EDUCATION

In Progress

Ph.D., Political Science, University of Alberta

Dissertation: “Locked-in Language: Discourses of Drug Use in the Canadian House of Commons, 1908-2018”

Supervisors: Dr. Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Dr. Fiona Nicoll

Anticipated: Fall 2025

2016

Master Arts, Political Science, University of New Brunswick

Research Project: “Healing Democracy? A Discussion of the Transformative Power of Deliberative Democracy”

Supervisor: Dr. Paul Howe

2014

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and International Relations (Double Major), St. Thomas University

HONOURS AND AWARDS

2022 Faculty of Arts Graduate Student Teaching Award

2020 Faculty of Arts Graduate Student Teaching Award (Nominated)

2016 Lynn Baldwin Memorial Scholarship, University of Alberta

2016 Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, University of Alberta

2016 Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship, University of Alberta

2016 IPAC Fredericton Best Student Paper Award
“Building a Stronger Province: An Analysis of Bilingualism and Duality in New Brunswick with Future Policy Options.”

2015 NB Social Innovation Fund Graduate Scholarship

PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES

Aiken, Megan. 2015. “Payment where Payment is Due: Canada’s Federal Transfer System and a Needs-Based Solution to Health Transfer Spending.” Health Tomorrow: Interdisciplinarity and Internationality, 3(1). 52-75. [URL]

PEER-REVIEWED BOOK CHAPTERS

Donna Lynn Smith, Megan Aiken, Amy Gerlock, and John Church. 2021. “The Undignified Body: Excremental Assault in Canadian Nursing Homes,” in Valerie Zawilski (ed), Body Studies in Canada: Critical Approaches to Embodied Experiences. Canadian Scholars Press. [URL]

COMMENTARY WRITING

Aiken, Megan. “We cannot dispel the federal role in Canada’s drug poisoning crisis.” Turn Left Magazine, Winter 2022 [URL].

Aiken, Megan. “Do recent mandate letters signal a new direction in the opioid crisis?” Canadian Dimension, January 10, 2022. [URL]

Aiken, Megan. “Ottawa must intervene in closure of Alberta’s supervised consumption sites.” Canadian Dimension, July 15, 2021. [URL]

Aiken, Megan. “Drug Decriminalization a Necessary Measure in Combatting Opioid Crisis.” Turn Left Magazine, Spring 2021. [URL]

BOOK REVIEWS

Aiken, Megan. ‘Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America, Gerald Posner New York NY: Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 2020, pp. 816, $35.00 USD, hardback, ISBN13: 9781501151897.’ Rutgers: Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books. [URL]

 Aiken, Megan. 2020. “Beth Macy, Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America (New York: Little, Brown and Company2018), pp. 384, $11.99, hardback, ISBN: 9780316551281. - Barry Meier, Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origins of America’s Opioid Epidemic, 2nd edition (London: Penguin Random House, 2018), pp. 240, $27.00, hardback, ISBN: 9780525511106. - Ben Westhoff, Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic (London: Grove Atlantic, 2019), pp. 352, $27.00, paperback, ISBN: 9780802127433.” Medical History: Vol 62, Iss 2. 288-291. [URL]

Aiken, Megan. 2016. ‘Over the Cliff? Acting Now to Avoid New Brunswick’s Bankruptcy Richard Saillant Moncton NB: Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy and Public Administration, 2014, pp. 179.’, Canadian Journal of Political Science: 1-2. [URL]

Aiken, Megan. 2015. “Starr, R. 2014, Equal as Citizens: The Tumultuous and Troubled History of a Great Canadian Idea Formac Publishing Company Ltd, Halifax 312 p.” Federal Governance: A Graduate Journal 12(1). [URL]

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

“Neoliberalization and the Enduring Logic of Canada’s Drug Prohibition Policy Regime.” Society for Socialist Studies Annual Conference 2024. Montreal, QC. June 19, 2024.

 “Defining ‘Deserving’: Canadian Federal Legislators Framing of the Opioid Crisis’ Origins, 2008-2018.” Conference on Policy Process Research. Syracuse, NY. May 14-17, 2024.

 “Lipstick on a Pig: Parliamentarian Discourse and Opioids in the Neoliberal Era.” Canadian Political Science Association Annual Conference 2023. Toronto, ON. May 30, 2023.

 “Discourses of Opioid Policy and Productivity amid a “Post-COVID” Canada.” American Political Science Association Annual Conference 2022. Montréal, QC. September 1, 2022.

“Discourse and History in Studying Public Policy.” IPSA World Congress 2021 (Remote). July 11, 2021.

