Dr. Tim Clarke is an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Student Support in the Foundation Year Program at the University of King's College. He holds a PhD in English from the University of Ottawa (2018), focusing on Spinoza’s philosophical influence on 19th- and 20th-century American literature. His research bridges literature and philosophy, particularly modernist vitalism, decadence, and affect theory. Education: BA in English and Historical Studies, Memorial University of Newfoundland (2011) MA in English, Queen’s University (2012) PhD in English, University of Ottawa (2018) Research Focus: Dr. Clarke explores intersections of literary modernism with continental philosophy, emphasizing decadence, vitalist thought, and death’s role in literature. His current project, Morbid Vitalism , examines how modernism synthesizes life-affirming and death-oriented ideas through the decadent tradition. He has published on Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood and co-translated works by Brazilian geographer Milton Santos. Teaching & Engagement: He teaches courses like After the End: The Idea of Decadence and Reflections on Death , blending critical theory with contemporary aesthetics. His translations and co-edited volumes on Milton Santos highlight global Southern perspectives in geography and sociology.
Lyndsay Campbell is a Professor at the University of Calgary, cross-appointed between the Faculty of Law and the Department of History in the Faculty of Arts. Her work bridges Canadian and American legal history, comparative law, and constitutional studies. Ph.D., Jurisprudence and Social Policy, University of California, Berkeley (2008) Master of Law, University of British Columbia (1999) J.D., University of British Columbia (1995) M.A., English Literature, University of Toronto (1991) B.A., English Literature, University of British Columbia (1990) Campbell's research focuses on Canadian and American legal history , libel law , constitutionalism , and imperial legalities . Her work examines intersections between legal and extralegal regulatory strategies, comparative approaches to law, and 19th-century Canadian constitutionalism. Current projects include an edited collection on Legal Histories of Empire with Shaunnagh Dorsett. Her publications analyze legal histories of censorship , racial justice in law , and gender-related legal frameworks . Recent work includes the 2022 monograph Truth and Privilege and the 2020 co-edited open-access volume Canada’s Legal Past . Fellow, Constitutional Law and History Program, University of California, Berkeley (2008) William Nelson Cromwell Fellowship in Legal History (2007) Dean's Normative Time Fellowship, UC Berkeley (2004) Regents Intern Fellowship (2001) Osgoode Society Legal History Prize (1998) SSHRC doctoral fellowship (1997) Campbell teaches courses in Canadian and American history, legal theory, and the undergraduate Law and Society program. She previously practiced law in British Columbia and clerked for justices at the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
Paul Downes is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Toronto, with a focus on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century American literature and its intersection with political philosophy. He holds a BA from York University and a PhD from Cornell University. His research spans literature and political philosophy, Marxist theory, and environmental humanities, often analyzing canonical texts through critical theoretical frameworks. Education: BA, York University; PhD, Cornell University Fields of Interest: American Literature, Environmental Humanities, Literary and Critical Theory, Literature and Political Philosophy, Marxist Theory Downes’ research examines the relationship between literary works and political ideologies, particularly in early American literature. His recent work explores the politics and aesthetics of protection from the 18th to 21st centuries. His publications highlight themes of sovereignty, democracy, and ethical intervention in texts by authors like Herman Melville and Charles Brockden Brown. His journal articles and book chapters frequently bridge literary analysis with philosophical and political discourse. Notable trends in his publications include critical engagements with Thomas Hobbes’ theories in colonial contexts, the role of political theology in shaping early American narratives, and the interplay between democracy and terror in Gothic fiction. His work also interrogates energy ideologies in Melville’s Moby Dick and historical parallels between revolutionary texts and modern events. No scientific awards or honors were mentioned in the provided text. He has not explicitly listed any formal advisees or students in the available materials.
