Kamala Nayar became Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s second-ever recipient of the Chancellor’s Chair, an award that recognizes a highly industrious faculty member whose research and peer network have significantly heightened the university’s profile and reputation.
“Kamala Nayar’s academic contributions are reflective of the high caliber of scholarship at Kwantlen,” said chancellor Arvinder Bubber.
“Her work exploring the culture and religion of South Asians in India as well as right here in Vancouver is world class. We’re proud to have such an impressive scholar working closely with our students.”
Nayar has had a varied and successful career. Born in Montreal, she earned a PhD in South Asian religions from McGill University in 1999.
She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria and has taught South Asian related courses at McGill University and Simon Fraser University.
In 2006, she became a faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
The university will launch a BA Major in Asian Studies in September 2011.
Over her career, Nayar has published three books and several scholarly articles and book chapters.
She is currently conducting a major research project funded by Social Science and Humanities Research Council on the Punjabis of British Columbia.
“In addition to her extensive work exploring South Asian religion, Kamala’s work has also made her an expert in Canadian Ethnic Studies and South Asian Diaspora studies,” says Robert Adamoski, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. “The breadth and quality of her work exemplifies the high level of scholarship in our Faculty.”
The Kwantlen Polytechnic University Chancellor’s Chair is designed to provide multi-year support to help scholars develop research projects that will, in turn, help them to apply for major external funding grants.
