Faculty
At Trent University Durham, faculty across all programs play a key role in fostering a transformative educational experience for all students. They also create the collaborative learning environment for which Trent is known.
Acting as mentors and guides in the learning process, our faculty encourage students to engage in dialogue, ask questions, and challenge ideas.
At Trent University Durham, the average class size is 27 students, which means you as the student have the opportunity to really connect with your professors in an academic setting, on research projects, and beyond the classroom.
Full-time Durham-based faculty members value the collegial and warm environment of an intimate academic community. Interacting with other Durham faculty in different disciplines, Trent University Durham faculty also maintain close ties with their home departments in Peterborough. Our Trent University Durham teaching is complemented by Peterborough faculty who come to Durham to teach a course as part of their regular teaching load, and by highly-qualified and experienced part-time instructors from the GTA.
Renowned for high-quality teaching, our faculty are helping to put Trent University Durham on the map.
Anthropology
Helen Haines
Associate Professor, Anthropology
Degrees: Ph.D.
Research Interests: Mesoamerica (specifically Ancient Maya); early states (socio-political and economic organizations and development and sustainability); diet and health of ancient populations; Euro-Canadian history and Cultural Resource/Heritage Management
Email: helenhaines@trentu.ca
Website: www.kakabish.org
Roger Lohmann
Associate Professor, Anthropology
Degrees: B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
Research Interests: Ethnography; linguistics; cultural dynamics; religion; dreaming; human ecology; Melanesia
Email: rogerlohmann@trentu.ca
Website: Roger Lohmann
Jen Newton
Assistant Professor, Anthropology
Degrees: B.A. (York University), M.Sc. (Bournemouth University), Ph.D. (James Cook University)
Research Interests: Bioarchaeology; paleopathology; dental anthropology; sociocultural and environmental impacts on health, Southeast Asia (especially Thailand and Cambodia); Mesoamerica (especially Belize)
Email: jennifernewton@trentu.ca
Website: Jen Newton
Artificial Intelligence
Martina Orlandi
Assistant Professor, Artificial Intelligence
Degrees: Ph.D. (McGill University)
Research Interests: Philosophy of mind; philosophy of action; moral psychology; epistemology
Email: martinaorlandi@trentu.ca
Website: https://www.martina-orlandi.com/
Business Administration
Xin Ding
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: Ph.D., (University of Ottawa), M.Sc., (University of Ottawa), B.Com., (East China University of Science and Technology)
Research Interests: Climate Change, Corporate Disclosure and Corporate Governance
Email: xinding@trentu.ca
Ken Chen
Associate Professor and Associate Director, Business Administration
Degrees: B.B.A. (York University), Ph.D. (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Research Interests: Dynamic capabilities; networks; organizational learning; strategic entrepreneurship; collaborative innovation; technology platforms; business models
Email: kenchen@trentu.ca
Yanina Chevtchouk
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Glasgow)
Research Interests: Branding; brand experience; services; luxury; ethics and ethical communication; digital marketing; creative industries/cultural industry
Email: yaninachevtchouk@trentu.ca
Carolee Cosgrove (Rigsbee)
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Texas San Antonio)
Research Interest: Carolee specializes in strategic management. Her research is focused on the design of innovative organization governance and value chain structures and processes that strengthen stakeholder voice and reduce obstacles to social goal achievement. For example, Carolee is studying the potential of vertically integrated value chains (meta-organizations) enabled by blockchain technology and shared governance structures to deliver goods and services in support of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
Email: caroleerigsbee@trentu.ca
Dianne Davis
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: HBCOMM (Laurentian), M.B.A. (Laurentian), C.G.A
Research Interest: Organizational Change Management, AI applications in accounting/finance.
