Michelle Dion | Lightnews

Michelle L. Dion

@michelledion.bsky.social

350 followers 370 following 110 posts

Political scientist @ McMaster, misplaced Texan, amateur taco expert, and 80s pop culture enthusiast. Not necessarily in that order.

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Michelle Dion is a political scientist, currently a professor in the department of political science and the Senator William McMaster Chair in Gender and Methodology at McMaster University, as well as the founding director of McMaster University's Centre for Research in Empirical Social Sciences. Dion studies the political economy of Latin America, the history of social welfare policies, political methodology, and comparative political behaviour with a focus on attitudes, gender, and sexuality in politics. .. more

Political science 36%

Economics 32%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · 23h

Also, if you can pack/get hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, etc for a cold breakfast and get up early to walk a bit away from crowds to have breakfast on the rim as the sun rises and nature wakes up, it will be glorious.

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · 1d

I wasn’t prepared for the grandeur and cried like a silly person. It was overwhelming, in a very good way. YMMV

Reposted by Jonathan M. Gilligan, Melanie C. Green, Michelle Dion , and 4 more Jonathan M. Gilligan, Melanie C. Green, Michelle Dion, Marini Marini, Christina Pagel, Dan Immergluck, Annalee Newitz

John Holbein @johnholbein1.bsky.social · 4d

Here’s what they found:

Women are interrupted more often than men—by about 10–20% in economics seminars.

Those interruptions are more likely to:
- Cut women off mid-sentence
- Come from men
- Be adversarial rather than clarifying in nature

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 10d

Another Canadian Member of Parliament is quitting the 3-in-1 online harassment, extremist propaganda and computer-generated sex image app, X dot com

Karim Bardeesy:

"Please see my full statement on X (formerly Twitter):

STATEMENT ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER)
I've been on X (formerly Twitter) since 2008, when I started my work as a business journalist in New York City at the beginning of the Great Recession. It was an invaluable tool in those days; and when I moved to The Globe and Mail, we used it to engage with readers through the paper's editorial board Twitter account, which I set up and ran.
Twitter - in all of its chaos with all of its problems - was for many years a vibrant space of debate and discovery, and an invaluable source of information about the world, often in real time.
But it's no longer that place. It's now a place where anger, hyper-divisive content, shock - and most, recently Al-generated sexualized deepfakes - is the content that gets elevated or rewarded by its algorithm.
Al is now part of our reality and will continue to be. There's no denying that. But we are not passive in this journey.
Our values matter; and when the technology and the platform are at such 100% complete misalignment with those values, it's time to go.
In the absence of meaningful change, I am pausing my posting here. You can still find me and my office's work through the channels listed below.
MP Karim Bardeesy

Taiaiako'n-Parkdale-High Park"

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 10d

1. UWaterloo has lost over 200 full-time employees thanks to Doug Ford's university budget crisis. That's 5% of the workforce.
2. Who cares whether most are via layoffs or attrition? Programs and student experience are suffering.
3. It's "fewer than," not "less than".
uwimprint.ca/less-than-60...

“Less than 60” UW employees laid off since early 2025

Senior administration at UW shared that since early 2025, less than 60 employees have been laid off as part of the university’s multi-year plan to return to a balanced budget. This figure was shared...

uwimprint.ca

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Texas Monthly @texasmonthly.bsky.social · 12d

On this day in 1892, Bessie Coleman was born.

Her extraordinary life and career deserves to be celebrated in the canon of U.S. history. https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/bessie-coleman-trailblazing-black-texan-pilot/

In Praise of Bessie Coleman, Trailblazing Black Texan Pilot

Coleman’s extraordinary life and career deserves to be celebrated in the canon of U.S. history.

www.texasmonthly.com

Reposted by Vincent Tiberj, John Foot, Michelle Dion , and 1 more Vincent Tiberj, John Foot, Michelle Dion, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 14d

Here's a time-lapse from yesterday as thousands of people marched through downtown Minneapolis to protest ICE.

