Nalini Persram, associate professor in the Department of Social Science, has published a new book titled Reckoning with Revolutionary Yemen Under Saudi-American Bombs. The book,  published by Palgrave MacMillan, looks at the impact of U.S. and Saudi Arabian military intervention in Yemen in 2015.

Persram completed her PhD in International Politics from the University of Wales Aberystwyth. Her research interests include governance, international relations, social and political thought, cultural studies, Yemen's Ansar Allah, resistance and revisioning.

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Take courses that push you to think differently, even if they feel outside your comfort zone.

— Blessing Owusu

Blessing Owusu

Educator and children's book author
BA â€™17 , Department of Social Science
µţ·ˇ»ĺ&˛Ô˛ú˛ő±č;’19, Faculty of Education
MEd ’24, Faculty of Education

LA&PS alumna, Blessing Owusu was named one of 91ŃÇɫ’s 2025 Top 30 Alumni Under 30, recognized among a distinguished group of young leaders making a meaningful impact around the world. In recognition of her achievement, we connected with Blessing to better understand how her experience as an Interdisciplinary Social Science graduate contributed to where she is today.  

How did your degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science help get you where you are today? 

This program gave me a solid base in understanding how different parts of society work together—education, policy, race, class and gender. It helped me think critically about the world around me and gave me the tools to question systems, find patterns and create solutions. These are skills I use daily as an educator and in my equity work. It also shaped how I approach teaching by encouraging me to think about students’ full experiences, not just academics.  

What career did you dream of pursuing in undergrad, and where did your professional path take you after graduation?  

I always wanted to be an educator. That never changed. My time in the program confirmed that goal and helped me find the kind of teacher I wanted to be—one focused on equity, inclusion and student voice. After graduating from the Interdisciplinary Social Science program, I went on to earn my Bachelor of Education and have been teaching ever since. I recently completed my Master of Education as well. Through my master’s Major Research Project (MRP), I published a children’s book, Abena’s Adventures: A Taste of Home, which is now used as a resource in various school boards to support culturally responsive teaching.  

What skills or knowledge from the  Interdisciplinary Social Science program have been most beneficial in your career? 

The biggest skills were critical thinking, communication and the ability to see issues from multiple angles. I learned how to ask better questions, break down complex problems and bring in different perspectives. These skills show up in everything I do—lesson planning, classroom discussions, working with the school board, other educators and developing resources. The program also helped me build strong writing and research skills, which I’ve used in both teaching and academic work.  

In what ways have the network and connections you made during your studies helped you in your career? 

The connections I made at 91ŃÇÉ« have continued to support me well beyond graduation. Some of my professors became mentors and provided strong references that helped me move forward in both academic and professional spaces. I’ve stayed in touch with several classmates—some have become collaborators on projects, others close friends. Being part of the 91ŃÇÉ« Education Alumni Network has also helped me stay connected to new opportunities, events, and initiatives that support ongoing professional growth.  

What advice do you have for first-year Interdisciplinary Social Science students? 

Keep an open mind and use your time to explore. The program is broad on purpose—use that to your advantage. Take courses that push you to think differently, even if they feel outside your comfort zone. Ask questions, get involved in things happening on campus, and look for ways to connect what you're learning to real-life situations. Also, don’t wait until the end of your degree to think about your career—start building experiences early through volunteering, part-time work, or student leadership. Every course, conversation, or campus role can shape how you understand the world and help you figure out where you want to make an impact. 

Read more about LA&PS 2025 Top 30 Alumni Under 30. 

91ŃÇÉ« Associate ProfessorĚýĚýwill hold the prestigious Endowed Chair in Criminology & Criminal Justice at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. during the Fall 2021 term. The Endowed Chair appointment is awarded annually to a scholar with a well-established record of research and who has a PhD in Criminology or a related field.ĚýĚý

Lunny, an associate professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), teaches in the Law & Society program and is a member of the graduate program in Socio-Legal Studies.

Her book  (UBC Press, 2017), is recognized as a leading work in the field. Drawing on critical discourse analysis, she argues that the parliamentary debates on hate crime and hate speech legislation reveal deeper concerns, trepidations and anxieties about victimization, rightful citizenship, social threat, and moral erosion.

At St. Thomas, she will pivot from this research and will refocus on mass killings of women in relation to misogynistic hate crime. Analyzing the language of hate, she will probe the relationship of incel ideology in the motives behind the Toronto van attack, the 1989 massacre at Ă‰cole Polytechnique, and the recent mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia. Her research utilizes semiotics and affect theory to deepen the conversation about hate crime and ideology.   

While in residence at St. Thomas, Lunny will deliver the keynote address at a hate crime conference. She will also teach a fourth-year seminar for students interested in her research.

A virtual event will be held to celebrate recent publications by Annie Bunting, Lisa Drummond, Carlo Fanelli, Les Jacobs, Jaime LlambĂ­as-Wolff, Vanisha Sukdeo, and Douglas C. Young.

This event will take place onĚýTuesday, Feb. 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Each of the books is available for purchase at the hyperlinks provided with the descriptions below.