Alumni
More than 300 Master's and Doctoral students have successfully completed the programs of Theory and Criticism since its inception in 1990. Students in the MA and PhD program have gone on to a variety of non-academic and para-academic jobs recently, including: lawyer, school teacher, medicine, freelance writer, academic services coordinator, underwriter, academic recruiter, policy analyst, media analyst, architecture, visual arts, project manager.
Featured Alumna
Dr. Jennifer Komorowski, PhD '22, Assistant Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies & Indigenous Studies at 麻豆区
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 continued her research 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.
Nick Wees (PhD 2022) Postdoctoral fellow, Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology, Concordia University
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.
Jeremy Arnott (PhD 2022), teaching part-time at Concordia University
Heidi Arsenault (MA 2003), Music Therapist
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
R. Scott Bakker (MA 1997), Novelist
Rachel Bath (MA 2016), Researcher at CCRW
Darryl Biedron (MA 2003), Architect
Nandita Biswas (MA 1996; PhD Toronto), Assoc. Prof. of Political Science, UWO
Nina Bombier (MA 1993), Lawyer
Chris Bradd (MA 2001), Sculture artist
Keith Bresnahan (MA 2000; PhD York) Assoc. Prof. in Faculty of Arts & Science at OCAD
Jean Bruce (MA 1994), Professor and Associate Dean-Graduate Education, TMU
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
Sheila Butler (MA 1993), American-Canadian visual artist
Jennifer Caruso (MA 1997), Associate Professor, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
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
Elana Commisso (MA 2003), Healthcare Consultant, Coach and Change Management Facilitator
George Conway (MA 1996), United Nations Special Deputy and Humanitarian Coordinator
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.
Kevin Davis (MA 2000), Freelance Writer, Editor, Researcher
Timothy deVries (MA 2004), Grants Associate at Cardus
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
Jennifer Dyer (MA 1997), Professor, Department of Gender Studies at Memorial University
Heather Egger (MA 2003), Technical Writer at University of Alberta
Kane Faucher (PhD 2010), instructor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, 麻豆区
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
Elizabeth Guerrier (MA 2001), Farmer, former owner of Dave's...On St Clair
Amanda Grzyb (MA 1996; PhD Duke), Assoc. Prof., FIMS, UWO
David Guignion (MA 2018), Visiting Assistant Professor, Critical Theory & Social Justice
Julian J. Haladyn (PhD 2012), Assistant Professor of Art History, Ontario College of Art & Design
Matthew Halse (PhD 2020), Director, Global Public Health for Prevention, ViiV Healthcare
Catherine Hobbs (MA 1994) Research Associate and Literary Archivist at Trent U; Senior Archivist, Library and Archives Canada
Gordon Hughes (MA 1996; PhD Princeton), Associate Prof. of Art History, Rice University
Lynn Hughey (MA 1994) Academic Tutor; Gestalt Student Therapist, Athabasca University
Randy Innes (MA 2000) Director, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Mark Jull (PhD 2012) Senior Planner at Municipality of Clarington
Katherine Kiloh (MA 2000) Associate Professor, Philosophy, OCAD University
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) Dean of General Arts and Science at Sir Sandford Fleming College
Joseph Leivdal (MA 2018; MA 2021 UWO) Artist
Joshua Livingstone (MA 2018), Ph.D. Candidate in Philosophy, Queen's University
Maria Lundin (MA 1997) Senior Content Strategist and Marketer
Allyson Lunny (MA 1997) Associate Professor, York University
Michael Ma (MA 1993) Professor of Criminology, Kwantlen polytechnic university
Colin Macpherson (MA 1998) Psychiatrist at Quinte Health
Sidneyeve Matrix (MA 1994) Associate Professor and National Scholar, DAN School of Drama and Music at Queen's University
Marc Mazur (MA 2012), Research Specialist at Infotech
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
Tara Mimnagh (MA 2003) Federal Prosecutor
Ursula Misztal (MA 2002) Department of English, Dawson College
Christopher D. Morrison (MA 2005) Contract Instructor at Carleton University
Jonathan Murphy (MA 2004; PhD SUNY-Buffalo), Associate 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
Michelle Owen (MA 1992) Professor and Program Coordinator for Disability Studies, University of Winnipeg
Justas Patkauskas (PhD 2020) Marie-Curie Postdoctoral fellow at Ca' Foscari Univ. in Venice
David Patrick (MA 2001), Physician at Homewood Health, 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
Alexander Pershai () Associate Director Equity, University of Waterloo
Julie Petruzzellis (MA 2000) firefighter with Toronto Fire Services
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
Kym Pruesse (MA 1994) Toronto writer, curator and activist
Ramona Anca Radu (MA 2019), Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, Toronto ON
Jarrad Reddekop (PhD 2014) Acting Chair, Indigenous Studies Department at Camosun College.
John Reed (MA 2003) Lecturer, Information and Media Studies, 麻豆区
Laura Rooney (MA 2011) Technical Writer
Mark Rozahegy (MA 1995) part-time lecturer of Philosophy at Concordia
John Sawicki (MA 1997) Machinist at Kinectrics, Freelance Editor
Stephen Schryer (MA 1999; PhD, UC-Irvine), Professor 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
Jonathan Singer (MA 1995) Professor at Seneca College
Surti Singh (MA 2002; PhD De Paul), Assistant 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), President and Chief Development Officer, Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation
Graeme A. Stout (MA 2000) Senior Lecturer and Film Studies Coordinator, University of Minnesota
Dorian Stuber (MA 1999) Isabelle Peregrin Odyssey Associate Professor of English, Hendrix College
Joshua Synenko (MA 2007), Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Cultural Studies, Trent University
Imre Szeman (MA 1992; PhD Duke), Director of the Institute for Environment, Conservation, and Sustainability and Professor of Human Geography at the University of Toronto, Scarborough
Thomas Szwedska (MA 2017), Instructor, Duquesne University; Staff Writer at RTINGS.com
Cynthia Thoroski (MA 1998) Communications Advisor, Environment and Climate Change Canada
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), Professor, Teaching Stream; Associate Director, Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy, University of Toronto Mississauga
Richard van Oort (MA 1996) Professor of English, University of Victoria
John Vanderheide (MA 2002, PhD 2011) Associate Professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies, Huron University College.
Dylan Vaughn (PhD 2022), part-time lecturer at Aix-Marseilles University
Inna Viriasova (PhD 2013), Lecturer, Department of Politics, Acadia University; counselling therapist
Karen Wirsig (MA 1995) Senior Program Manager at Environmental Defence
Timothy Dylan Wood (MA 1996) Engineer, Apple
