Stéfy McKnight

Dr. Stéfy McKnight (they/them/iel) is a white settler, non-binary, and queer artist-scholar at Carleton University, where they hold the academic rank of Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Communication under the Faculty of Public Affairs. Cross-appointed with Communication and Media Studies, their work bridges academic scholarship with artistic practice, focusing on research-creation as a methodology for knowledge production and fact-based storytelling in Canada. They direct two research labs: surveillART and PROTOHYVE, both dedicated to disruptive exhibitionism and innovative research-creation.

Key research interests include:

• Surveillance and colonialism
• Queer and femme representation in digital/virtual spaces
• 2SLGBTQIA+ activism
• Technology in rural communities
• Methodologies and pedagogies of care
• Art as function-creep

Their recent publications and projects explore surveillance logics through performance art, multimedia installations, and curatorial work, often in collaboration with Dr. Julia Chan (University of Calgary) and Dr. Sava Saheli Singh (York University). Articles focus on topics like Disruptive Exhibitionism and Queer Defiance, reflecting their interdisciplinary approach.

Scientific awards:

• 2024 Research Achievement Award (Carleton University)
• 2022 Research Excellence Award (Faculty of Public Affairs, Carleton University)
• 2019 Union Activist of the Year (Kingston District Labour Council)
• 2017 Honorable mention, Surveillance Studies Network Art Fund Prize

Stéfy advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, and racialized peoples as Equity Chair of CUASA and co-founder of the performance duo Cam Hunters, which critiques surveillance through satire and art. Their labs—surveillART and PROTOHYVE—are funded by CFI JELF, ORF SIF, and SSHRC grants, and they prioritize mentorship for emerging artist-scholars, especially those from equity-deserving communities.