📷️: Sydney Lewis/The Minnesota Star Tribune

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Nicholas A. Christakis, Stefan Reis , and 33 more Kim L. Scheppele, Nicholas A. Christakis, Stefan Reis, Ken Caldeira, John Horgan, Michael A. Clemens, Steven S. Smith, Rosemary A. Joyce, Diane Ravitch, Melissa Johnson, Michael J. Allen, Fabián Muniesa, Robert C. Richards, Michelle Dion, Aaron Sojourner, Lesley Bartlett, Jacob T. Levy, Nazita Lajevardi, Robert B. Reich, Juan Moreno‐Cruz, Michael D. McDonald, Mary Margaret McCabe, Andrew Rudalevige, Julie Rovner, Karen O’Leary, Stephen A. Meserve, David S. Tanenhaus, Maksym Polyakov, Stella M. Rouse, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Brian Jm Quinn, Timothy D. McBride, Élisabeth Vallet, Dunlap, Peter Jacobs, Jesse R. Lasky

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 17d

BREAKING: Immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, a memo obtained by AP says.

Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.

bit.ly

Reposted by Michelle Dion, Mary Jane Curry

Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 23d

Warning: Reports indicate immigration checkpoints along major interstates in Oklahoma, with Interstate 40 most impacted.

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Rebecca Solnit, Nandita Sharma , and 35 more Joanna Bryson, Rebecca Solnit, Nandita Sharma, Will Jennings, Jennifer A. Richeson, Steve Peers, Mark D. White, American Library Association, Joseph Schafer, Anders Nilsson, Robert C. Richards, Michelle Dion, Aaron Sojourner, Lesley Bartlett, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Christine Kooi, Jason Dittmer, James Goodwin, Erol Akçay, Dean Eckles, Cailin O’Connor, W Grant, Aurélien Mondon, Mark Rice, Ann Bartow, Christian Rauh, Nicolas Brisset, Sean P. Corcoran, Melanie O’Brien, Olivier Mannoni, Nicole Guenther Discenza, Magda Teter, Manisha Sinha, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Oliver Nachtwey, Kevin Grant, Beth Tellman, David Darmofal

Mr. Dan Zak @mrdanzak.com · 23d

Stunning photos from Minneapolis, including this one by John Locher for the Associated Press. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...

A family member reacts after a federal immigration officer used a battering ram to break down a door before making an arrest on January 11, 2026, in Minneapolis.

Reposted by Justin H. Kirkland, Michelle Dion, Nathan P. Kalmoe , and 1 more Justin H. Kirkland, Michelle Dion, Nathan P. Kalmoe, David Darmofal

Chris Warshaw @chriswarshaw.bsky.social · Jan 6

We're excited to release version 1.0 of the Dynamic Democracy website. It includes updated data on state policy, public opinion, mass ideology, and representation. The website enables you to see how these measures are changing overtime across states and within states.

www.dynamicdemocracy.us

Reposted by Stephen M. Walt, Lisa W. Fazio, Ben H. Ansell , and 48 more Stephen M. Walt, Lisa W. Fazio, Ben H. Ansell, Brendan Nyhan, Gavin A. Schmidt, Wolfgang Crämer, Richard Price, Tom Clark, Scott L. Greer, Robert W. Wallace, Steven S. Smith, American Library Association, Helen King, Bruce D. Baker, Ryan Enos, Kevin Carey, Felicity Callard, Robert C. Richards, Michelle Dion, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, McKenzie Wark, Adrian Daub, Caroline T. Schroeder, Jacob T. Levy, Nazita Lajevardi, Margot C. Finn, Samantha Brennan, Anne Norton, Brian Keegan, Paulo Drinot, Mark Rice, Brian Weatherson, Susan Strasser, Andrew Rudalevige, Nathan Richardson, Judith Pollmann, Sean P. Corcoran, Klaus Oschema, Daxton R. Stewart, Aviel Roshwald, Annette Yoshiko Reed, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Susan D. Amussen, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Virginia Sapiro, Clark Gray, David Spurrett, David Lay Williams, David Darmofal

AAUP Texas A&M-College Station Chapter @tamu-aaup.bsky.social · Jan 6

From an email to one of our faculty members....

