Dr Emily Major completed her doctorate in Human-Animal Studies in 2023 at the New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies, a research institute at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her doctoral research focused on the framing of the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) as a ‘pest’ in Aotearoa New Zealand and considered how the strategic use of compassionate conservation could potentially alleviate some of the suffering and cruelty that is directed towards the indefensible possum (and ‘pests’, more generally) in the region.
Her research interests include, but are not limited to, speciesism, Critical Animal Studies, intersectionality, ecofeminism, vegan sociology, animal geography, environmental studies, the wildlife/pet trade, wildlife rehabilitation and release, human/wildlife conflict mitigation, and compassionate conservation. She has been actively publishing in peer-reviewed journals, whilst guest lecturing and tutoring for undergraduate courses in a variety of fields (i.e., Human Services, English, Cultural Studies, Social Work, etc.).
In addition to her academic pursuits, Emily contributes heavily to charitable volunteering and community activism. She is an active Board member of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS), a long-serving committee member of the Australasian Animal Studies Association (AASA), a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies (ANZCHAS), an affiliate of the International Association of Vegan Sociology (IAVS), and a Research Fellow for PAN Works.
Education
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human-Animal Studies
2019 – 2023 (research-intensive)
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Master of Anthrozoology
2014 – 2017
University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Human Geography
2007 – 2011
Queen’s University
Kingston, Canada
Certifications
Process Change and Improvement Workshop
2024
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tangata Tū Tangata Ora Professional Development Workshop
2024
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Online/Remote Tutor Training
2021
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Advanced Tutor Training
2021
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Basic Tutor Training
2019
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)
2012
Oxford Seminars
Kingston, Canada
Academic Employment
Lecturing and Course Facilitation
Online Course Facilitator
2021 – 2021
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Guest Lecturer
2020 – 2024
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Teaching Assistant
2019 – 2024
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
English Teacher / Head Teacher
2013-2015
Sogang University Language Program
Pohang, South Korea
Research
Research Assistant
2021 – 2024
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Author of NZCHAS Research Blog
2021
Te Whare Wānaga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
Research Assistant
2019 – 2020
Lincoln University / Department of Conservation
Lincoln, New Zealand
Service
Academia
General Committee Member
2019 – Present
Australasian Animal Studies Association (AASA)
AASA Conference Presentation
2021
Australasian Animal Studies Association Conference
Sydney, Australia
EACAS Conference Presentation
2021
European Association for Critical Animal Studies Conference
Edge Hill, United Kingdom
NZCHAS Symposium Presentation
2021
New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies
Postgraduate Symposium
Christchurch, New Zealand
NZCHAS Symposium Organiser
2021
New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies Postgraduate Symposium
Christchurch, New Zealand
Summer Scholar Advisor
2019-2020
Lincoln University/Department of Conservation
Lincoln, New Zealand
Conference Presentation
‘Decolonising Animals’ Conference Presentation
2020
Australasian Animal Studies Association (AASA)
Christchurch, New Zealand
‘Decolonising Animals’ Conference Co-Organiser
2020
Australasian Animal Studies Association (AASA)
Christchurch, New Zealand
International Student Representative
2015 – 2017
The University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom
Activism
Co-creator of ‘Embrace the Wild’, an International JGI Roots & Shoots Campaign
2019 – 2021
Jane Goodall Institute Global
United Kingdom
Roots & Shoots Regional Coordinator
2019 – 2020
Jane Goodall Institute of New Zealand
Canterbury, New Zealand
Research Assistant
2019 – 2020
Lincoln University
Lincoln, New Zealand
Animal Care Volunteer
2016 – 2017
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
Napanee, Canada
Animal Care Volunteer
2016
Merazonia Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre
Mera, Ecuador
Animal Care Volunteer
2012
Elephant Nature Park
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Other
Contributing Author
2013 – 2014
Global Looking Glass Magazine
San Francisco, United States
Queen’s Feminist Review Board Member
2010 – 2011
Queen’s University
Kingston, Canada
Honours & Funding
Awards
Junior Fellow at Centre for Animal Ethics
2026
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Barcelona, Spain
Denise Russell Prize for Animal Ethics
2019
Highly Commended Research Paper for “Milked to Death: How Planned Obsolescence (De)Values Animal Bodies and Their Right to Life at Canadian Dairy Farms“
Australasian Animal Studies Association (AASA)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Dean’s List
2011
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario
Scholarships
UC Doctoral Scholarship
2019 – 2022
University of Canterbury
Christchurch, New Zealand
Queen Elizabeth Aiming for the Top Scholarship
2007
Queen’s University
Kingston, Canada
Grants
Laura Bassi Scholarship Finalist
2021
Editing Press
Canada
Culture and Animals Foundation Research Grant
2021
Culture and Animal Foundation
United States
Affiliations
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