About Me
My name is Dax and I'm currently a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph.
Previously, I was the Skelton-Clark Postdoctoral Fellow in Canadian affairs and Peacock Postdoctoral Fellow in Pedagogy at Queen's University. I was a Research Associate with the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Queen's University, a Research Affiliate with the Centre for Constitutional Studies at the University of Alberta, and affiliated with the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University (member of its Advisory Group on Academic Freedom).
Although I still call Sault Ste. Marie home, I've been living elsewhere while I pursue various academic opportunities - in Ottawa, Rotterdam, Edmonton, Kingston, and Guelph. I have a Bachelors Degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management (2013), a Masters Degree in Political Economy (2015), and, most recently, a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta (2021).
My academic interests are diverse but most of my research revolves around free expression, academic freedom, and the right to know. My doctoral research project - which received a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Scholarship - examined the contemporary state of freedom of expression on Canadian university campuses. My MA thesis (passed with distinction) examined the demise of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the politics of free expression. My most recent postdoctoral work examines the potential applicability of The Charter to university campuses, teaching and learning in Political Science, and the system of police oversight in Ontario. Occasionally, I research and write about the politics of 'alternative sports' and subcultures. This work has most recently focused on how skateboarding subculture might change as it becomes an official 'sport' at the Olympic Games.
In addition to traditional academic research projects, I'm also deeply committed to knowledge mobilization and have had my research and writing appear in several non-academic venues. This has included blog posts, essays, journalism, and opinion editorials. To get a sense of my full research and writing portfolio, you can find some of my published work in the 'Academic Research' and 'Knowledge Mobilization' sections of this site.
I've been the recipient of several academic awards and scholarships, including the Faculty of Arts Graduate Teaching Award (2018), the Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Prize (2020), and the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (2020, 2021).
Throughout my studies, I've been involved in a number of community and non-profit groups. My major extra-curricular project as an undergraduate student was creating and hosting a regular documentary film screening series at Carleton University.
More recently, my passion for teaching has led me to spearhead a working group dedicated to pedagogical training, mentorship, and collaboration among graduate students and faculty (at both the University of Alberta and Queen's University). Over the past few years, I've helped to organize countless academic and non-academic events, including conferences, debates, film screenings, lectures, and panel discussions.
To learn more about my research, writing, teaching, and public engagement, you can explore other sections of this site.
Previously, I was the Skelton-Clark Postdoctoral Fellow in Canadian affairs and Peacock Postdoctoral Fellow in Pedagogy at Queen's University. I was a Research Associate with the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Queen's University, a Research Affiliate with the Centre for Constitutional Studies at the University of Alberta, and affiliated with the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University (member of its Advisory Group on Academic Freedom).
Although I still call Sault Ste. Marie home, I've been living elsewhere while I pursue various academic opportunities - in Ottawa, Rotterdam, Edmonton, Kingston, and Guelph. I have a Bachelors Degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management (2013), a Masters Degree in Political Economy (2015), and, most recently, a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta (2021).
My academic interests are diverse but most of my research revolves around free expression, academic freedom, and the right to know. My doctoral research project - which received a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Scholarship - examined the contemporary state of freedom of expression on Canadian university campuses. My MA thesis (passed with distinction) examined the demise of Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the politics of free expression. My most recent postdoctoral work examines the potential applicability of The Charter to university campuses, teaching and learning in Political Science, and the system of police oversight in Ontario. Occasionally, I research and write about the politics of 'alternative sports' and subcultures. This work has most recently focused on how skateboarding subculture might change as it becomes an official 'sport' at the Olympic Games.
In addition to traditional academic research projects, I'm also deeply committed to knowledge mobilization and have had my research and writing appear in several non-academic venues. This has included blog posts, essays, journalism, and opinion editorials. To get a sense of my full research and writing portfolio, you can find some of my published work in the 'Academic Research' and 'Knowledge Mobilization' sections of this site.
I've been the recipient of several academic awards and scholarships, including the Faculty of Arts Graduate Teaching Award (2018), the Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Prize (2020), and the Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship (2020, 2021).
Throughout my studies, I've been involved in a number of community and non-profit groups. My major extra-curricular project as an undergraduate student was creating and hosting a regular documentary film screening series at Carleton University.
More recently, my passion for teaching has led me to spearhead a working group dedicated to pedagogical training, mentorship, and collaboration among graduate students and faculty (at both the University of Alberta and Queen's University). Over the past few years, I've helped to organize countless academic and non-academic events, including conferences, debates, film screenings, lectures, and panel discussions.
To learn more about my research, writing, teaching, and public engagement, you can explore other sections of this site.