Lady Rojas Benavente is an Associate Professor in the Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics at Concordia University, where she has been teaching since her appointment as Assistant Professor in 1996, with promotion to Associate Professor in May 2003. Prior to joining Concordia, she served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and as a lecturer at the Faculty of Education at The University of Western Ontario, where she taught second language methodology, French and Spanish. Dr. Rojas Benavente received her PhD in Hispanic Literature from the University Laval in 1991, following an MA in Spanish Literatures (Cum Laude, 1985) and BA in History and Spanish (1983), both from the University of Ottawa. She also holds a Diploma qualifying as a Secondary School teacher specializing in Spanish Language and Literature, Psychology and Philosophy from the National Pedagogic University of Women in Lima, Peru (Cum Laude, 1968). Her research focuses on Critical Feminism in Peruvian & Latin-American Women Writers, with special emphasis on contemporary Peruvian and Mexican narrative, drama, poetry and essay. Her work encompasses Cultural Studies and Literary and Critical Theories, Latin American History, Post-colonialism, Human Rights, Women Studies, Feminist Theories, Gender Issues, Latin America Black History, Indigenous and Minorities Studies, and Comparative Studies in Education. She has published nine books (two poetry collections and seven critical interpretations) and over 50 refereed papers in Latin American Women's literary work, particularly focusing on Peruvian and Mexican authors. Dr. Rojas Benavente's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with themes of gender, ethnicity, and power structures in Latin American literature. Her recent publications explore the works of contemporary Peruvian women writers, examining how they address issues of violence, racism, and gender in post-independence national contexts. Her research trajectory reveals a deepening focus on decolonial perspectives, indigenous resistance, and the intersection of gender with other social categories. Hispanic Literary and Cultural Institute's Honor Diploma (2010) Publication Award from the University of New Brunswick for the Anthology, Constructing Memory: Latino-Canadian Women Writers in the New Millennium Recognition by Mouvement Desjardins in celebration of International Women's Day (2008) As president of the Society for Literary Criticism of Spanish American Women Writers' work (CCLEH), Dr. Rojas Benavente has facilitated connections between Concordia colleagues, local artists, international writers, and the Latino-Montreal community. She serves on the editorial boards of Alba de America, a literary magazine from the United States, and Voces, a Peruvian cultural magazine. Her leadership extends to organizing numerous conferences on Latin American women writers across Canada, Latin America, and Montreal, including multiple meetings of Hispano-Canadian Women Writers and events commemorating significant figures in Latin American literature.
Camille Owens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at McGill University, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts. Her research focuses on race, childhood, disability, and archival methodologies, with a particular emphasis on African American literature and Black feminisms. She holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and a B.A. from Harvard University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Owens’ work challenges historical narratives about childhood’s universality by centering Black children’s experiences and contributions. Her book Like Children: Black Prodigy and the Measure of the Human in America (2024) rethinks the intersections of race, developmental schemas, and ableism in 19th-century America. Education Ph.D., M.Phil., M.A., Yale University (African American Studies and American Studies) B.A., summa cum laude, Harvard University (History & Literature and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies) Awards & Honors Junior Fellow, Harvard Society of Fellows (2020–2023) 1921 Prize in American Literature (2022) Ralph Henry Gabriel Dissertation Prize (2020) Sylvia Ardyn Boone Dissertation Prize (2020) Owens teaches courses on Black studies, Indigenous literatures, disability studies, and archival theory. Her research bridges literary analysis with historical critique, emphasizing marginalized voices in archives and cultural production.
Vincent Masse is an Associate Professor in the Department of French at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. His office is located in Room 3172, Marion McCain Building, with contact information including email (vincent.masse@dal.ca) and phone (902-494-6808). He holds a BA and MA from McGill University, a PhD from the University of Toronto, and completed postdoctoral work at Paris IV (Sorbonne). His research focuses on medieval and early modern European history and literature, with specializations in: Portrayals of non-European worlds Travel narratives and contact literature History of apocalyptic thought Development of printed news and ephemeral literature 19th-century Quebec literature History of the book and print culture Professor Masse has supervised multiple graduate students including MA theses on apocalyptic elements in medieval literature, Renaissance philosophical thought, and religious conversion tropes in Enlightenment fiction. He maintains regular office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:00 p.m. His media engagements include podcast appearances on Arthurian legends and documentary participation about lost kingdoms. His course "FREN 2666 The End Of The World" has received significant media coverage in outlets like CBC Radio and The Chronicle Herald.
