About Me

Originally from New Brunswick, Megan Aiken is a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta.

Her doctoral research traces compounding problem representations that founded and developed Canada’s 100-year old opioid policy regime toward the current crisis. Her broad research interests include ideational and discursive theories of critical policy studies, comparative public policy, federalism, and intersectional approaches to studying health, society, politics, and the economy.

Megan has worked for a number of government agencies throughout her graduate studies, including the Government of New Brunswick (Executive Council Office), the New Brunswick Office of the Access to Information and Privacy Commission, Western Economic Diversification Canada, and the Alberta Climate Change Office. Her experiences working in different levels of government, policy areas, and organizations contributes to her unique understanding of the ‘real world of politics’ that she teaches and researches.

Since beginning the PhD program Megan has been active in her academic community, having served two terms as President and one term each as PhD Representative and Treasurer for the University of Alberta Political Science Graduate Students Association. Her current community endeavours include acting as the Membership Secretary for the Society for Socialist Studies, and as a committee member of the University of Alberta Teaching and Pedagogy in Political Science working group.