Brandon University (BU) is pleased to welcome Dr. Leon Laidlaw as a new Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies.
Dr. Laidlaw brings a wealth of expertise in trans studies, prison abolition, and socio-legal research, further strengthening BU’s commitment to fostering critical and inclusive scholarship.
Dr. Laidlaw’s research focuses on trans prison reforms, anti-colonial critiques of the criminal justice system, and community-based advocacy. Their work has received international recognition, most recently with the prestigious Feminist Legal Studies Editors’ Article Prize for 2024–2025 for their article Prison Abolition for Collective Freedom: Facilitating Co-Resistance to Binary Colonial Prisons. They are currently developing their first book, Confined in the Binary: Anti-Colonial and Abolitionist Approaches to Canada’s Trans Prison Reforms, which is slated for release in 2027.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Laidlaw join our faculty,” said Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President of Research & Graduate Studies at BU. “Their innovative and socially engaged scholarship not only strengthens our research community but also aligns with our commitment to justice and equity. Dr. Laidlaw’s work challenges us to think critically about the structures we take for granted, and their presence will undoubtedly inspire both students and colleagues.”
Dr. Laidlaw has been actively involved in community initiatives, including the Mama Bear Clan Patrol and Winnipeg Police Cause Harm, bringing real-world advocacy experience into their academic work. Their teaching portfolio at BU includes courses such as Prison Abolition and Trans Criminology, which examine issues of incarceration, state violence, and social justice through an interdisciplinary lens.
“We are proud to welcome Dr. Laidlaw to the Faculty of Arts,” said Dr. Greg Kennedy, Dean of Arts at BU. “Their research is both timely and necessary, contributing to urgent national conversations on trans rights, the criminal justice system, and decolonization. Dr. Laidlaw joins a dynamic team of sociologists uniquely positioned to offer a program stream of courses focused on crime and community, while our interdisciplinary justice certificate and Gender & Women’s Studies program will also benefit from his innovative research work and teaching contributions.”
Dr. Laidlaw’s appointment reflects BU’s ongoing dedication to fostering critical research that engages with pressing social issues. Their work stands at the forefront of transformative scholarship, offering new insights and policy perspectives that have the potential to drive meaningful change.
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