Not even Plato can escape censorship at Texas A&M!

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · Jan 6

Please share - @pewresearch.org wants to hire a data archivist who will be an advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...

Pew Research Center is seeking a Data Archivist to support our commitment to open science and data transparency. This newly created role will play a key part in enhancing the accessibility, usability, and reproducibility of our research data while continuing to protect the privacy and identity of our survey participants.

As Data Archivist, you will lead efforts to create and implement best practices for preparing, documenting, and disseminating datasets. These best practices should maximize FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles while minimizing disclosure risk. You will work across teams to ensure our data is well-organized and thoroughly documented.

You will serve as an internal advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are not only accurate and comprehensive but also easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public.

This is a full-time, Pew Research Center position. The position is funded by an external grant and limited to a two-year term.

Primary Responsibilities

Develop optimization procedures to improve discoverability of our datasets on internal and external platforms

Develop and maintain standards to improve accessibility of our microdata and tab plans by changing/adding formats and/or adding documentation

Identify metadata documentation best practices and a process to implement those best practices at the Center

Work with Legal to evaluate most appropriate license to publicly share the Center's survey data, including Creative Common options

Identify and correct processing inefficiencies in our data publication process

Sit on the internal Disclosure Risk Taskforce

Document analytical decisions and code to support transparency and replicability, including the development of a RACI chart for publishing code to recreate derived variables that are used in reports but are not included in the microdata

Manage/create merged time series datasets for select Center datasets

Identify a process for internally archiving data and projects that are no longer in active use

Identify and implement a process to assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) to microdata

Prepare and upload public-facing datasets and restricted-use datasets for external sharing.

Train staff on FAIR principles and best practices in data archiving.

Education/Training/Experience

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in library sciences, organizational management, or a related field.

5-7 years of experience with data archiving, database management, or survey research. This may include graduate training at the MA/PhD level or equivalent experience in an applied setting.

At least 3-5 years of experience applying FAIR and open science principles.

Background in social science research or data curation.

Experience in data management, archiving, or research support.

Familiarity with FAIR principles, Creative Common licensing, data privacy principles, and exposure risk.

Proficiency in metadata standards and documentation tools.

Experience managing research projects, including working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.

Experience with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, Stata) and reproducible research workflows.

Knowledge, Skill and Workplace Requirements

Strong organizational and communication skills.

Detail oriented with exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products.

Ability to work independently to carry out special projects from start to finish.

Ability to balance numerous tasks simultaneously.

Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with other team members, as well as with staff from other Pew Research Center teams.

Ability to balance competing priorities and identify optimal solutions

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation: Starting salary is commensurate with experience within the range of $100,000 - $120,000.

Hybrid Work Schedule: Pew Research Center staff are required to be present in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Staff may work virtually from remote locations on other days in a typical work week.

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · Jan 5

Come work with me! McMaster has posted its call for applications for Canada Impact+ positions! Candidates must currently be working/residing outside Canada. Deadline is Jan 22!

research.mcmaster.ca/home/support...

Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Nominees - Research & Innovation

[...]Read More...

research.mcmaster.ca

Reposted by Victor Asal, Michelle Dion

NPR @npr.org · Jan 5

D.C. police officers experienced some of the most intense violence during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. We sat down with two of them to rewatch their body camera footage from that day. n.pr/4pjPwtV

2 police officers relive Jan. 6 through their own bodycam footage

n.pr

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Josh Persi @joshpersi.bsky.social · Dec 28

Hey folks! I built a Canadian trade database to practice what I'm learning about DuckDB. The database includes all Canadian imports and exports from 1988 to present as per Statistics Canada. Here's a blog post I wrote with more details:

joshpersi.github.io/blog/posts/0...

#rstats #duckdb

A Canadian trade database built with DuckDB – Josh Persi

joshpersi.github.io

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · Dec 18

This is awful news…. These centres were so important in my training as a comparativist. Funding for summer travel and guest speakers…

Tim Longman 🏳️‍🌈 @timlongman.bsky.social · Dec 18

Another school is decimating its regional studies programs. The Make America Stupid Again agenda marches on, aided by one university after another.

