Ari Edward Gandsman

Ari Edward Gandsman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociological and Anthropological Studies. His research centers on Medical Anthropology, Human Rights, and Ethics, with a focus on end-of-life rights, state violence, and socio-political activism. He has supervised graduate students such as Heather Buist, Kassandra Drodge, and Christine Elliot Chin.

Education

• Ph.D., Anthropology and Social Studies of Medicine, McGill University (2008)
• M.A., Anthropology, McGill University (2001)
• B.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1997)

Research Themes

Dr. Gandsman's work examines the cultural and ethical dimensions of death activism, particularly in debates around assisted dying and the paradox of autonomy. He also explores intersections between state violence, political culture, and human rights, often using comparative and ethnographic methods.

Publications Overview

His publications span topics like the governance of death (e.g., guns, assisted dying), necrosocialities, and the socio-political implications of end-of-life rights. Articles frequently analyze how ethical subjectivity is constructed in activism, with attention to gerontology, criminology, and bioethics.