Dr. Tracy Hecht is an Associate Professor of Management and Graduate Program Director of the PhD Program in Business Administration at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University . She earned her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. Her research focuses on the interplay between work, family, and other life roles, particularly how these interactions influence job search behaviors, career trajectories, and well-being. Key themes include work-family boundary management, career procrastination, and the impact of multi-role dynamics on professional outcomes. As an Associate Editor at the Journal of Organizational Behavior , Dr. Hecht contributes to advancing scholarly discourse in her field. Her work has been published in top-tier journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology and Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology . Recent research highlights include studies on gender differences in job search intensity and the psychological mechanisms behind career decision delays. Her teaching and supervision span the Management (MSc) and Business Administration (PhD) programs. While no specific grants or labs are explicitly noted, her research consistently addresses contemporary challenges at the intersection of work and personal life, offering actionable insights for organizations and policymakers.
Laura A. Meek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia Okanagan , specializing in Medical Anthropology , Decolonial Science and Technology Studies , and East African research . She holds affiliations with interdisciplinary networks like the UBC-O Science and Technology Studies Collective and co-directs the Storying Otherwise: Creative Ethnographic Writing Hub . PhD, MA in Anthropology (University of California, Davis) MA in Women’s Studies (George Washington University) Honors BA in Comparative Human Development (University of Chicago) Her research examines counterfeit pharmaceuticals and bodily epistemologies in Tanzania, framed through feminist , decolonial , and anti-racist lenses . She investigates leprosy elimination campaigns and fugitive science practices across Africa and Hong Kong, with recent work focusing on creative ethnographic prose and critical disability studies . Her publications span high-impact journals like Social Science & Medicine and Medical Anthropology Quarterly , addressing themes of radical uncertainty and world-making practices . Laura’s 15 most recent articles (2021–2025) analyze: pharmaceutical counterfeits in East Africa, the temporal politics of leprosy , anti-colonial global health , and creative writing as research . Her work bridges Indian Ocean connections and STS frameworks to critique neocolonial health governance. 2025 Collaborative Research Mobility Award 2024 Wenner-Gren Workshop Grant 2023 MAE–MAT Early Career Paper Award 2021 Society for Humanistic Anthropology Creative Ethnographic Prose Prize 2018 Wenner-Gren Dissertation Grant 2013 NSF Doctoral Dissertation Grant She supervises M.A. and Ph.D. students in UBC-O’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies programs, particularly in global health , African politics , and STS . Her professional service includes co-chairing the 2026 Cascadia Medical Anthropology Seminar and serving on the American Anthropological Association Nominations Committee .
David A. B. Murray is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies at York University. His research integrates queer theory, anthropology, and migration studies to examine sexual and gender minorities across Martinique, Barbados, New Zealand, and Canada. Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Virginia M.A. (Distinction) Anthropology, University of Virginia B.A. (Honours) Anthropology, McGill University Professor Murray's work critically engages with nationalism, colonialism, identity performativity, and health inequities. His recent publications analyze queer temporalities, HIV/AIDS narratives, and transnational refugee politics. Emerging from his 2015-2025 publications, key trends include: Queer refugee experiences in Canada/USA HIV/AIDS in Caribbean contexts Queer temporality and biopolitics Language and identity politics Postcolonial identity negotiations Performance of cultural citizenship His research program involves fieldwork across Caribbean and Canadian sites, examining how marginalized communities navigate structural inequities through cultural resistance and identity reclamation.
Dr. Mona Tokarek LaFosse serves as Assistant Professor of New Testament and Sacred Literature Studies (Teaching Stream) at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Divinity through a joint appointment at Emmanuel College and Victoria College. She teaches across undergraduate, basic-degree, and graduate programs at Victoria University, specializing in New Testament studies and early Christian history through interdisciplinary lenses. Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Toronto's Department for the Study of Religion (2011), MA in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University (2001), Honors BA in Anthropology from the University of Waterloo (1998), and Biblical Studies certificate from Columbia Bible College (1994). She previously taught at Martin Luther University College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Huron University College, and the University of Toronto. Dr. LaFosse approaches New Testament scholarship through cultural anthropology, storytelling theory, and age studies. Her research examines early Christian communities through the lens of age structure, intergenerational dynamics, and oral storytelling practices. She explores how life course stages shaped social relationships in the ancient Mediterranean, particularly focusing on 1 Timothy's treatment of age hierarchies. Her innovative teaching methodology emphasizes 'embodied story'—integrating performance and physical engagement with texts influenced by Indigenous storytelling traditions. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on aging in early Christianity, with 2024 articles examining age demographics and comparative gerontology. She also maintains active scholarship in oral tradition studies, particularly regarding the Gospel of Mark and Shepherd of Hermas, while contributing to academic discourse through society leadership and book reviews. Dr. LaFosse holds significant leadership roles including current service on the Canadian Society for Patristic Studies Nominating Committee (2025–26) and co-chairing the Society of Biblical Literature's Social-Scientific Criticism of the New Testament section (2025–27). She actively participates in the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies, Society of Biblical Literature, and KW Biblical Colloquium. Her distinctive teaching portfolio includes innovative courses like 'Zombies, the Bible and the End of the World' and 'Gospel of Mark as Embodied Story,' reflecting her commitment to interdisciplinary engagement with biblical texts through contemporary cultural frameworks and physical performance.
