Gabriella Maestrini

Gabriella Maestrini is a Sessional Lecturer at the Department of Educational Studies within UBC's Faculty of Education. She holds both a PhD (2022) and MEd (2011) from UBC, with a concentration in Educational Studies – General. Her work bridges humor, cultural memory, and pedagogy across diverse contexts.

• Education:
  • PhD in Educational Studies, University of British Columbia (2022)
  • MEd in Educational Studies, University of British Columbia (2011)
  • Bachelor's in Modern Languages and Anthropology, University of Pisa (Italy)

Her research explores:

• Pedagogical and epistemological dimensions of humor
• Post-disaster cultural memory through memes and street humor
• Gendered spatial dynamics in comedy clubs
• Transnational cultural ambassadorship in ESL education
• Political humor in social movements (Arab Spring, 9/11 aftermath)

Recent publications focus on:

• Comedic vulnerability in teaching/research
• 2017 earthquake humor in Mexico
• Alternative imaginaries in Muslim stand-up comedy
• Thirdspace gardening metaphors for decolonial learning

Scientific Awards:

• Mitacs Grant (2019/2020) for post-disaster humor research at UNAM, Mexico City

She engages with:

• Visual elicitation methods for multinational classrooms
• Gender analysis in performance spaces
• Street photography as artistic practice