UNC cuts all six area studies research centers, effective 2026

As part of the University's plan to make $70 million in budget cuts across the institution, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations Nate Knuffman projected that cutting 14 centers and institutes in...

dailytarheel.com

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Tim Longman 🏳️‍🌈 @timlongman.bsky.social · Dec 18

Another school is decimating its regional studies programs. The Make America Stupid Again agenda marches on, aided by one university after another.

UNC cuts all six area studies research centers, effective 2026

dailytarheel.com

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Joe R. Feagin, Will Jennings , and 24 more Elizabeth Saunders, Joe R. Feagin, Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Tom Clark, Patrick Dunleavy, Steve Peers, Robert W. Wallace, Rosemary A. Joyce, Eric Goldman, Michelle Dion, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Aaron Sojourner, Andrew L. Whitehead, Scott A. Imberman, Michael D. McDonald, Alfie Kohn, Mark Rice, Michael J. Hicks, Ann Bartow, Julie Novkov, Cullen S. Hendrix, Alexandra Cirone, Colin Woodard, David Darmofal, Deborah M. Kolb

John Bisognano @johnbisognano.com · Dec 12

This should be the biggest story in the country right now. The sitting US President was extorting state lawmakers from his own party by threatening to withhold public money if they didn’t gerrymander for him.

I don’t know how else to say it…

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · Dec 11

And some political scientists would say the problem with political science is that we’re not sciencey enough!

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · Nov 28

"Nova Scotia to sell off remaining $14M worth of American booze.
Net profit of $4M will go to Feed Nova Scotia, other community food groups. Premier Tim Houston said the province will not be ordering any more from the U.S. once the inventory is sold off." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Nova Scotia to sell off remaining $14M worth of American booze | CBC News

Nova Scotians who have been missing their favourite California Cabernet or Tennessee whisky will soon have a chance to stock up. The provincial government has announced it will sell off its remaining...

www.cbc.ca

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Isabelle Cote @isaluciecote.bsky.social · Nov 16

* please share*

The PoliSci dept at MUN in St. John's NL, Canada is inviting appl. for Canada Excellence Research Chair/Comparative Democratic Resilience in the Global South. Senior folks (incl. int'l appl!) w expertise on Africa & LA encouraged to apply.

Deadline: December 14

shorturl.at/I74RL

shorturl.at

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · Nov 2

Also looking up historical markers… if you’re on back roads…

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · Oct 27

This is really valuable information that media companies should be sharing as well.

AltFDA @altfda.altgov.info · Oct 27

🚨Resources 🚨a thread I’ll be updating a lot. 🧵🧵🧵

Verizon Wireless will work with furloughed federal employees to either split your payment or move the due date forward 30 days if you call them.

Reposted by Michelle Dion

Dawn ❄️ @dawnhulot.bsky.social · Oct 27

👉 #FurloughedFederalWorkers

AFL-CIO, the country's largest federation of unions, has compiled a complete state-by-state list of benefits for federal workers.

State Resources for Shutdown-Impacted Federal Employees and Contractors | AFL-CIO share.google/ohEa5d6NYVdY...

State Resources for Shutdown-Impacted Federal Employees and Contractors | AFL-CIO

As the federal budget impasse continues, thousands of workers are missing their paychecks through no fault of their own. The following resources can help workers navigate unemployment benefits, insura...

share.google

Reposted by Michelle Dion

AltFDA @altfda.altgov.info · Oct 27

Michelle L. Dion @michelledion.bsky.social · Oct 27

What an amazing woman and political leader!

Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · Oct 27

Judy LaMarsh helped bring us Medicare and the Canada Pension Plan.
She oversaw our Centennial celebrations.
Her book, Memoirs of a Bird in a Gilded Cage, is one of Canada's best political memoirs.
She even played a role in the fight for LGBTQ rights.
This is her story.

🧵 1/12