Dr. Adrian Beling is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Environmental Studies at The King's University and holds the Canada Research Chair in Transition to Sustainability. He leads a research group focusing on sustainability governance and has taught courses like Humanity and the Biosphere and Global Sustainability. His interdisciplinary work explores sustainability transitions through a post-Eurocentric lens. Education: PhD (Humboldt University of Berlin & Alberto Hurtado University, 2017), M.A. (Freiburg University & FLACSO Argentina, 2011), B.A. (Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, 2003). Research interests center on sustainability governance frameworks, the role of religion in environmental policymaking, and Buen vivir theory. He co-founded the academic blog Alternautas and the Ecocene Foundation, and designed the Higher Diploma in Integral Ecology program. Key achievements include over 25 academic publications, co-authoring the Routledge Handbook of Global Sustainability Governance, and leading international collaborations through the SustENABLE Transformation program. He has received grants supporting interdisciplinary sustainability research and global education initiatives. Dr. Beling actively engages in knowledge mobilization through platforms like the University Network for the Care of the Common Home (RUC) and serves as Academic Director for FLACSO Argentina's Global Studies Programme.
Tobias Harding is a Senior Lecturer at the University of South-Eastern Norway, specializing in Cultural Policy, Heritage Studies, and Civil Society . His research explores the intersection of Swedish cultural policy, secularization, and national identity , particularly focusing on the heritagization of religious architecture and the role of faith-based organizations in secular states. He teaches at the International Master’s Program on Cultural Policy at the University of Jyväskylä and has contributed to critical analyses of Sweden’s cultural canon and the politicization of heritage. Research Interests : Cultural policy, secularization, civil society, religious heritage, and democratic cultural practices. Key Publications : His work includes studies on the Church of Sweden’s transformation , cultural canon debates , and the impact of populism on Nordic cultural policies . Academic Roles : Senior Lecturer at University of South-Eastern Norway, with a docentship in Cultural Policy from the University of Jyväskylä (2017). Contact: tobias.harding@usn.no
Dr. Huamei Han is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on language learning, multilingualism, and socioeconomic inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly in contexts of globalization. She investigates intersections between Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Anthropology, and Migration Studies, with a focus on immigrant communities in Canada and trade migration between China and Africa since 2009. Key research areas include: (1) Grassroots multilingualism in China-Africa trade hubs like Namibia and South Africa, (2) Intra-group dynamics among Chinese communities in Canada, and (3) Language practices in minority religious institutions. Her work often employs ethnographic methods to examine identity formation, settlement challenges, and the role of religion in immigrant integration. Dr. Han has conducted extensive fieldwork since 2007, producing studies that bridge linguistic analysis with sociocultural contexts. Her collaborative multi-year project on Chinese-Canadian community relations explores social inclusion/exclusion mechanisms through a linguistic lens. She maintains active service roles in academic and community settings.
