I'm an educator and researcher committed to tackling Islamophobia in Canada. I'm currently crafting an educator's toolkit to combat Islamophobia in Manitoba classrooms, driven by my passion for dismantling barriers to learning, especially those related to Islamophobia. My academic journey includes three bachelor's degrees in History, Religion, and Education from the University of Winnipeg, as well as a Master's in Religion from Queen’s University. My MA research highlighted the pivotal role of religion in the repatriation and reintegration of Canadian Muslim women and children who previously resided in ISIS-controlled territories. Currently, I'm pursuing a PhD in Cultural Studies, where my research revolves around understanding the motivations and roles of women in violent extremism. Beyond academia, I lead a book club on Gender & Sexuality in Islam and facilitate a study circle on Islam and Ecology. Additionally, I serve as a vice chair for an NGO focused on eradicating domestic violence and promoting wellness within Muslim families. My diverse interests and experiences may seem unrelated, but they inform my deep understanding of intersectionality and drive my commitment to social justice. I'm eager to share my knowledge and passion with the class and contribute to creating an inclusive and informed learning environment.

Abby McLean is a first-year master’s student in Cultural Studies. She graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Global Development Studies, where she developed a keen interest in the intersection between culture, development, and neoliberalism. Abby’s research area of interest involves how the growth of neoliberal consumerism has impacted culture and global development, specifically the commodification of culture in relation to tourism and development. She is also a textile artist who is passionate about slow and sustainable fashion and interested in how the cultural meanings of crafting and textile/clothing production have been changed by neoliberalism. 

Outside of academia, Abby enjoys writing and publishes essays and other pieces on her blog, 'Abby's Anthology'. She loves to travel and has spent time living in both Europe and Africa. She believes that experiencing different cultures and connecting with strangers in new places is the best way to learn about the world. She is also passionate about community engagement and has held many leadership positions within the Queen’s community. Her time as the Global Development Studies Student Council President sparked her passion for student government and continues to motivate her to incorporate advocacy work into her daily life. 

Natalie Burgess is a first-year Cultural Studies Master of Arts student at Queen’s University. She finished her Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Biology at Queen’s in early 2023. Natalie took a variety of courses in both the natural sciences and humanities during her undergraduate degree, and she feels that her prior academic knowledge provides her with a balanced and unique perspective as she pursues graduate studies. She was drawn to Cultural Studies by its interdisciplinary nature and diverse range of research avenues. Currently, she is interested in researching the commodification of self-care concepts and feminist ideology in online advertisements that target young women. Outside of her academic involvements, Natalie enjoys reading, watching medical TV shows and spending time with her family’s German Shepherd dog Willow. 

Hamidreza Ghaneei is a Cultural Studies PhD student at Queen's University. He comes from a small town in the west of Iran called Borujerd. He has a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Affairs Management and a Master's in English Language and Literature. His MA project, completed at the University of Tehran, explores the connection between artificial consciousness and personality development in a video game (Detroit: Become Human) and a novel (Klara and the Sun). Hamidreza's research interests span a variety of topics, including media studies, game studies, popular culture, semiotics, and science fiction. He has worked as a managing director, journalist, and PR manager in the media and entertainment industry for over ten years.  

Combining professional experience and academic engagement in the field, coupled with a personal passion for video games, motivated him to select two video games as case studies for his PhD thesis. In this project, he will trace the evolution of video games as cultural artifacts by examining NieR Replicant and NieR: Automata, two video games focused on themes of dystopian futures, artificial intelligence, and reiterative existence. He takes a holistic approach that analyzes different components of each game, such as music, gameplay, and narrative, to describe how these components work together to support the creation of sophisticated interactive digital narratives.

Hi there! I am a first-year PhD student in the Cultural Studies program. I was drawn to the Cultural Studies program here at Queen’s for several reasons! I did my undergrad and MA here, so there was definitely a draw to remain here with the knowledge that I would be working with incredibly competent and knowledgeable academics. As well, the interdisciplinary nature of the Cultural Studies department is something which is not only super interesting to me but also very relevant to my research. My research interests include indigeneity, colonial and neocolonial studies, spiritual commodification, and the ritual nature of drugs among many others. As well, my current research focuses on sacred indigenous substances and the impact their entry into the global market has on indigenous knowledge systems and ritual practices. I can be contacted at any time to answer questions or to exchange research ideas at: geoffrey.hodges@queensu.ca. 

I was born in Toronto Ontario to immigrant parents. I am a PhD prepared Nurse Practitioner. My doctoral studies focused on managing pain in patients undergoing day surgery. My research to date has focused on developing evidenced based knowledge regarding the safe and effective management of acute and chronic pain, outcomes associated with Advanced Practice Nursing (Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist outcomes), infection prevention and control, and anti-oppression/anti-racism in educational settings and healthcare. My evolving research program includes both funded and unfunded projects, with my most recent projects falling under my research lab ‘Addressing Culturally based Hidden bias And Racism [A-CHARM]’. I was drawn to the Cultural studies program as I feel I need to expand my thinking as I continue to research issues associated with racism in healthcare. 

https://nursing.queensu.ca/sawhney

My email address is: 23kg13@queensu.ca.