Dr. Kanika Samuels- Wortley

Before joining TMU, Dr. Kanika Samuels-Wortley was an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University and a Visiting Fellow at Australian National University at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) in Canberra, Australia. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology (2021) from the University of Waterloo, an MA and a BA in Criminology from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and the University of Toronto, respectively. Dr. Samuels-Wortley’s research explores the intersection of race, racism, and the criminal justice system. It aims to advance critical race discourse in Canada through empirical mixed-methods approaches.

Dr. Samuels-Wortley has published in prestigious peer reviewed journals, including Race and Justice, Crime and Delinquency, and the Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her research has been supported by a number of awards and grants, including British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner Grant (2021). Dr. Samuels-Wortley has served as a member of the research committees for the Learning Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion for Correctional Service Canada, Institute for Research and Education on Race Relations, and Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

"I am so thrilled to be joining the Department of Criminology at TMU. Both the Department and University are dedicated to social change by addressing various issues related to racial inequities in Canada. My research examines the negative impacts of racial bias and discrimination within the criminal justice system; therefore, my scholarship complements the already important work that is being done. I look forward to collaborating with other Faculties, scholars, students, and staff at TMU, and hope my research will contribute to meaningful social change".