As a Canadian historian, Dr. Alexandre Turgeon is interested in how citizens of his nation and Québec understand their past, in particular, the ways that collective memory is fostered by social media.
Dr. Turgeon looks forward to sharing some of the insights he has gained from that work this semester as BSU’s Killam Visiting Professor of Canadian Studies, an appointment that will also allow him time to further his research.
“I’ve never been to Massachusetts before,” said Dr. Turgeon, who is from the Québec city of Saint-Georges-de-Beauce. “I’m excited to be here. I look forward to teaching, to doing research, to working on my coming book, and to reach out to the community. To be here, in Bridgewater, near Boston, Cape Cod, and Providence, on top of everything else, is a nice bonus.”
The visiting professorship also gives him an opportunity to broaden his knowledge of this country and “to improve my English teaching and writing,” said Dr. Turgeon, useful preparation for his role next spring as Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Québec Studies at SUNY-Plattsburgh – where he where he will conduct a comparative study course focusing on Québec and the United States.
Dr. Turgeon, who attained his bachelor’s and masters’ degrees, as well as his PhD from Université Laval in Québec City, comes to BSU from a two-year fellowship at the University of Ottawa, where he studied with Dr. Kevin Kee, dean of the faculty of arts and one of Canada’s leading experts in the digital humanities.
At BSU, Dr. Turgeon is teaching a class on history, memory, and myth in Québec and Canada. His intent is to teach students about Canadian history while also inspiring them to examine social media as a research tool. Additionally, “I’ll be happy to speak to campus and community groups about any aspect of Québec and Canada.
“As a junior scholar, it’s an incredible opportunity for me to be here, at BSU, and to be in the United States at this current time,” he said. “I hope to make the most of it.” (Story by John Laidler for University News & Media, photo by Ezechiaste Pompilus)