Dr. Eloy Rivas-Sánchez
Associate Professor and Chair of the Centre for Social Sciences
Contact information
E-mail: hrivassanchez@athabascau.ca
eloy-rivas-sanchezCurrent courses
Dr. Eloy Rivas-Sánchez
Dr. Eloy Rivas-Sánchez
Associate Professor and Chair of the Centre for Social Sciences
Contact information
Email: hrivassanchez@athabascau.ca
Phone:
I am an Associate Professor of Sociology in the Centre for Social Sciences at Athabasca University. My research focuses on the study of migration, social movements, labour, transformative education, and global citizenship. Across these areas, my work explores how social structures affect the lives and wellbeing of vulnerable populations, and how marginalized individuals and communities exercise agency to contest domination, disrespect, and dehumanization.
Guided by the principle that education and scientific inquiry should advance human emancipation and enhance human life, my overall academic work (research, teaching and community service) explores the intersections of power, inequality, transformative education, collective action, and social change.
My pedagogical practice is rooted in the traditions of Paulo Freire and Francisco Ferrer’s Modern School principles. Guided by these influences, I approach education as a collaborative practice in and for freedom and engage in the learning process as a cognitive tool to cultivate -through horizontal communication and reflexive dialogue- a critical understanding of the social world and a practical will to transform it in a way that people’s lives can be improved.
I am specially committed to supporting students whose educational journeys unfold under challenging circumstances. At AU, I have the privilege of working with incarcerated students, Indigenous learners, and working-class, immigrant, 2SLGBTQI+ and first-generation university students. With them I strive to co-create learning environments that foster critical inquiry, the development of research skills, care, and love for knowledge, life and freedom.
Research interests
- Migration and human mobility
- Social movements
- Labour/Class/Race/Gender;
- Ethnography and qualitative methods
Educational credentials
- PhD Carleton University- Sociology with specialization in Political Economy
- MA University of Windsor- Sociology
- BA Universidad de Sonora- Sociology
Professional affiliations
- Canadian Sociological Association (CSA)
- International Sociological Association (ISA)
- Latin American Studies Association (LASA)
- UNESCO Chair in Democracy, Global Citizenship, and Transformative Education (DCMET)
- Parkland Institute (PI)