G’WAN WITCHA THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE! THE EXPERIENCES OF RACIALIZED PROFESSORS AT NOVA SCOTIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

Up to now, existing studies suggest that there is a lack of literature on the experiences of racialized professors in Canadian academia, particularly Black and South Asian professors. Through critical race theory and whiteness studies, this study identifies the experiences of South Asian professors regarding hiring, tenure and promotion, curriculum development and interactions with students and non-racialized faculty in Nova Scotian universities. Additionally, this study examines whether White professors support racialized colleagues’ experiences in Canadian academia. Based on telephone interviews, this study reveals that intersectional factors such as race and gender as well as environmental factors such as the field of study and the diversity of the department play a role in the university climate and experience. While there were mixed results over themes of experience, White academics were generally supportive of their racialized colleagues’ experiences, however, White participants did not fit “homogenous” criteria.