph, part of the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences. She holds a PhD in Sociology from McMaster University (2013). Her research focuses on school crime and violence, school shootings, and the sociology of education, with notable work on media representations of homelessness and community policing in schools.
Her academic contributions include methodological guides like The how to of qualitative research (2021) and critical analyses of media framing in cases like Canadian school shootings (2012). She advises graduate students Spencer Hill (MA.SOC), Chloe Norris (MA.SOC), and Alyssa Khan (PhD.SOC).
Her recent work (2021–2023) explores intersections between digital media, homelessness discourse, and urban sociology. She has also critically examined gender wage gaps among Canadian graduates and the paradoxes of youth violence prevention strategies.
Howells' research bridges sociological theory with applied concerns, emphasizing empirical rigor and real-world policy implications in educational and community contexts.