Email: diannedavis@trentu.ca
Rob Elkington
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: Ph.D. (North-West University)
Research Interests: AI and leadership; Indigenous conceptions of leadership; women's agentic leadership in STEM; e-leadership; Ubuntu and the diversity ice breaker; META and leadership development; leading transformation for data modernization in organizations
Email: robelkington@trentu.ca
Yi Liu
Associate Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: B.Com. (Northeastern University), M.Sc. (Southampton University), Ph.D. (McMaster University)
Research Interests: Banking; financial reporting; voluntary disclosure
Email: yiliu@trentu.ca
Amina R. Malik
Associate Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: M.Sc (Punjab University), M.B.A (Toronto Metropolitan University), Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: Organizational behaviour; HR management; motivation and compensation
Email: aminamalik@trentu.ca
Chantelle Whidden
Lecturer, Business Administration
Degrees: MA. (University of Toronto), Ph.D. in progress (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Research Interest: Bias in Recruitment and Selection, Accommodations, Accessibility, and Invisible Disabilities.
Email: chantellewhidden@trentu.ca
Canadian Studies
Eyitao Aloh
Assistant Professor, Canadian Studies
Degrees: Ph.D. (Trent University)
Research Interest: Cultural Studies (broadly defined but with a particular focus on Yoruba oral culture), postcolonial studies and its political/socio- cultural interpretations, Masculinity, Media and Communication Studies and Interdisciplinary Studies.
Email: ealoh@trentu.ca
Child and Youth Studies
Alba Agostino
Associate Professor and Chair, Child and Youth Studies
Degrees: B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: The development of children’s early number sense and identifying early cognitive precursors of low math achievers to aid the development of early intervention programs.
Email: albaagostino@trentu.ca
Yana Berardini
Assistant Professor, Child and Youth Studies
Degrees: Ph.D. (Brock University)
Research Interests: Mental health and wellness; positive psychology; young caregivers; at-risk youth
Email: yanaberardini@trentu.ca
Christine Goodwin-De Faria
Associate Professor, Teaching Intensive, Child and Youth Studies
Degrees: Ph.D. (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Research Interests: Child rights; youth justice; youth participation
Email: cgoodwindefaria@trentu.ca
Nour Hammami
Assistant Professor, Child and Youth Studies
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Waterloo)
Research Interests: Public health; equity-deserving groups, quantifying intersectional and co-occurring disparities; structural and social inequalities in health; health policy
Email: nourhammami@trentu.ca
Website: https://www.nourhammami.com/
Kristina Safar
Assistant Professor, Child and Youth Studies
Degrees: M.A. and Ph.D.,(Toronto Metropolitan University), Postdoc (The Hospital for Sick Children)
Research Interests: Developmental cognitive neuroscience, Socio-emotional processing, Emotional face processing, Infancy, Children, Autism spectrum disorder, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Electroencephalography, Magnetoencephalography
Email: kristinasafar@trentu.ca
Madison Moore
Assistant Professor, Child and Youth Studies
Degrees: B.A. (York University), M.Ed. (York University), Ph.D. (Trent University)
Research Interests: Social media; art; rights; mental health; photovoice methodology
Email: madisonmoore@trentu.ca
Communications
Christopher Cwynar
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Communications
Degrees: B.A. (Mount Allison University), M.A. (Western University), Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Research Interests: Public service media; podcasting and audio media; popular music; national identity; strategic communication
Email: christophercwynar@trentu.ca
Andrew Monti
Assistant Professor, Communications
Degrees: B.Sc. (Bocconi University), M.A. (York University), Ph.D. (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Research Interests: Propaganda; satire; experiential education; work-integrated learning
Email: andrewmonti@trentu.ca
Maggie Reid
Assistant Professor, Communications
Degrees: B.A., M.I. (University of Toronto), Ph.D. (Toronto Metropolitan University)
Research Interests: Journalism and public relations; personal branding; the public sphere; propaganda; digital storytelling
Email: maggiereid@trentu.ca
Computer Science
Alaa Alslaity
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Ottawa)
Research Interests: HCI; Persuasive Technologies; Personalization and Adaptation; Applied ML; Recommender Systems
Email: alaaalslaity@trentu.ca
Wenying Feng
Professor, Department of Computer Science and Department of Mathematics
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Glasgow)
Research Interests: Fixed point theory; differential/difference equations; neural networks; machine learning
Email: wfeng@trentu.ca
Bilal Momani
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Degrees: PhD (University of Ulster)
Research Interest: AI with a focus on Knowledge-Based Systems, Computer Vision, Image Processing, and IoT Applications for Smart Cities
Email: bilalmomani@trentu.ca
Makhdumabanu Saiyed
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Degrees: B.Eng., M.Eng. (Gujarat University), Ph.D. (University of Regina)
Research Interest: Network Security, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Neural Networks and Game
Email: makhdumabanusaiyed@trentu.ca
Cultural Studies
Alan O’Connor
Professor, Cultural Studies
Degrees: BA (Trinity College, Dublin), MA, PhD (York)
Research Interest: Alan O'Connor's most recent book is Sailing and Social Class (Routledge, 2024). His current research is on the video game Rust and players who stream the game on Twitch.
