Alumni
More than 200 Master's and Doctoral students have successfully completed the programs of Theory and Criticism since its inception in 1990.
Featured Alumna
Dr. Jennifer Komorowski, PhD '22, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Toronto Metropolitan University
Jennifer Komorowski's research combines Lacanian psychoanalysis, Haudenosaunee thought, and more general Indigenous philosophy to think about what masochism means for Indigenous women. Since completing the dissertation “The Masochian Woman”, Jennifer continues her research in her new position in the Philosophy Department at Toronto Metropolitan University by talking to women in her own community, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, about their experiences.
Recent Successes
Tenure-stream appointments
Mary Bunch (MA 2002, PhD 2010) Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Arts; Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Vision, Disability and the Arts, School of Art, Media, Performance and Design, York University.
Jonathan Doering (PhD 2019) Assistant Professor of English (Department of Literature, Folklore, and The Arts), Cape Breton University; President of the Canadian Society for the Study of Rhetoric.
Jonathan Fardy (PhD 2014) Associate Professor of Art History; Graduate Director, Department of Art at Idaho State University.
Katherine Lawless (PhD 2014) Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Film, University of Calgary.
Emanuele Leonardi (PhD 2012) Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Business Law at the University of Bologna.
Shannon Lodoen (MA 2019) Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition (TT) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona.
Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning (MA 2005, PhD 2017) Assistant Professor, QNS, Anishinaabe Knowledge, Language and Culture, Philosophy, Queen's University.
Svitlana Matviyenko (PhD 2015), Associate Professor of Critical Media Analysis in the School of Communication; Associate Director of the Digital Democracies Institute, Simon Fraser University.
Jakub Zdebik (MA 2002, PhD 2007) Associate Professor of Art History and Theory in the Visual Arts Department at the University of Ottawa.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
Kathryn Lawson (MA 2017), Faculty Fellow in philosophy and humanities at the University of King's College, Halifax.
Natalie Treviño (PhD 2020) Visiting Fellow, Space Ethics Group, The Open University; Research Fellow in Innovation and Engagement Research Fellow in Innovation and Engagement, University of Sussex.
Benjamin Woodard (PhD 2015), 2022-24 Fellow; Affiliated 2024-26, Philosophy / History of Science, USA, ICI Berlin.
Past Graduates - Where are they now?
A listing of all graduates and thesis titles can be found here.
Mark Asberg (MA 1999; PhD, 2008), Vice-Provost and University Librarian, Queen's University
Tim August (MA 2006), Asst. Prof. of Comparative Literature, SUNY-Stony Brook
Scott Bakker (MA 1997), Novelist, London ON
Rachel Bath (MA 2016), Researcher at CCRW
Nandita Biswas (MA 1996; PhD Toronto), Assoc. Prof. of Political Science, UWO
Keith Bresnahan (MA 2000; PhD York) Assoc. Prof. at OCAD
Brett Buchanan (MA 1999; PhD, De Paul), Dean of Arts, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Concordia University
Christopher Bundock (MA 2005) Senior Lecturer, Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies (LiFTS), University of Essex
Andrew Case (MA 2018), Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA; Solicitor, County of Elgin
Fiona Coll (MA 2004), PhD Toronto, Asst. Prof. of English SUNY-Oswego
Shea Coulson (MA 2005), partner, Litigation, Arbitration, and Regulatory Affairs, DLA Piper
Eva Lynn Cupchik (PhD 2019), Policy Analyst, Federal Government
Jason D'Aoust (PhD 2013), medical student at Ohio University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine; Transformative Care Continuum fellow; former guest researcher at Utrecht University and visiting assistant professor at Oberlin College, OH.
Richard Dew (MA 2018), Elementary School Teacher, Thames Valley District School Board
Andrea (Dumbrell) Charise (MA 2005; PhD Toronto), Asst. Prof. English and Interdisciplinary Centre for Health & Society (ICHS), University of Toronto Scarborough; Asst. Prof., Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine; Director, SCOPE: The Health Humanities Learning Lab
Robert Diab (MA 1995; LL.B., LL.M., PhD (UBC)), Law Professor, Thomson Rivers
Dru Farro (PhD 2019), Instructor, School of Language and Liberal Studies, Fanshawe College
Kane Faucher (PhD 2010), instructor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, 深夜福利站
Ariel Fuenzalida (PhD 2009), Part-time Professor at the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, University of Ottawa; Contract Instructor for the Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton University.