Dr. Amanda Bittner is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she has served since 2008. She directs the Gender & Politics Lab, a research and community engagement hub focusing on gender dynamics in politics. Her work bridges political psychology, public opinion, and gender studies, with a focus on voter behavior, party leaders, and gender's role in political attitudes. Education: BA Hons (University of Toronto); MA and PhD (University of British Columbia). Her research spans Canadian and comparative contexts, examining topics like voter turnout, immigration attitudes, and the impact of social cleavages on political behavior. She has published five books and over 50 peer-reviewed articles. Research Interests : Voters’ perceptions of party leaders Gender and political attitudes Right-wing populism and gender Measurement of gender in surveys Voter turnout and political engagement Awards : 2022: Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars 2021: Excellence in Mentorship Award 2020: Sarah Shorten Award for advancing women in academia 2019: APSA Mentoring Award Active in media commentary (English/French) and grant-writing, she has secured substantial funding for research projects. Her Gender & Politics Lab hosts community outreach programs and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Paul Stanley Rowe is a Professor of Political and International Studies at Trinity Western University (TWU), Canada. He coordinates degree programs in Political Studies and International Studies and serves as Director of the Religion in Canada Institute. He is also a senior research fellow at the International Institute for Religious Freedom – Vancouver. His research focuses on religious minorities in the Middle East and South Asia, religious pluralism, and global religious freedom. He holds a PhD in Political Science from McGill University and has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Middle East and South Asia. Education: PhD (McGill University), MA (Dalhousie University), BA (University of Toronto). His expertise includes Middle Eastern and South Asian politics, international relations, and the politics of religious minorities. He teaches courses on international politics, the developing world, and regional studies. Recent publications include *The Routledge Handbook of Minorities in the Middle East* (2019) and articles analyzing Christian minorities in Egypt, India, and Israel-Palestine. His work examines the intersection of religion, governance, and minority rights in conflict-affected regions.
Charles Furlotte is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at St. Thomas University, where he has taught since 2019. Originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick, he is a registered social worker (RSW) in both Ontario (since 2009) and New Brunswick (since 2018), with over a decade of clinical experience in healthcare settings. He is currently completing his PhD in Social Work at McMaster University while maintaining his academic position. Dr. Furlotte earned his Bachelor of Arts (Honours Psychology and English Literature) from Mount Allison University in 2006 and his Master of Social Work from Carleton University in 2009. Prior to joining St. Thomas University, he taught at Carleton's School of Social Work and McMaster University's Department of Health, Aging and Society, and served as a Social Worker with a focus on mental health and psychotherapy. He also held an Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) position at McMaster's Department of Family Medicine. His research focuses on critical approaches to the social study of aging, particularly examining the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people aging with HIV and other complex chronic health conditions. His work explores aging-related services for older LGBT individuals, mindfulness applications in social justice approaches to social work practice, and resilience strategies among long-term HIV survivors. His research employs qualitative methodologies, often using community-based participatory approaches. An analysis of his recent publications reveals consistent themes across gerontology, HIV research, and social work practice, with particular emphasis on successful aging frameworks from the perspective of HIV-positive older adults. His research demonstrates strong methodological rigor using qualitative approaches, particularly modified grounded theory and narrative analysis, to explore the lived experiences of vulnerable aging populations. Professor Furlotte has taught across multiple levels of social work education, including Post-degree BSW courses (Theory for Social Work Practice II, Generalist Social Work Practice Skills, Field Instruction), 4-Year BSW courses (Social Work Practice and Human Development, Field Instruction I), and MSW courses (Social Work in Health Care, Research and Evaluation, Advanced Placement). His teaching integrates his clinical expertise with his research interests in aging, HIV, and mindfulness-based interventions. His professional activities extend to community engagement, having presented at numerous forums including The AIDS Network, Hamilton; The AIDS Committee of Toronto; and various academic conferences on HIV and aging. He has contributed to environmental scans of HIV and aging services in Canada and participated in national initiatives addressing the needs of older adults living with HIV.
Ray Vander Zaag is Associate Professor of International Development Studies at Canadian Mennonite University with extensive field experience in rural Haiti. His research examines development aid policy, faith-based NGOs, and rural development strategies. Teaching areas include NGO operations, program planning, religion-development intersections, and rural development. His publications analyze Canadian development assistance patterns and faith-based organization funding mechanisms. Applied work includes program evaluations in Haiti for organizations including Mennonite Central Committee and Salvation Army. Community service includes board positions for Indigenous Family Center, Manitoba Council for International Cooperation, and Sunrise Potato Systems Institute.
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia's School of Social Work (Faculty of Arts) and a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar. He holds affiliations with Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, the World Health Organization Somalia Office, and the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use. His research focuses on global mental health, addiction, and peacebuilding in conflict-affected regions, particularly East Africa. Dr. Ibrahim has over 20 years of clinical experience in Kenya, Somalia, and North America. Education includes a PhD from Simon Fraser University, a Global Mental Health Certificate from Harvard University, and an RN from Kenya Medical Training College. He teaches courses like Global Mental Health (SOWK 440J/571) and addiction-focused social work practice. His grants include a $450,000 Michael Smith Scholarship for strengthening mental health in the Horn of Africa and a CIHR Project Grant ($420,572) for Somalia mental health workforce training. Awards include the 2024–2029 Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar designation. Research emphasizes decolonizing mental health practices, human rights in healthcare, and culturally responsive interventions. He leads projects on mental health task-shifting in LMICs, refugee health, and spiritual healing in Muslim communities. Collaborations include the Somali National University as a Visiting Professor.