Email: aoconnor@trentu.ca
English Literature
Joel Baetz
Assistant Professor, English Literature
Degrees: B.A. (McGill University), M.A. (McGill University), Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: Urban theory; happiness; Canadian literature; comics
Email: joelbaetz@trentu.ca
Concetta Principe
Assistant Professor, English Literature
Degrees: B.A. (Trent), M.A. (Concordia), M.A., Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: Comparative Literature (biblical studies and twentieth-century genres, including science fiction); Modernist and Postmodernist poetry and fiction; Canadian Literature; Experimental genres; Trauma Literature; Creative writing and writing studies; Mad literature. Concetta Principe's current scholarship focuses on the relationship between culture and madness from a Lacanian perspective. Alongside her scholarly publications, she has also published books of poetry and creative non-fiction.
Email: cprincipe@trentu.ca
Ihor Junyk
Full Professor, Journalism and Creative Writing
Degrees: Ph.D.
Email: ihorjunyk@trentu.ca
Amanda Paxton
Assistant Professor, English Literature
Degrees: B.A. (University of Toronto), M.A. (York University), Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: British nineteenth-century literature and culture; queer theory; artificial intelligence and writing pedagogy; gothic literature and film; mathematics and aesthetics
Email: amandapaxton@trentu.ca
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Ali Vaezi
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Degrees: Ph.D. (McMaster University); CSCP; CLTD; SAP Associate
Research Interests: Supply chain risk; supply chain analytics; risk mitigation; emergency management; rail hazardous materials transportation; logistics planning; network design optimization
Email: alivaezi@trentu.ca
History
Robert Wright
Full Professor, History
Degrees: Ph.D.
Email: rawright@trentu.ca
Master of Management
Dianne Davis
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: HBComm (Laurentian), M.BA. (Laurentian), Ph.D. (York University). C.G.A
Research Interest: Organizational Change Management, AI applications in accounting/finance.
