Dr. Malinda S. Smith
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malindasmith.bsky.social
Dr. Malinda S. Smith
@malindasmith.bsky.social
310 followers 89 following 140 posts
Associate Vice President Research, Full Prof Political Science | Inclusive Research Excellence, Epistemic Pluralism | Coauthor, The Equity Myth (2017); CoEd, Critical Concepts:An Intro to Politics (2023); Nuances of Blackness in the Canadian Academy (2022)
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malindasmith.bsky.social
Study highlights health system’s treatment of Black women | Toronto Star www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
This cancer survivor waited 18 hours in the ER. How a new study highlights unequal care for Black women in Canada
The Voices UnHeard report is Canada’s first national health survey focused on Black women and girls.
www.thestar.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:10 AM
malindasmith.bsky.social
Some thoughts on pluralism in times of democratic backsliding.

Cultivating the pluralism dividend in Canada’s democracy

“In an era of polarization, Canada must move beyond managing diversity and cultivate it for renewal” Policy Options (19 Sept 2025), #cdnpse policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/09/plur...
Cultivating the pluralism dividend in Canada’s democracy
Canada can create a pluralism dividend by cultivating diversity to strengthen democracy, trust and civic belonging.
policyoptions.irpp.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
Great to collaborate with colleague, Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni on this piece on epistemic pluralism in higher education

Epistemic pluralism is productive, not peripheral for HE,” University World News (Oct. 31, 2025), www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?sto...
Epistemic pluralism is productive, not peripheral for HE
By institutionalising epistemic pluralism in teaching, scholarship and engagement, universities can draw a pluralism benefit – social, epistemic and...
www.universityworldnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
Merit isn’t exclusive to a group. A challenge is exclusion, preference for homogeneity, what Philomena Essed calls “preference for sameness“

“The Excellence Dividend: How Diversity and Inclusion Strengthen Research Ecosystems,” University Affairs (9 Sept 2025),  universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
The Excellence Dividend  - University Affairs
How Diversity and Inclusion Strengthen Research Ecosystems
universityaffairs.ca
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
La question de la diversité des points de vue dans les universités canadiennes:

“Afin de favoriser réellement le libre examen, on doit rejeter les allégations non vérifiées de crise,” Affaires universitaires (20 octobre 2025), #cdnpse #highered www.affairesuniversitaires.ca/opinion-fr/l...
La question de la diversité des points de vue dans les universités canadiennes - Affaires universitaires
Afin de favoriser réellement le libre examen, on doit rejeter les allégations non vérifiées de crise.
www.affairesuniversitaires.ca
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
The viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities:

“Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives,” University Affairs (October 10, 2025). #cdnpse #highered universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
The viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities - University Affairs
Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives.
universityaffairs.ca
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
When social justice becomes abnormal: the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics in Canada:

“As evidence-based reforms are consistently framed as politically contentious, institutions are constrained, democratic deliberation narrows, and public trust is eroded.” Hill Times, #cdnpse archive.ph/2025.10.07-1...
Screenshot of headline and image in The Hill Times for article written by Malinda S Smith titled, “When social justice becomes abnormal: the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics in Canada: As evidence-based reforms are consistently framed as politically contentious, institutions are constrained, democratic deliberation narrows, and public trust is eroded.” (October 6, 2025)
November 13, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
acyn.bsky.social
Obama: They never miss a chance to scapegoat minorities and D.E.I. For every problem under the sun. You got a flat tire? D.E.I.. Wife mad at you? D.E.I..
November 1, 2025 at 7:46 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
“La question de la diversité des points de vue dans les universités canadiennes:
Afin de favoriser réellement le libre examen, on doit rejeter les allégations non vérifiées de crise” Affaires universitaires, www.affairesuniversitaires.ca/opinion-fr/l...
La question de la diversité des points de vue dans les universités canadiennes - Affaires universitaires
Afin de favoriser réellement le libre examen, on doit rejeter les allégations non vérifiées de crise.
www.affairesuniversitaires.ca
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 AM
malindasmith.bsky.social
#DEI / #EDI
1)Excellence Dividend: How Diversity and Inclusion Strengthen Research Ecosystems,
universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
2)Viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities: Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives, universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
October 20, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
ravoon.bsky.social
I had the privilege of spending some time with Seamus Heaney over the last week... www.thetimes.com/culture/book...
Seamus Heaney kept up a staggeringly high strike rate of good poems
The Poems of Seamus Heaney, collected together in one volume for the first time, is a record of nearly 60 years of excellence
www.thetimes.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
How Democracies Fall Apart: interview w/Adam Przeworski @dissentmag.bsky.social

“political scientist Adam Przeworski, born in Poland and now professor emeritus at New York University,is one of the most influential thinkers about democracy of the last century” www.dissentmagazine.org/article/how-...
How Democracies Fall Apart - Dissent Magazine
An interview with Adam Przeworski.
www.dissentmagazine.org
October 18, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
parkinac.bsky.social
Canadians’ views on immigration see growing split along political lines: Survey

Environics Institute finds overall views on immigration levels remain negative.

www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Thanks to the Environics Institute, @diversityinstitute.bsky.social & Century Initiative
Canadians’ views on immigration see growing split along political lines: Survey
Environics Institute finds overall views on immigration levels remain negative.
www.thestar.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:48 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
Institutional autonomy and academic freedom are vital to universities in democratic societies.