Professor Jose Jouve-Martin is a faculty member in the Department of Hispanic Studies at McGill University. His research focuses on the intersection of history and literature in colonial Latin America, particularly exploring themes of slavery, literacy, and colonialism. He has held significant academic roles including Director of Undergraduate Programs in Hispanic Studies and has been funded by major grants such as SSHRC and FQRSC. His work spans monographs, peer-reviewed articles, and edited volumes, with notable publications like Esclavos de la ciudad letrada (2005). He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on colonial literature, the baroque, and Afro-Hispanic studies. Education: Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature, Georgetown University (2003) Licenciatura in Philosophy, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1994) His research interests include the cultural history of opera, funerary rituals in the Spanish Empire, and the role of writing among enslaved populations. He has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students on topics ranging from colonial drama to modern Latin American literature. His international collaborations include membership in the MCRI 'The Hispanic Baroque' and Brown University's research groups. Prof. Jouve-Martin’s scholarly contributions have been recognized with awards such as an honorable mention for the Franklin Pease G.Y. Memorial Prize (2007). He actively participates in academic service roles, including editorial boards for Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispánicos and Latin American Research Review .
Joël Castonguay-Bélanger is an Associate Professor of French at the University of British Columbia, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and the Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies. He joined UBC in 2009 after a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, following a joint PhD from Université de Montréal and Université Paris IV-Sorbonne (2007) and an MA from McGill University (2002). His research focuses on 18th-century French literature, the intersection of literary and scientific discourses, the Enlightenment, and Québec literature. He is an associate member of the Centre de Recherche Interuniversitaire en Sociocritique des Textes (CRIST). Castonguay-Bélanger has published extensively in journals such as Études françaises , Papers on French Seventeenth Century Literature , and Eighteenth-Century Fiction , as well as edited volumes. His 2008 monograph Les écarts de l’imagination examines scientific representations in 18th-century novels. He co-edited Voltaire à la radio canadienne (2013) and served as co-editor of Lumen (2017). Current projects include a critical edition of Louis-Guillaume de La Folie’s Le Philosophe sans prétention and a study of Louis-Sébastien Mercier’s anti-Newtonian writings. His teaching focuses on French language and literature, including courses like FREN 101 and FREN 102 at UBC. His work bridges literary analysis with historical context, emphasizing how scientific ideas shaped cultural narratives during the Enlightenment. He received the Peter Wall Institute Early Career Scholar award (2010), reflecting his contributions to interdisciplinary scholarship.
Pablo A. Ramirez is an Associate Professor in the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph. His interdisciplinary research bridges 19th-century American literature, Latinx cultural production, and memory studies. He holds a PhD from the University of Michigan and a BA from Yale University, complemented by an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Miami. His primary research focuses on two major projects: 'Consent of the Conquered,' examining Californio women writers' use of contractual language, and 'Collective Memory in the Borderlands,' analyzing Latinx writers' engagement with historical gaps through narrative. He teaches courses on Latinx Studies and 19th-century literature, while also serving as a second reader in the Creative Writing MFA program. Key areas of expertise include law and literature intersections, supernatural themes in 19th-century texts, and borderland memory formations. His publications span peer-reviewed journals like Nineteenth-Century Literature and Arizona Quarterly , alongside contributions to edited collections addressing Latin American and Caribbean community studies. Dr. Ramirez advises graduate students across English/theatre studies and Latin American/Caribbean studies programs.
