Laurentian Welcomes Fall 2026 Faculty Cohort

Nine new educators and researchers expand academic programs

October 14, 2026— Laurentian University is welcoming new professors this fall with the addition of nine faculty members across a broad range of disciplines. This incoming cohort reflects the University’s ongoing investment to elevate teaching capacity, deepen community-engaged research, and address the unique priorities of Northern Ontario.

The new hires bring a dynamic mix of teaching expertise, scholarly inquiry, and practical field experience to Laurentian classrooms and labs. Together, their contributions will enrich the student learning environment while furthering the institution’s commitment to bilingualism and tricultural engagement across Northern communities.

"We are thrilled to welcome these ten exceptional educators and scholars to our university community," says Dr. Alain Simard, Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic. "Each individual brings fresh insights, deep subject expertise, and a passion for student mentorship. Their presence will strengthen our academic programming, drive meaningful regional research, and help prepare our students to lead in an evolving world."

Faculty of Arts 

Taryn Michel, Lecturer, School of Liberal Arts (Law and Justice)

• Research interests: My research interests include Indigenous legal orders, Anishinaabe governance, Indigenous women’s leadership, Treaty relationships, and the relationship between Indigenous and Canadian legal systems. My current research examines Anishinaabe women’s governance roles through the oral histories and lived experiences shared in the Restoule litigation, with particular attention to storytelling as a source of law and governance knowledge. I am also interested in the constitutional recognition of Indigenous legal systems and the ways Anishinaabe laws, governance structures, and relational responsibilities continue to guide contemporary legal and political life.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? I was drawn to Laurentian because of its strong connection to Northern Ontario and the communities it serves. My relationship with Laurentian has developed over several years: I worked for three years as a Limited-Term Appointment in Indigenous Social Work within the School of Indigenous Relations, and I am currently completing Laurentian’s Master of Indigenous Relations program. I also hold a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Common Law, with a specialization in Indigenous law. As an Anishinaabe kwe, educator, and legal scholar, I value the opportunity to continue teaching and conducting research close to home and within the territory and relationships that ground my work. Laurentian provides a meaningful setting in which to bring together my backgrounds in law, Indigenous relations, and Indigenous Social Work, while bringing Indigenous legal perspectives, lived experience, and community knowledge into the study of law and justice.

Jude Kadri, Assistant Professor, School of Social Sciences (EDHR)

• Research interests: My research interests include human rights, terrorism, the Middle East, hunger, historical materialism, and war. More broadly, my research examines the political, economic, and social dimensions of conflict, inequality, and political violence, with a particular focus on the Middle East.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? I was drawn to Laurentian because of the EDHR program and its focus on equity, diversity, and human rights. The program closely aligns with my research and teaching interests and with my commitment to critically examining social and political issues. I was also attracted to Laurentian’s bilingual and tri-cultural mission, which aligns with my own values and beliefs about what a modern Canadian university should be.

Molly-Gloria Patel, Assistant Professor, School of Social Sciences (Sociology)

• Research interests: Cyberbullying, social media, digital media, youth and youth culture, criminology, and deviance.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? What drew me to Laurentian University was the diverse and vibrant campus community. It made me eager to contribute to the sociology program, get to know students in more intimate class sizes, and be part of an established institution where I could bring my research, new perspectives, and passion for mentoring the next generation of scholars.

Sandy Larose, Assistant Professor, School of Social Sciences (Sociologie)

• Research interests: Art, Crime & Criminality, Culture, Decolonization, Gender, Identity, Social Discriminations, Social Inequalities, Subjectivation, and Hip-hop.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? Having attended several Canadian universities, particularly in Quebec, I was especially attracted to Laurentian University's great openness to ethnocultural diversity. Looking through the profiles across different departments, I realized to what extent the faculty, administrative staff, and student body reflect a university genuinely open to the world. In my view, this diversity represents a vital strength and a source of hope for Canadian society, and for Ontario in particular.This commitment to inclusion is concretely embodied in Laurentian's tricultural and bilingual mandate. At a time when bilingualism still struggles to fully establish itself in many institutions, Laurentian stands out by making this reality part of daily university life—from email communications and signage to the range of courses and programs offered in both languages. This unique character makes it an institution of major importance in the Canadian academic landscape. Finally, on an academic level, I am deeply drawn by the quality of work produced by researchers in the humanities and social sciences. The diversity of perspectives, approaches, and research topics carried out here creates a particularly stimulating intellectual and scientific environment.

Faculty of Management

Sara Campbell, Master Lecturer, School of Sports Administration (SPAD)

• Research interests: Bringing real-world experience into the classroom. Have 15 years of practical experience working within the sports industry with the past 8 years spent at the NHL
• What drew you to Laurentian University? Giving back to the students in the sports administration program, the same program I took which propelled my career.

Iman Sadeghi, Assistant Professor, School of Sports Administration (SPAD)

• Research interests: My research focuses on quantitative marketing strategy, business-to-business markets, digital platforms, and emerging technologies. I am particularly interested in how technologies and business models influence decision-making across firms, consumers, and supply chains.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? I joined Laurentian University because of the opportunity to contribute to the Sport Administration program by combining my expertise in marketing, analytics, and business strategy with the growing field of sport business. I was also attracted to Laurentian’s collaborative environment and the opportunity to develop my research and teaching within an interdisciplinary setting.

Zakia El Yamani, Assistant Professor, School of Business 

• Research interests: My research focuses on brand performance, consumer behaviour, entrepreneurship, and international business. I am particularly interested in how entrepreneurial education, emerging technologies, and consumer attitudes influence decision-making. My recent research has also explored the role of artificial intelligence in education, with a growing interest in its applications to marketing and business.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? What drew me to Laurentian University was the opportunity to grow as both an educator and researcher in a bilingual and diverse environment. I also value the university’s connection with the community and the opportunity it provides to bring together research, teaching, and experiential learning. For me, this creates a meaningful environment to contribute to students’ academic and professional development.

Francis Olatoye, Assistant Professor, School of Business Administration (Strategic Management)

Library & Archives

Amelia Ritchie, General Librarian, Access and User Services

• Research interests: Stemming from my previous work in scholarly communications, my past scholarship has focused on institutional repositories. I am excited to explore new avenues of research at Laurentian University.
• What drew you to Laurentian University? I was really excited to join an institution with such a strong bilingual and tricultural mandate. I hope to focus on improving my French language skills at Laurentian University, alongside soaking up the beauty of Northern Ontario.