“Opium Prohibition and the National Policy: The 1908 Opium Act, Labour Disputes, and White-Settler Nationalism in Early 20th-Century Canada.” Canadian Political Science Association Annual Conference 2021. June 7-10, 2021.

“Higher Education at Home: Compassion Fatigue, Emotional Labour, and Pedagogy during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Political Science Graduate Students’ Association Annual Conference 2021. Edmonton, AB. April 27-28, 2021.

“Discourse and History in Studying Public Policy.” IPSA World Congress 2020. Lisbon, Portugal. July 2020. (Accepted, but cancelled due to COVID-19 – presented in 2021).

“The Opioid Crisis as a Policy Issue in the 2019 Canadian Federal Election.” Canadian Political Science Association Annual Conference 2020. London, Ontario. June 2-4, 2020. (Accepted, but cancelled due to COVID-19).

 “Who is the Opioid Crisis? The Historical Roots of Racism and Colonialism Embedded within Canada’s Opioid Crisis.” Western Political Science Association 2020. Los Angeles, USA. April 9-11, 2020. (Accepted, but cancelled due to COVID-19).

 “Reconsidering Crisis: Discourse, Identity, and the Opioid “Crisis” in Canada.” 2019 American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. August 31, 2019.

“The Discursive Politics of Crisis: Crafting the Opioid Crisis and Selecting Subjects.” 2019 Canadian Political Science Association Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC. June 5, 2019.

 “Something to Take the Edge Off (Late Capitalism): Race, Class, and the Creation of Hegemonic Understanding of the Opioid Crisis.” Society for Socialist Studies Annual Conference 2019, Vancouver, BC. June 5, 2019.

“My Democracy? Token Engagement and the Trudeau Government’s Electoral Reform Dilemma.” Governance in Crisis 2016, Kingston, ON. May 2016.

 “Outsourcing Policy Development: Engaging Citizens in the Health Policy Development Process.” New Frontiers 2016, Hamilton, ON. April 2016.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

“Payment where Payment is Due: Canada’s Federal Transfer System and a Needs-Based Solution to Health Transfer Spending.” NB Policy Research Forum | Forum de recherche sur les politiques publiques du N-B, Moncton, NB. April 2015.

“Partnering to Overcome Stagnation: Revitalizing the New Brunswick Economy through P3s.” 66th IPAC National Annual Conference, Edmonton, AB. June 2014.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND GUEST LECTURES

Spring 2024
Instructor, Special Topics: Canadian Healthcare: Law, Policy, and Politics – POLI 3826, Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Winter 2023
Instructor, Politics: Contemporary Issues – POLI 1201, Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Fall 2022
Instructor, Political Parties and Democratic Change – POLI 3546, Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Seminar-Workshop Designer, Inspire to Dream: Becoming a Leader – INT D 101 University of Alberta (Remote)

Summer 2022
Instructor, Politics: Contemporary Issues – POLI 1201, Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Spring 2022
Instructor, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101, University of Alberta (Remote)

Winter 2022
Invited Guest Lecture: “Reflecting on the Health-Crime Dichotomy of Drug Policy.” Topics in Canadian Politics (William Kujala). University of Alberta, March 26, 2022.

Fall 2021
Instructor, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101, University of Alberta (Remote)

Invited Guest Lecture: “The Politics of Opioids.” Canadian Health Politics, POL S 326 (Dr. John Church). University of Alberta (Remote), November 18, 2021.
Introduced students to how policy studies can consider historical contexts to better understand the current state of understanding health policy problems, using my doctoral research on opioids as a case study.

Spring 2021
Instructor, Canadian Politics – POL S 225 (syllabus), University of Alberta (Remote)

Winter 2021
Teaching Assistant, Canadian Government – POL S 224 B1/B2 with Dr. Angelia Wagner, University of Alberta (Remote) 
General Responsibilities: Designed and led weekly seminar exercises including discussion groups, debates, simulations; grading, additional meetings with students outside class time.

Fall 2020
Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101 SEM G2 with Drs. Matthew Wildcat and Rachel George, University of Alberta (Remote) General Responsibilities: Led bi-weekly seminar facilitation and bi-weekly forum moderation, grading, additional meetings with students outside class time.

Winter 2020
Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101 B3 with Dr. John Church, University of Alberta (1/2 Remote)
General Responsibilities: Facilitation of weekly debate groups and some lecturing until COVID-19 work from home order, grading.
Guest Lecture, March 31: “Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media.”
Guest Lecture, March 3: “Identity Politics.”
Guest Lecture, February 11: “Ideologies: Socialism, Communism and Nationalism.”

Fall 2019
Teaching Assistant, Canadian Government – POL S 224 A1 with Dr. John Church, University of Alberta

·      General Responsibilities: Facilitation of weekly debate groups, some lecturing, grading, additional meetings with students outside class time.

