Jacquie Newman (PIR)
Jacquetta (Jacquie) Newman is a Professor of Political Science at King’s University College at Western University. Her teaching and research have long centred on gender and politics, civil society, social movements, public policy, and the everyday ways people become politically engaged. Much of her current work focuses on women’s participation in municipal politics, the gendered politics of crisis and social reproduction, and the relationship between community life and democratic participation.
Jacquie has spent her career trying to connect political ideas to the ways people actually experience and practise politics. That commitment has shaped both her scholarship and her teaching, particularly courses on women and politics, protest, civil society, diversity, campaigns, and body politics. She has also been deeply involved in feminist scholarship and academic service, including leadership in the Women’s Caucus of the Canadian Political Science Association. For Jacquie, the Gender and Women in Civic Leadership project brings together many of the things that have defined her work: feminist politics, community engagement, experiential learning, and a curiosity about how leadership is lived in everyday civic life.
Shawna Lewkowitz (SJPS)
Dr. Shawna Lewkowitz is a lecturer in Social Justice and Peace Studies at King’s, community-engaged researcher, and long-time advocate for women, trans, and gender-diverse people’s political and civic participation. Her work brings together experiential education, cities and neighbourhoods, community development, and gender equity and justice. Her research has included public space, health equity, community development, and healthy cities for youth.
Shawna’s work has always been closely connected to community and political life. She was the founder and chair of Women & Politics, a London-based initiative created to help more women engage in politics and to advocate on issues affecting women from diverse backgrounds. She has also put these commitments into practice personally, having run for federal political office on a number of occasions. Her experience as a candidate brings an additional first-hand understanding of the opportunities, pressures, and barriers involved in seeking elected office and being involved in civic life. She has worked with numerous community organizations, the City of London, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on projects designed to broaden political participation and strengthen women’s leadership. At King’s, she has taught for close to 10 years and helped build and sustain community-based learning partnerships that bring students into meaningful relationships with local organizations and civic leaders. The Archive reflects that same commitment: learning through relationships, listening carefully to community knowledge, and creating space for a wider range of leadership stories to be seen and valued.