Students

Convocation ‘24: Angeline Letourneau, PhD Environmental Sociology

Donna McKinnon - 25 November 2024

 

 

It was never going to be enough for Angeline Letourneau to gather knowledge in the field of environmental remediation without the ability, or opportunity, to affect meaningful change and be part of something bigger. 

“I needed to better understand people and the social systems we live in to be able to get at the root cause of our environmental impacts," explains Angeline, who was still an undergraduate in environmental studies at the time. It wasn’t until she took a course in environmental sociology that she found an academic perspective that aligned with her goals.

Influenced to a significant degree by an Indigenous Feminism class she had taken with Tracy Bear, Angeline entered the PhD program in Rural & Environmental Sociology with an intersectional and anti-colonial approach, she says, focused on the translation of research findings to actionable outputs that address the social inequalities shaped by identity, particularly gender and indigeneity.

The rigor and originality of their research, which includes their doctoral thesis Masculinity in the shadow of resource extraction: identity negotiation on the path to a just transition, has been recognized with over $190,000 in research funding, including the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship, the Dorothy J. Killam Memorial Graduate Prize, the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and the President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction.

Beyond her research, Angeline has also served as director of The Landing, a student space that offers support for 2SLGBTQ+ students, and as a teaching fellow with the Peter Lougheed Leadership College.

Since completing her degree, Angeline is now the Hennebach Assistant Professor in Energy Transitions and Society for the Colorado School of Mines.

“I feel very fortunate,” she says.

Congratulations Angeline!

What led you to choose your current area of study, and why the U of A for your studies?

I've always been very passionate about the environment. I started off my university education in the natural sciences, learning everything I could about environmental remediation. While I enjoyed this work, I couldn't help but feel like I was limited in my capacity to make broader societal differences. I needed to better understand people and the social systems we live in to be able to get at the root cause of our environmental impacts. After an undergraduate course in environmental sociology, I was sold. Because my main area of interest is energy systems, the University of Alberta was the obvious place to stay and do my PhD. 

What is one of your favourite memories from your time at the U of A?

I don't know if a singular memory stands out, but I do recall many sunny afternoons enjoying the big windows in the Students Union Building. Those beanbag chairs and the afternoon sunshine are a miracle cure for the January blues.

Tell us about your favourite professor and/or class.

I was lucky enough to take an Indigenous Feminism class (WGS 480) with Tracy Bear. It was single-handedly the most worldview-shifting learning experience I had in a classroom. It challenged me to rethink everything I knew about Indigenous relations in Canada and feminism.

What advice do you have for current and future students?

Feed your curiosity. Send the email. Reach out to the scholars you admire and you want to work with. Attend the industry event. Remember that you have perspectives that matter and there is no harm in putting yourself out there. If anything, the best opportunities will fall in your lap because people now know your name. Even if you commit some unspoken faux pas, people will just chalk it up to the fact you are a student.

How do you plan on celebrating convocation?

I dedicated my dissertation to my grandparents, George and Anne Fleming. We lost George earlier this year, which has been extremely difficult, but I am so very grateful to be able to celebrate my convocation with my grandmother, Anne, and my parents.

What's next after graduation?

I feel very fortunate to have started at the Colorado School of Mines this fall as the Hennebach Assistant Professor in Energy Transitions and Society.