·      Guest Lecture, November 19: “Diversity and Representation.”

§  Introduces students to the contemporary issues surrounding the underrepresentation of minorities in Canadian democracy and bureaucracy.

·      Guest Lecture, October 15: “Democracy and Elections.”

§  Introduces Canadian democracy and elections. Asks students to consider whether electoral reform would help or hinder democracy.

·      Guest Lecture, September 23: “Canadian Federalism.”

§  Introduces the history and politics of Canadian federalism to students. Asks students to consider how different levels of government interact on public policy issues.

Summer 2019

Invited Guest Lecture: “Comparative Public Policy.” Introduction to Comparative Politics, POL S 235 (Dr. Anya Kuteleva). University of Alberta. June 12, 2019.

·      Introduces students to theories on studying and analyzing public policy through comparative politics.

Winter 2019

(March-April)

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101 B2 with Dr. John Church, University of Alberta

·      General Responsibilities: Facilitation of weekly discussion groups, some lecturing, grading, additional meetings with students outside class time.

Spring 2018

Invited Guest Lecture: “The Spatial and Structural Dimensions of Economic Development and Inequality in Canada” Power, Policy, and Governance in Canada, POL S 324 (Dr. Justin Liefso). University of Alberta. May 31, 2018.

·      Assists students in developing a critical understanding of economic development in Canada. Drawing heavily from the Canadian Political Economy tradition, this lecture introduced students to historical and contemporary methods of analyzing national policies and economic development, including the inequalities and divisions that arise as a consequence.

Winter 2018

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101 B3 with Dr. Rob Aitken, University of Alberta

·      General Responsibilities: Facilitation of weekly discussion groups, one lecture, grading, additional meetings with students outside class time.

·      Guest Lecture, “Political Mobilization and the State”

§  Introduces students to political mobilization, political parties, and social movements. Specifically seeks to encourage students to think critically about state-society relations in political mobilization.

Winter 2018

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101 B2 with Dr. Lori Thorlaksen, University of Alberta

·      General Responsibilities: Facilitation of weekly discussion groups, assistance with implementing Arctic Council simulation, grading, additional meetings with students outside class time.

Fall 2017

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Politics – POL S 101 A3 with Dr. John Church, University of Alberta

·      General Responsibilities: Facilitation of weekly discussion groups, grading.

·      Guest Lecture, “Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media.”

§  Introduces students to models of public policy development, with a focus on political mobilization and its effects on policy development.

RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS

Winter 2022

Dr. Feo Snagovsky (University of Alberta): political beliefs and efficacy of undergraduate students.

Summer 2020

Dr. John Church (University of Alberta): Tobacco prevention advocacy in Alberta, archival research, NVivo analysis, database creation.

Summer 2019

Drs. John Church and Stephanie Montesanti (University of Alberta): Primary health care reform in Alberta, semi-structured interview analysis in NVivo.

Spring 2019,

Summer 2018

Dr. John Church (University of Alberta): “Accountability Failure in Health Care, UK and Canada,” database creation and maintenance, qualitative analysis in NVivo.

Sept. 2018-
Feb. 2019

Dr. Reza Hasmath (University of Alberta): NGOs, public policy, and ethnicity in China, article formatting.

Sept. 2014-
April 2015

Dr. Joanne Wright (University of New Brunswick): Assisted with administration and development of new Gender and Womens’ Studies program.

ACADEMIC SERVICE

2023-present

Membership Secretary, Society for Socialist Studies

      Membership Committee (Chair)
      Programme Committee

2022-2023

Related Group Co-Chair, Critical Policy Studies (American Political Science Association)

2022-2023

Programme Chair, Society for Socialist Studies Annual Conference, Congress 2023 (York University, Toronto)

·      Drafted and circulated a call for sessions followed by a call for papers to develop the 2023 annual conference programme under the theme Re-Imagining the Left.

·      Coordinated concurrent and plenary sessions as well as joint sessions, plenary lectures, and keynotes in partnership with other association conferences.

·      Coordinated (including budgeting, ordering, and accepting) catering and furnishing/AV bookings for conference.

·      Communicated with all registrants including planned sessions leading up to conference.

·      Coordinated day-of operations including training one zoom operations volunteer and two student workers to assist with the conference, as well as ensuring the programme proceeded according to schedule.

·      Successfully coordinated the Society for Socialist Studies’ return to in-person/hybrid conferencing with 98 registrants in attendance across four days of conference programming.