Email: diannedavis@trentu.ca
Bruce Cater
Professor and Program Director, Economics
Degrees: PhD (York), MA (Toronto)
Research Interest: Applied microeconomics, applied econometrics
Email: bcater@trentu.ca
Yanina Chevtchouk
Assistant Professor, Master of Management
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Glasgow)
Research Interests: Branding; brand experience; services; luxury; ethics and ethical communication; digital marketing; creative industries/cultural industry
Email: yaninachevtchouk@trentu.ca
Carolee Cosgrove (Rigsbee)
Assistant Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: Ph.D. (University of Texas at San Antonio)
Research Interest: Carolee specializes in strategic management. Her research is focused on the design of innovative organization governance and value chain structures and processes that strengthen stakeholder voice and reduce obstacles to social goal achievement. For example, Carolee is studying the potential of vertically integrated value chains (meta-organizations) enabled by blockchain technology and shared governance structures to deliver goods and services in support of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
Email: caroleerigsbee@trentu.ca
Rob Elkington
Assistant Professor, Master of Management
Degrees: Ph.D. (North-West University)
Research Interests: AI and leadership; Indigenous conceptions of leadership; women's agentic leadership in STEM; e-leadership; Ubuntu and the diversity ice breaker; META and leadership development; leading transformation for data modernization in organizations
Email: robelkington@trentu.ca
Yi Liu
Associate Professor, Business Administration
Degrees: B.Com. (Northeastern University), M.Sc. (Southampton University), Ph.D. (McMaster University)
Research Interests: Banking; financial reporting; voluntary disclosure
Email: yiliu@trentu.ca
Media Studies
Karl Manis
Assistant Professor, Media Studies
Degrees: B.A. (Carleton University), M.A. (University of British Columbia), Ph.D. (University of Toronto)
Research Interests: media theory and history; contemporary fiction; practices of reading; digital culture; screen and sound studies.
Email: karlmanis@trentu.ca
Philosophy
James Connelly
Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Philosophy
Degrees: Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: Wittgenstein; Russell; philosophy of language; history of analytic philosophy
Email: jamesconnelly@trentu.ca
Matthew Scarfone
Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Degrees: B.A. (Acadia University), M.A. (Carleton University), Ph.D. (McGill University)
Research Interest: Ethics (Applied Ethics, Normative Ethics, Metaethics), Epistemology, Social and Political Philosophy
Email: matthewscarfone@trentu.ca
Policing and Community Well-Being
Nick Cristiano
Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Policing and Community Well-Being
Degrees: B.A., M.A. (University of Guelph), Ph.D. (York University
Email: nickcristiano@trentu.ca
Amy Spendik
Assistant Professor, Policing and Community Well-Being
Degrees: MA (Alberta), Ph.D (Toronto)
Email: amyspendik@trentu.ca
Psychology
Jeff Adams
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Degrees: B.A. (Concordia), M.A. (University of Guelph), Ph.D. (York University).
Research Interests: Dreams; human cerebral laterality; hemispheric differences; general cognition; personality; sleep
Email: jadams@trentu.ca
Ben Bauer
Associate Professor, Psychology
Degrees: B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (University of Waterloo)
Research Interests: Visual cognition/perception
Email: benbauer@trentu.ca
Korri Bickle
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Degrees: Ph.D. (Ontario Tech University)
Research Interests: Understanding helping work (e.g. police officers, correctional officers, child and youth workers, etc); unique experiences of helping professionals, what influences their work, how they conceptualize and approach their work, and how they interact with those in their care; correctional officer work.
Email: korribickle@trentu.ca
Jenny Eastabrook
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Degrees: Ph.D.
Email: jennifereastabrook@trentu.ca
Nancie Im-Bolter
Associate Professor and Associate Chair (Psychology, Trent Durham), Psychology
Degrees: B.Sc. (University of Toronto), M.A. (York University), Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: Language and cognition; social cognitive processes; language disorders; mental health; social relationships and autism
Email: nimbolter@trentu.ca
Raheleh Saryazdi
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Degrees: B.Sc. (Trent University Durham GTA), M.A. (University of Toronto), Ph.D. (University of Toronto)
Research Interests: Cognitive aging; dementia; language and memory; multisensory integration; human-computer interaction; technology-based interventions
Email: rahelehsaryazdi@trentu.ca
Brenda Smith-Chant
Associate Professor, Psychology
Degrees: B.Sc. (Trent University), M.Sc. (Carleton University), Ph.D. (Carleton University),
Research Interests: Psychology of self-regulation, stress, and learning; role of policy and programs to effect behavioural change (e.g., education, parenting, health); community-driven research
Email: bresmith@trentu.ca
School of the Environment
Neil Osborne
Assistant Professor, School of the Environment
Degrees: BSc (Trent); MA (Ohio); PhD (York)
Research Interest: Investigates climate communication's cognitive and affective dimensions, focusing on how the complex interplay between thoughts and feelings influences people’s agency and prosocial behaviour; draws on social cognitive theory, narrative empathy theory, and the pedagogy of witnessing to develop equitable communication strategies and tactics that drive sustained personal and community engagement; and underscores the urgency of reimagining climate communication to address the poly-crises exacerbated by climate change.