Dr. Ted Cavanagh is a Professor at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Architecture and Planning, affiliated with the Marine Affairs Program, School of Architecture, and School of Planning. He holds a PhD from Lehigh University, along with BSc and BArch degrees. His interdisciplinary research bridges architecture, community design, and material culture, focusing on coastal development, integrated resource management, and spatial planning. Ted has collaborated with ocean managers, scientists, and communities to address coastal challenges, supported by grants from institutions like SSHRC and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. With an award-winning architectural practice in Vancouver, Ted has chaired professional accreditation programs in North America and contributed to journals like Journal of Architectural Education . Notably, he and his students won Canada's best building award in 2005 for a community-based children's theatre in Cheticamp, recognized as a Masterworks Award winner. His work appears in over 20 publications, including books, journals, and media. Awards: American Architectural Foundation Award, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Award, Winterthur Institute Research Fellowship. Grants: SSHRC, Canada Council, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Ted's teaching spans 30 universities, emphasizing design/build pedagogy and collaborative practice. His Coastal Studio projects, documented in dalcoastalstudio.blogspot.com , exemplify community-engaged design. He advocates for sustainable and culturally responsive architecture, merging historical insights with modern challenges.
Chad Wriglesworth is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Waterloo, specializing in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of 20th/21st century American literature, ecocriticism, religion, and environmental humanities. His work explores the cultural and spiritual dimensions of North American regional landscapes. PhD in Twentieth-Century American Literature, University of Iowa MA in Theology and Literature, Regent College, University of British Columbia MA in English, Portland State University BA in English, Warner Pacific University Wriglesworth's research focuses on literary representations of environmental reclamation, theological perspectives in contemporary poetry, and bioregional theory. He is currently completing two major projects: editing 'What Clever Friends' (University of Michigan Press) and authoring 'Geographies of Reclamation' (University of Nevada Press), both examining Pacific Northwest cultural and environmental narratives. His recent work demonstrates expertise in analyzing literary responses to ecological challenges, indigenous land rights, and the intersection of spirituality and environmental stewardship. Wriglesworth's publications span interdisciplinary journals and book chapters addressing water ethics, salmon habitat restoration, and agrarian philosophies in American literature. 2025 Distinguished Teacher Award, University of Waterloo 2024 Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Waterloo 2018 Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance Award for Teaching Excellence 2016 Best Interview Award (Evangelical Press Association) 2015 Robert Harding Humanities and Social Sciences Award 2009-2011 Mellon Foundation Early Career Fellowship As Associate Editor of The Raymond Carver Review, Wriglesworth contributes to ongoing scholarship on Pacific Northwest literary traditions. His teaching excellence has been recognized multiple times, including through the University of Waterloo's Federation of Students Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2018, 2014, 2008). He supervises graduate students in American literature, ecocriticism, and Native American studies.
J. Barton Scott is a Professor of Historical Studies with a focus on the History of Religions at the University of Toronto Mississauga . His research spans the global intellectual and cultural history of the 19th and early 20th centuries, with a particular emphasis on South Asia and its transnational connections. He teaches courses on social and cultural theory, religion in political thought, and media and material religion. Education: Ph.D., Duke University B.A., Swarthmore College Research Interests: Scott’s work explores the intersections of religion, law, and politics in colonial and postcolonial South Asia. He is especially interested in how modern Hindu thinkers engaged with and reshaped global discourses on secularism, blasphemy, and religious authority. His research also delves into the cultural history of the study of religion, affect theory, and the role of media and print culture in shaping religious identities and publics. Books and Major Projects: He is the author of Spiritual Despots: Modern Hinduism and the Genealogies of Self-Rule (2016) and Slandering the Sacred: Blasphemy Law and Religious Affect in Colonial India (2023), both published by the University of Chicago Press. He is also the co-editor of Imagining the Public in Modern South Asia (Routledge, 2016). Currently, he is working on two new book projects: one on guru culture in southern California around World War II, and a collaborative study on the powers of the image in South Asian religions. Scientific Awards: Honorable Mention, American Comparative Literature Association's Harry Levin Prize for an Outstanding First Book (for Spiritual Despots ) Public Engagement and Editorial Work: Scott has contributed essays and reviews to public-facing platforms such as The Immanent Frame , The Revealer , and the Journal of Religion & Film . His work bridges academic and public discourse, particularly in the areas of secularism, religious affect, and colonial legacies in South Asia.