2022-2023

Member at Large, Society for Socialist Studies
      Membership Committee
      Book Prize Committee (since 2019)

2020-2022

Mentor, Political Science Honours Mentorship Program, University of Alberta

·      Regularly met with mentee completing their honours capstone project, guiding them through the final part of their undergraduate degree, and providing them with guidance as they consider future endeavours.

2020-2022

Membership Secretary, Society for Socialist Studies

·      Acting as the primary executive member tasked with expanding and retaining society membership, including launching the new Chapters and Affiliates program, coordinating and delivering special event programming with society members, and chairing the Membership Committee.

Chair, Membership Committee

Member, Conference Planning Committee (since 2021)

Member, Book Prize Committee

2018-2022

Member, Graduate Teaching and Pedagogy in Political Science Working Group, University of Alberta

·      Coordinated with graduate students and faculty to push for greater emphasis on formal and informal pedagogical training for graduate students and participated in creating tools to share and collaborate on pedagogical development within the department.

2019-2020

Treasurer, University of Alberta Political Science Graduate Students’ Association

·      Coordinated payments for association activities and maintained budgetary recordkeeping.

2019-2020

Student Observer, Society for Socialist Studies

·      Acclaimed as first Student Observer for the executive of the society to expand representation of young scholars and graduate students

Member, Book Prize Committee

Member, Membership Committee

Member, Conference Organizing Committee

2018-2019

Graduate Student Representative, Department of Political Science Chair Search Committee, University of Alberta

·      Represented graduate students on the department’s committee to designate a new department chair.

2018-2019

Team Member, Alumni and Graduate Student Networking Group, Political Science, University of Alberta

·      Coordinated networking events between graduate students and alumni of Political Science graduate programs to help foster network growth across sectors.

2017-2019

President, University of Alberta Political Science Graduate Students’ Association

·      Led an executive group with the particular goal of building meaningful connections between relatively-siloed graduate students and faculty members; also represented graduate students on several committees:

Representative, Political Science Department Council

Representative, Political Science Graduate Committee

Summer Representative, University of Alberta Graduate Students’ Association

Member, Faculty of Arts 3MT Organizing Committee

2016-2017

Ph.D. Representative, University of Alberta Political Science Graduate Students’ Association

·      Represented Ph.D. student interests on the PSGSA executive.

2012-2014

President, St. Thomas University Political Science Students’ Society

·      Led an executive group with the particular goal of growing student camaraderie and community through academic and social activities.

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

July-Sept. 2022

Consultant, Building Blocks Technologies (Remote)

Consulted on Canadian government and politics course instruction design for federal civil servants.

Election 2019

Candidate for Tobique-Mactaquac (NB), Canada’s NDP

April-Sept. 2018

Public Policy Intern, Volunteer Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Conducted research on membership engagement in the voluntary sector and developed a research design for ongoing member surveys.

June-Nov. 2017

Engagement Intern, Alberta Climate Change Office, Government of Alberta (Edmonton, AB)

Jan.-June 2017

Policy Analyst, Western Economic Diversification, Government of Canada (Edmonton, AB)

January 2015-

June 2016

Project Assistant, Office of the Access to Information and Privacy Commissioner of New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB)

June-Sept. 2014

Intern, Policy and Priorities Division - Executive Council Office, Government of New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB)

September 2013-

April 2014

Policy and Research Officer, New Brunswick Student Alliance (Fredericton, NB)

MEDIA APPEARANCES

2019

Information Morning – Fredericton with Terry Seguin. “NDP Candidate for Tobique-Mactaquac.” October 16, 2019. (https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-25-information-morning-fredericton/clip/15741344-ndp-candidate-for-tobique-mactaquac)

2019

Rickard, Mark. “Tobique-Mactaquac candidates weigh in on economy, health, and climate change.” Bugle-Observer, October 13, 2019. (https://tj.news/story/101073093?ref=linkShare)

2019

Rickard, Mark. “Candidates condemn election sign vandals.” Bugle-Observer, October 10, 2019. (https://tj.news/bugleobserver/101070537)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2020

Winter Thesis Boost (Writing Retreat). Delivered by the University of Alberta Academic Success Center. December 9-11.

2020

“Indigenous Canada” MOOC by University of Alberta delivered through Coursera.

2020

“Conducting Qualitative Fieldwork During COVID-19.” Delivered by Dr. Deborah Lupton, facilitated by NVIVO (QSR International). March 31.

2019

Job Shadow with Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, City of Edmonton. University of Alberta Career Centre Job Shadow Week, November 2019.

2019

“Writing Across the Curriculum.” Delivered by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Alberta. August 22.

CURRENT ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

Since 2019

American Political Science Association

Since 2016

Canadian Political Science Association

Since 2020

International Political Science Association

Since 2021

International Public Policy Association

Since 2019

Society for Socialist Studies