Maryam Golafshani (MA 2019), PhD candidate in Medicine, University of Toronto
Amanda Grzyb (MA 1996; PhD Duke), Assoc. Prof., FIMS, UWO
David Guignion (MA 2018), Visiting Assistant Professor, Critical Theory & Social Justice
Matthew Halse (PhD 2020), Director, Global Public Health for Prevention, ViiV Healthcare
Gordon Hughes (MA 1996; PhD Princeton), Mellon Asst. Prof. of Art History, Rice University
Mark Jull (PhD 2012), Senior Planner at Municipality of Clarington
Lila Knighton (MA 2004), Private practitioner of clinical social work/ psychotherapist, Toronto and Hamilton
Christopher Langlois (PhD 2014), Professor of Literature and Drama at Champlain College, Montreal
Kathryn Lawson (MA 2017), lecturer in philosophy and humanities at the University of King's College, Halifax.
Nathaniel Leach (MA 1999; PhD UWO), Assoc. Prof. and Chair of English Dept., Cape Breton Univ.
Joseph Leivdal (MA 2018; MA 2021 UWO), Artist
Joshua Livingstone (MA 2018), Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy, Queen's University
Mare McLevey (MA 2016), PhD candidate in Philosopy, University of Oregon
Gerald McKinley (MA 2008), Associate Professor and Medical Anthropologist, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
Monika Mandoki (PhD 2021), Instructor at Fanshawe College, Author
Claudie Massicotte (PhD 2013), Learning Designer & Education Specialist, AVID Center.
Colin MacPherson (MA 1998), Chief, Dept. of Psychiatry, Quinte Health Care, Belleville
Cristian Melchiorre (MA 2003; PhD 2010), Licensed Psychoanalyst, Ottawa ON
Jonathan Murphy (MA 2004; PhD SUNY-Buffalo), Asst. Professor of English, Texas A & M International Univ.
Jon Nash (MA 2018) PhD Candidate of English and teacher at the University of Victoria
John Nyman (PhD 2018), Juris Doctor (JD ’26) candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School
Kimberley Olynyk (MA 1999), lecturer at Univ. of Winnipeg, Centre for Academic Writing and Dept. of English
David Patrick (MA 2001), General Practitioner, Guelph
Evan Pebesma (MA 2017), Director of Faculty Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Andrew Pendakis (MA 2003; PhD, McMaster), Asst. Prof. of English, Brock Univ.
James Penney (SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow 2002), Professor of Cultural Studies and French at Trent University
Laura Penny (MA 1998; PhD SUNY Buffalo), Writer and Asst. Professor, Univ. of King’s College, Halifax
Mikhail Pozdniakov (MA 2015), Head of Operational Due Diligence, Prime Quadrant
Matthew Prokopiw (PhD 2020), Issues & Program Coordinator, Office of the Assistant Deputy Attorney General
Jeremy Proulx (MA 2004; PhD McMaster), Lecturer in Philosophy, Eastern Michigan University
Ramona Anca Radu (MA 2019), Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Toronto ON
Jarrad Reddekop (PhD 2014) Acting Chair, Indigenous Studies Department at Camosun College.
John Sawicki (MA 1997), Editor, Irwin Law Inc.
Stephen Schryer (MA 1999; PhD, UC-Irvine), Assoc. Prof. of English at UNB
Andrea Schwam (MA 2002), Coordonatrice Pedagogique at Monceau Langues, Paris
Ryan Shuvera (PhD 2020), lecturer in the Department of English, French, and Writing at King's University College
Adrian Sinclair (MA 2008), Co-Founder & Director of Engagement at Vancouver Mural Festival
Surti Singh (MA 2002; PhD De Paul), Assoc. Professor of Philosophy, Villanova University
Heather Snell (MA 2000), Assoc. Prof. of English, Univ., of Winnipeg
Kevin Spencer (MA 2009; PhD Duke), Assistant Professor in the School of English at Wenzhou-Kean University in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Graeme Stout (MA 2000), Senior Lecturer and Film Studies Coordinator, Dept. of Cultural Studies and Comp. Lit., University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
Anna E. Stoutenburg (MA 2022), Governance and Operations Coordinator at Greo
Dorian Stuber (MA 1999; PhD Cornell), Assoc. Prof. of English, Hendrix College
Grant Stirling (MA 1992; PhD York), Chief Development Officer, Sick Kids Foundation
Joshua Synenko (MA 2007), Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Cultural Studies, Trent University
Imre Szeman (MA 1992; PhD Duke), University Research Chair of Environmental Communication, Prof. of Communication Arts, University of Waterloo
Thomas Szwedska (MA 2017), Instructor, Duquesne University; Staff Writer at RTINGS.com
Sarah Trimble (MA 2007; PhD McMaster), Undergraduate Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto
Tyler Evans-Tokaryk (MA 1996; PhD UWO), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream; Director, Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre; University of Toronto Mississauga
John Vanderheide (MA 2002, PhD 2011) Associate Professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Huron University College.
Inna Viriasova (PhD 2013), Lecturer, Department of Politics, Acadia University; counselling therapist
