Davis Vallesi

Background

About Davis Vallesi

I am a doctoral candidate in Communication & Culture at York University in Toronto, Canada. I possess several years of professional experience in various academic positions including sessional course instructor, writing centre instructor, graduate research assistant, graduate educational developer, and tutorial leader. I am currently employed at McMaster University as course director of CMST 4X03: Communication for Campaigns and Elections, while also working as an instructor at the York University Writing Centre. My doctoral dissertation, entitled "Trudeau Squared", encompasses a historical comparative media analysis of Canadian federal elections, expected for completion in 2024. My educational background also comprises a Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Digital Media & Journalism and Master of Arts degree in Cultural Analysis & Social Theory, both completed at Wilfrid Laurier University. As an academic researcher and educator, my area of specialization centres upon how the information landscape of journalistic and partisan political communication impacts the process of democratic elections in Canada. This research tends to be interdisciplinary in nature, drawing upon fields of communication, journalism, political science, cultural studies, philosophy, public relations, sociology, and psychology. During my doctoral studies, I have also developed professional experience in the areas of academic writing instruction and educational development within higher education. These skills have been fostered through my positions at the York University Writing Centre and York University Teaching Commons, with my professional approach uniquely shaped by my background as a communications scholar. As a post-secondary educator, I have developed a personal teaching philosophy that is grounded within a student centred approach, a commitment to the practical value of higher education, and a pedagogy of kindness. Within my role as a sessional instructor at McMaster University, I have refined my abilities as an educator in the areas of course/curriculum design, lesson planning, seminar facilitation, evaluation/grading, and provision of additional student suppor through office hours. Within my positions as a graduate research assistant for SSHRC-funded projects at York University and Toronto Metropolitan University, I have developed fundamental skills in scholarly research, task management, and professional collaboration. As a scholar, my professional practices are guided by a steadfast commitment towards values of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.