“The viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities: Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives,” University Affairs (Oct 10, 25), universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
The viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities - University Affairs
Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives.
universityaffairs.ca
October 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
bmj.com
How can inclusive innovation close the global women’s health gap?

The BMJ and @gatesfoundation.bsky.social are examining this question in a new Collection.

Join us online Tuesday 21 October at 14.00 BST for the official Launch Event
bit.ly/3WFaM1k
Launch of the BMJ Collection on Women's Health Innovation
bit.ly
October 15, 2025 at 3:21 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
When social justice becomes abnormal: the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics in Canada
As evidence-based reforms are consistently framed as politically contentious, institutions are constrained, democratic deliberation narrows, and public trust is eroded.” @hilltimes.com www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
When social justice becomes abnormal: the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics in Canada
As evidence-based reforms are consistently framed as politically contentious, institutions are constrained, democratic deliberation narrows, and public trust is eroded.
www.hilltimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
“If Canada and higher education research systems wish to remain globally competitive…EDIA is indispensable for a sustainable path to innovation, impact…inclusive research excellence”

Excellence Dividend: How Diversity and Inclusion Strengthen Research Ecosystems universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
The Excellence Dividend  - University Affairs
How Diversity and Inclusion Strengthen Research Ecosystems
universityaffairs.ca
October 12, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
chanda.blacksky.app
The Harvard Crimson is very clear about what’s happening to their campus and student workers.

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
FOOTBALL The Harvard Crimson THE UNIVERSITY DAILY, EST. 1873 | VOLUME CLI, NO. 21 | CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025 DIVERSITY OFFICES Out of Work After DEI Office Closures POLITICS Trump Claims White House Is Nearing Harvard Deal Harvard Football Beats Brown in Ivy Opener SWEET REVENGE. Harvard roared back after last year's fourth-quarter loss to Brown, securing a decisive 41-7 win over the Bears. The home game was the first in a decade to take place on a Saturday night. SEE PAGE 22 BY DHRUV T. PATEL, AVANI B. RAI, AND SAKETH SUNDAR CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS COLLEGE ADMIN Inside the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra *FELT LIKE A SECRET/ When Harvard College's three diversity offices shut their doors in July, more than 30 undergraduate interns lost their jobs and for weeks after the office closures, nobody told them. SEE INTERNS ON PAGE G XINY! C. ZHANG - CRIMSON DESIGNER President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday in the Oval Office that the White House had "reached a deal" with Harvard, before cautioning that the agreement had not been finalized. "All you have to do is paper it, right?" Trump asked Education Secretary Linda E. McMahon, who concurred. "It'll be great." When a reporter asked for more information on the details of the deal, Trump seemed to back up, saying an agreement was not yet finalized. "We're in the process of getting very close, Lindas finishing up the final details, and they'd be paying about $500 million, "Trump said. "And they'll be operating trade schools, and they'll beteachingpeo-ple how to do Al and lots of other things. Engines, lots of things," he added. A Harvard spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. neynected announce-
October 11, 2025 at 4:08 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
In this op-ed I examine the claims about a “view diversity crisis”:

“The viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities: Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives.” @universityaffairs.bsky.social (Oct 10, 2025), #cdnpse
universityaffairs.ca/opinion/the-...
The viewpoint diversity debate in Canadian universities - University Affairs
Taking free inquiry seriously means rejecting unverified crisis narratives.
universityaffairs.ca
October 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
anneapplebaum.bsky.social
Congratulations to Maria Corina Machado, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize - her incredible optimism has already changed her country. I spoke to her, and wrote about her, at the beginning of this year:
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
The ‘Anthropological Change’ Happening in Venezuela
Maduro is still in place, but a pro-democracy movement is transforming the beleaguered country.
www.theatlantic.com
October 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
malindasmith.bsky.social
When social justice becomes abnormal: the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics in Canada:

As evidence-based reforms are consistently framed as politically contentious, institutions are constrained, democratic deliberation narrows, and public trust is eroded. The Hill Times
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/1...
When social justice becomes abnormal: the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics in Canada
As evidence-based reforms are consistently framed as politically contentious, institutions are constrained, democratic deliberation narrows, and public trust is eroded.
www.hilltimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
raulpachecovega.bsky.social
In the Calgary area this week? I’ll be at @ucalgary.bsky.social giving two talks.

The first one with the Latin America Cities and Societies Group on the governance of homelessness.
October 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Dr. Malinda S. Smith
raulpachecovega.bsky.social
My second talk is with the Department of Sociology and will focus on ethnographic studies of climate migration.

Thanks to Drs. @aducey.bsky.social and Laura Montes de Oca for the invitation.

(And to Dr. Amie Kiddle and Dr. Montes de Oca for the LACS invitation!)
October 1, 2025 at 5:06 PM
malindasmith.bsky.social
Join CBC to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Watch and listen to a day of special programming on Sept. 30. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Join CBC to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | CBC News
Marking its fifth year on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (also known as Orange Shirt Day) is dedicated to reflecting and learning together about the enduring legacy o...
www.cbc.ca
September 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM