Andrea Paras

Dr. Andrea Paras is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph, affiliated with the College of Social & Applied Human Sciences. She joined the university in 2012 and previously taught at the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. Her research focuses on the history and politics of humanitarianism, religion and development, and intercultural competence in international education. She leads the India Field School program, examining ethical voluntourism.

Education: PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto (2010).

Research emphasizes how actors derive legitimacy through moral discourses, including studies on Catholic healthcare institutions' identity in secular Canada and pandemic impacts on NGOs. Awards include the 2016 Teaching Award and 2016 Panorama Award for international education excellence. She has secured over $300K in research funding, including SSHRC grants (2021–2026).

Publications span The International History Review, Intercultural Education, and books like Moral Obligations and Sovereignty in International Relations (2019). Key themes include humanitarianism's historical roots, faith-based NGOs, and ethics in global health.