Dr. Manal Alzghoul is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Brock University, with clinical expertise in pediatric, acute, and critical care nursing. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Relational Practice, Medical-Surgical Nursing, and Nursing Ethics. Her research focuses on diversity and equity in healthcare access, particularly in injury prevention, immigrant health, perinatal care, and rural health. Dr. Alzghoul has secured significant grants, including a $5.5M role as Co-applicant for the Ministry of Labor's EPID@Work Research Institute Core Funding and a $100K Principal applicant role for occupational health and safety research among immigrants. She has published widely on topics such as rural transitional care, nursing ethics, and maternal health in Muslim communities. Education: PhD in Nursing, MSc, Registered Nurse certifications in Jordan, UK, and Canada Professional Affiliations: College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), Jordanian Nurse and Midwives Council, UK Nursing and Midwifery Council Her research often involves multidisciplinary teams and uses mixed-methods approaches. Current projects include analyzing immigrant parents' perceptions of child injury prevention strategies and exploring nursing students' ethical decision-making in rural Ontario. Dr. Alzghoul is actively mentoring graduate students and accepts Master’s applicants whose research aligns with her interests. Grants & Roles: Principal applicant for SSHRC Insight Development Program ($65,250) Co-developed a systematic review on occupational health tools for immigrants Collaborated on studies addressing mental health-seeking behavior among immigrants Her work bridges clinical practice and academic research, emphasizing rural and culturally diverse populations. She contributes to nursing education through curriculum design and innovative teaching methods.
Michelle Voss is Professor of Theology and Past Principal at Emmanuel College, Victoria University (University of Toronto), where she directs Master of Divinity Programs. An ordained United Church of Canada minister, she previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Wake Forest University School of Divinity (2015-2018) and as Emmanuel College's 13th Principal (2018-2021)—the first woman to hold this position in its 90-year history. Her leadership emphasized race, class, gender, sexuality, and religious pluralism during institutional consolidation and the pandemic's onset. Her educational background includes: BA from Calvin College (1998) MTS from Candler School of Theology, Emory University (2002) PhD from Emory University (2006) As a leading scholar in comparative theology , Voss specializes in Christian-Hindu contexts with research spanning aesthetics , gender , embodiment , disability studies , and multiple religious belonging . Her work employs decolonial frameworks to examine how interreligious dialogue reshapes theological reflection, particularly through emotional and ritual dimensions. She develops theological anthropology informed by nondual Saiva Hindu perspectives, challenging dualistic frameworks in traditional doctrines. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2011-2025) reveals evolving engagement with decolonial approaches and indigenous perspectives , alongside consistent focus on Hindu-Christian relations and interreligious pedagogy. Recent work increasingly addresses pandemic-era challenges, institutional leadership in pluralistic contexts, and land-based spirituality, demonstrating practical application of comparative theology in ecclesial and educational settings. Her scholarly impact is recognized through: American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in Constructive/Reflective Studies (2015) for Tastes of the Divine Society for Hindu-Christian Studies Best Book Award (2008-2011) for Dualities: A Theology of Difference Voss has secured significant grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Society for Hindu-Christian Studies, and United Church of Canada Foundation. Though specific advisees aren't listed, her curriculum development at Wake Forest and current Master of Divinity leadership demonstrate extensive mentoring in multireligious theological education. She served as Society for Hindu-Christian Studies President (2017-2018) and contributes to editorial projects like The Routledge Handbook of Hindu-Christian Relations . While not affiliated with a named laboratory, her collaborative work—such as editing Comparing Faithfully with diverse scholars—highlights team-based approaches to interreligious scholarship. Current initiatives focus on integrating disability studies and indigenous perspectives into theological frameworks through her ongoing research and teaching at Emmanuel College.
Kevin Shafer is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Health, Aging & Society , McMaster University. His work bridges family sociology , gender studies , and public health , with a focus on fathering behaviors, parental mental health, and societal influences on family dynamics. Research Interests: His scholarship explores cross-national comparisons of fathering, the impact of masculine norms on parenting, domestic labor during crises, and mental health disparities. He has published extensively on LGBTQ+ youth , depression , and social policy implications. Key Publications: Recent articles analyze pornography consumption ethics, pandemic-induced labor shifts , and racial stereotypes in sports . His work often employs meta-analytic and cross-cultural methodologies , contributing to debates on family therapy and social intervention programs .
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