Jeffery Vacante is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at the University of Western Ontario. He holds a BA from McGill University and both MA and PhD degrees from Western University. His research focuses on intellectual, cultural, and gender history, with particular emphasis on nationalism, liberalism, and urban culture in Quebec. Vacante's work bridges historical analysis with questions of identity formation, examining how gender roles, sexual norms, and national narratives intersect in 19th- and 20th-century Quebec. He currently teaches courses on American popular culture, modern capitalism, and 20th-century U.S. history, alongside specialized seminars on Quebec aviation history. Vacante maintains supervisory roles for MA and co-doctoral students. His office is located in Lawson Hall 1221, where he holds weekly office hours on Thursdays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Vacante's scholarship emphasizes transnational frameworks for understanding Quebec's cultural and political trajectory. His 2017 monograph National Manhood and the Creation of Modern Quebec redefined understandings of masculinity's role in nationalist movements. His articles engage with topics ranging from historical memory of the Conquest to the posthumous legacies of political figures like René Lévesque.
Dr. Scott McLaren is an Associate Librarian and faculty member in the Department of Humanities at York University's Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. With a PhD in Cultural History from the University of Toronto, he serves as lead editor of the Historical Papers of the Canadian Society of Church History. His research intersects religion, print culture, and material culture, examining themes like religious values in literature and the nature of religious artifacts. His research interests span cultural history, religion, history of the book, and Canadian history. McLaren has authored significant works including Pulpit, Press, and Politics: Methodists and the Market for Books in Upper Canada (2019) and edited The Bible in the Age of Empire: A Cultural History (2024). McLaren's publications demonstrate consistent focus on print culture dynamics, religious textual production, and Methodist history. Recent works explore biblical interpretation in colonial contexts, denominational publishing networks, and transatlantic religious exchanges. His scholarship appears in prestigious references including the Cambridge History of the Bible and Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church.
Gisèle Baxter is a Sessional Lecturer (Continuing) in the Department of English Language and Literatures at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts. She has taught at UBC since 1997 after moving from Nova Scotia, specializing in literary and cultural studies across multiple periods and genres. Her research interests span a wide spectrum of literary fields including Gothic studies, Victorian literature, Modernism (particularly British and Irish), science/speculative fiction and fantasy, dystopian/post-apocalyptic narratives, children's literature, and rhetoric and composition including technical/professional communication. Baxter's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent engagement with gender studies, film adaptation, and the intersections between literature and cultural phenomena. Baxter's recent publications and conference presentations reveal a strong focus on Gothic science fiction, particularly examining gender representations in films like Blade Runner 2049 and Ex Machina. Her work often explores the Gothic heroine archetype, Bluebeard narratives, and dystopian literature, as evidenced by her co-edited volume Blast, Corrupt, Dismantle, Erase: Contemporary North American Dystopian Literature (2014) and her book chapter 'Bluebeard's Women Fight Back' (2019). Ian Fairclough Teaching Prize (2019-20 and 2002-03) SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (1992-94) SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship (1989-90) Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship (1988-90) Baxter has supervised numerous undergraduate honors theses at UBC, with topics spanning Gothic literature, children's literature, science fiction, and film studies. She has also served as faculty sponsor for multiple Student Directed Seminars on topics including zombies in literature, Gothic literature, science fiction, and chick lit. Her pedagogical contributions include developing online courses and technical writing workshops, particularly for the Master of Food Science program.
