Women’s Studies announces new Joint Chair

The Pauline Jewett Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies has announced that Pamela Walker has been selected as the Joint Chair in women’s studies. The position is shared between Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.

“I hope during my year as Joint Chair I can help to highlight all the research going on at the two universities and showcase what a rich culture of scholarship on gender already exists here in Ottawa,” said Walker.

During her year-long appointment, Walker will bring scholars from the two universities together with the public through events focused on gender-related topics and research.

She will continue her SSHRC funded research on the relationship between religion and empire. Her work examines how 19th century missions abroad affected and transformed Protestants in Britian. Walker says these missions “offered women a vastly expanded role as they could do work in the empire they would never be permitted at home.”

“I am very pleased that Dr. Walker has been selected to serve as the new Joint Chair in Women’s Studies, and I congratulate her on this appointment,” said John Osborne, dean, FASS. “Her experience as director of the Centre for Initiatives in Education should prove valuable to the Chair. And with Women’s World 2011 on the horizon next July, it should be an exciting time for both institutions.”

Walker is also director of the Centre for Initiatives in Education and professor of history.