Michael ClassensProfile page
Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
Faculty of Arts and Science, School of the Environment
- Assistant Professor, Teaching StreamFaculty of Arts and Science, School of the Environment
BIO
Michael Classens is an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) in the School of the Environment. He obtained his B.A. from Western University, his M.A. from the University of Windsor, and his Ph.D. from York University.
His teaching, research and advocacy work are broadly motivated by commitments to social and environmental justice, particularly within the context of the food system. His current research agenda has two focus areas: critical sustainability pedagogy, and local food systems transformation. He is a co-editor (with Dr. Jennifer Sumner) on a forthcoming issue of Canadian Food Studies titled “Food systems pedagogy in Canada” (fall 2021), and the author of a forthcoming book, From dismal swamp to smiling farms: Food, agriculture and change in the Holland Marsh (UNC Press and UBC Press, fall 2021).
His teaching, research and advocacy work are broadly motivated by commitments to social and environmental justice, particularly within the context of the food system. His current research agenda has two focus areas: critical sustainability pedagogy, and local food systems transformation. He is a co-editor (with Dr. Jennifer Sumner) on a forthcoming issue of Canadian Food Studies titled “Food systems pedagogy in Canada” (fall 2021), and the author of a forthcoming book, From dismal swamp to smiling farms: Food, agriculture and change in the Holland Marsh (UNC Press and UBC Press, fall 2021).
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- AssociateUniversity of Toronto, Trinity College, Toronto, CanadaJul 2022 - present
- Co-lead, Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture for Sustainable Food SystemsUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Sustainable Food and Farming Futures Cluster, Clusters of Scholarly Prominence Program, Toronto, CanadaFeb 2022 - present
- Assistant Professor – Teaching StreamUniversity of Toronto, School of the Environment, Toronto, CanadaAug 2021 - present
- Appointed to Associate Member, Graduate FacultyUniversity of Toronto, School of the Environment, Toronto, CanadaAug 2021 - present
- FacultyUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Culinaria Research Centre, Toronto, CanadaAug 2021 - present
- Appointed to Interdisciplinary Social Science PhD Program FacultyTrent University, Peterborough, CanadaAug 2020 - Aug 2021
- Appointed to Masters of Sustainability Studies Program FacultyTrent University, Peterborough, CanadaAug 2019 - present
- Assistant ProfessorTrent School of the Environment, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program, Peterborough, CanadaAug 2018 - Jul 2021
- Course DirectorTrent University, Peterborough, CanadaSep 2016 - Dec 2016
- Associate ResearcherUniversity of Toronto, Centre for Learning, Social Economy & Work, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, CanadaNov 2015 - present
- Research Assistant – SSHRC Project, Contested Countryside: Land Use Conflicts and Environmental Conflicts in Southern Ontario, Gerda R. Wekerle (Principal Investigator)York University, Toronto, CanadaSep 2013 - 2016
- Course DirectorYork University, Toronto, CanadaJan 2013 - Dec 2013
- Research Assistant / Research Lead – SSHRC CURA Project, Social Economy and Marginalized Populations, Jack Quarter and Sherida Ryan (Principal Investigators)University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Toronto, CanadaSep 2010 - Sep 2015
NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS
- Strategy LeadPoverty Reduction Coalition of United Way of Calgary and Area, Calgary, CanadaDec 2009 - Aug 2010
- Policy and Research AnalystPoverty Reduction Coalition of United Way of Calgary and Area, Calgary, CanadaJun 2008 - Dec 2009
- Graduate AssistantUniversity of Windsor, Faculty of Communications, Windsor, CanadaAug 2006 - May 2007
- Research AssistantUniversity of Windsor, Faculty of Communications, Windsor, CanadaMay 2006 - May 2008
DEGREES
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Environmental StudiesYork University, Toronto, Canada2010 - 2015
- Master of Arts (M.A.), Communication and Social JusticeUniversity of Windsor, Windsor, Canada2006 - 2008
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Double Major Honours, Political Science and CommunicationWestern University, London, Canada2002 - 2006
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
- Post-doctoral FellowWestern University, London, Canada2015 - 2016Postdoctoral Research
AVAILABILITY
- Media enquiries
- Collaborative projects
- Join a web conference as a panellist or speaker
- Masters Research or PhD student supervision
INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
- Climate Positive Energy (CPE)