معرفی
James Gillett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Aging and Society within the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University. His academic work bridges social science perspectives with practical applications in health, aging, and human-animal relationships. With a strong commitment to community-engaged research, Gillett has developed innovative programs that connect academic inquiry with real-world challenges, particularly in the areas of mental health, wellbeing, and interspecies relationships.
Gillett completed his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at the University of Calgary before earning both his Master's degree and Ph.D. from McMaster University. This educational trajectory has enabled him to develop deep connections with the Hamilton community and McMaster's research ecosystem, informing his community-engaged approach to scholarship.
Professor Gillett's research program centers on the complex relationships between humans and other species, challenging conventional understandings of 'humanness' through qualitative and interpretive methodologies. His work examines animal-assisted interventions (such as therapy dogs on university campuses through his 'Dogs at MAC' program), interspecies sports and recreation, mental health and wellbeing, media communications, and perspectives on health and illness across the lifespan. His research demonstrates how human-animal relationships can enhance wellbeing while generating valuable insights about social dimensions of health. Additionally, Gillett investigates how public libraries serve as social infrastructure for aging populations, examining how these community spaces can better support older adults in digital societies.
An analysis of Gillett's recent scholarly output reveals a consistent interdisciplinary focus spanning gerontology, sociology of health, leisure studies, and library science. His work increasingly examines social infrastructure (particularly public libraries) supporting aging populations alongside continued investigation of interspecies relationships. His publications demonstrate methodological consistency with predominantly qualitative approaches employing narrative analysis and community-engaged frameworks, appearing across health journals, sociology publications, leisure studies outlets, and library science periodicals.
- Secured nearly $75,000 from SSHRC for community-partnered projects
- Developed 'Dogs at MAC' program pairing therapy dogs with academic staff
- Created SPCA partnership pairing rescue dogs with youth in detention facilities
- Established multiple community research initiatives including 'Aging in Place with Public Libraries' and 'Self-care for students'
Through programs like Dogs at MAC and partnerships with organizations such as the SPCA, Hamilton youth detention facilities, and public libraries, Gillett has created impactful research environments that bridge academic inquiry with community needs. His work with therapy dogs Liam and Lilly on campus demonstrates how academic research can directly benefit student wellbeing while generating valuable insights about human-animal relationships. These initiatives form a cohesive research ecosystem focused on understanding and improving the social dimensions of health and aging across the lifespan.
حوزههای پژوهشی