Email: neilosborne@trentu.ca
Website: https://neileverosborne.com/
Social Work
Kimberly Calderwood
Full Professor, Social Work
Degrees: B.A. (Waterloo), M.S.W. (Wilfrid Laurier), Ph.D. (University of Toronto)
Research Interests: linking ways of knowing to knowledge creation; social work education; field education; student recruitment, support, and retention; anti-oppressive micro-level practice; bereavement
Email: kcalderwood@trentu.ca
Marina Morgenshtern
Associate Professor and Chair, Social Work
Degrees: Ph.D. (Wilfrid Laurier University), MSW (Tel-Aviv University), BSW (Tel-Aviv University)
Research Interests: Immigrant families; couples and communities; equity issues in academic classroom; critical social work practice and education; decolonizing social work education; linking ways of knowing to knowledge creation; feminist intersectionality
Email: marinamorgenshtern@trentu.ca
Sasan Issari
Assistant Professor, Social Work
Degrees: BSW (University of British Columbia), MSW (Dalhousie), PhD (York University)
Research Interest: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI); Critical Clinical Social Work; Immigration, Employment, and Social Policy; Intersectionality; Decolonizing Mental Health; Social Work Education
Email: sasanissari@trentu.ca
Donna Richards
Lecturer & Associate Chair (BIPOC Students), Social Work
Degrees: BA (University of Toronto), BSW-Hons (Toronto Metropolitan University), MSW (University of Toronto), Ph.D. (ABD-York University)
Email: donnarichards@trentu.ca
Sociology
Beatrice Anane-Bediakoh
Senior Lecturer, Sociology
Degrees: B.A. (Hon) (Wilfrid Laurier University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Ph.D (York University)
Research Interest: Black Studies, Critical Criminology/Carceral Logics, Sociology of Race and Racism; Racialization, Community-Engaged Research, Black Geographies
Email: Bananebediakoh@trentu.ca
Nadiya Nur Ali
Assistant Professor, Sociology
Degrees: Ph.D. (York University)
Research Interests: Black Studies; race; racism & racialization; Critical Muslim Studies; community-engaged research
Email: nadiyaali@trentu.ca
Website: https://www.nadiyaa.com/
Jim Cosgrave
Associate Professor, Sociology
Degrees: Ph.D (York University)
Research Interests: Sociology of gambling; gambling expansion and the state; financialization; Canadian culture and identity; sociology of humour; social theory
Email: jimcosgrave@trentu.ca
Valerie Damasco
Assistant Professor, Sociology
Degrees: B.Sc. (University of Toronto Scarborough), M.A. (University of Toronto), Ph.D. (University of Toronto)
Research Interests: Nurse migration; migration, work, and racialization processes; interprofessional and integrated labour in healthcare systems (nursing, medicine, education); social organization of work and labour in healthcare; access to mental health services; social policy, public policy, and governance; community development; public sociology
Email: valeriedamasco@trentu.ca
Adwoa Onuora
Associate Professor, Sociology
Degrees: B.A. (University of Toronto); M.A. (OISE/University of Toronto); Ph.D. (OISE/University of Toronto).
Research Interests: Health equity and social justice; Black and intersectional feminist theories; Black and African diaspora 2SLGBTQ+ issues; sexual- and gender-based violence; social reproduction, care policies, and the care economy
Email: adwoaonuora@trentu.ca