Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. Born: Nigeria.
Dr. Patience Elabor-Idemudia is Professor and Chair, Graduate Studies in the Department of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan, where she has been teaching since 1995. From January 2005, she served an 18-month contract with the UN’s International Labour Organization as Chief Technical Advisor on a program to combat trafficking and forced labour in West Africa.
Career: Taught at Brock University’s Department of Sociology as a Sessional Lecturer (1993); Sessional Lecturer, Women’s Studies, University of Toronto (1989-94); Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Wilfrid Laurier University (1994-95). Areas of specialization include sociology of the family; women/gender & development; migration studies; globalization, transnationalism and human trafficking. She has also conducted workshops on prejudice, discrimination, anti-racism education, conflict resolution, as well as race relations, employment equity and multiculturalism. Previously, she worked as an Agricultural Research Officer at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (1980-82).
Affiliations: Canadian Sociological and Anthropology Association; International Studies Association; Canadian Association of African Studies; International Association for Studies in Forced Migration; Prairie Centre of Excellence on Integration and Immigration.
Honours: Several academic awards; Commendation and a Plaque awarded by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); PEO International Peace Scholarship (1989-92); inclusion in Who’s Who in Black Canada 2 (2006).
Works: Include chapters in books: Identity, Representation, and Knowledge Production (2011); Transnational Migration and Loyalties: Intersectionality of Race, Gender and Class (2011); Possibilities and Limitations: Multicultural Policies and Programs in Canada (2005); The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan (2005); articles in academic journals: Canadian Woman Studies/Cahiers de la Femme; The Negro Journal of Education; and periodicals: Economic Justice Update.
Education: PhD, Sociology of Educations, OISE/University of Toronto (1993); Master of Science, Agriculture Extension Education, University of Guelph (1985); Bachelor of Science, State University College, Oneonta, NY (1977).
Commuinity: Board member, Saskatchewan Intercultural Association (SIA; 2004-2010); Board member, Saskatoon Open Door Society (2010-present); and Board member, Socio-Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC; 2004-present). All work to improve the situation of immigrants and economically disadvantaged groups in Canada and beyond.
Motto: I am too blessed to be stressed, too anointed to be disappointed.
Favourite book? The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die by John Izzo. The secrets are to be true to yourself, leave no regrets, become love, live the moment, give more than you take, give meaning to life.
Favourite quote? “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” (Sign in Einstein’s office at Princeton.)
Given the chance, what would you love to do that you haven’t done yet? I would love to set up a multi-purpose centre/shelter for poor and homeless African women who confront regular violence. The centre would provide an avenue for the women to acquire needed relevant skills for gainful employment, or to set up their own business with the provision of some capital in the form of a financial grant.
Who inspires you? My late mother who worked hard all her life, and instilled in me the spirit of hard work.
Why do you do what you do? To improve on humanity in my own little way, and leave my footprint behind as others before me have done.
Contact: Website