Hi, I’m Madeleine (but everybody calls me Maddy).

I’m originally from Toronto, Canada (Go Raptors!) but have moved around for school and work, spending time in France, the UK, the USA (Minnesota and New York) and short but meaningful summers in Brazil and China. After fifteen years away, I’m now back in Toronto, on the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and beyond grateful to be part of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at UofT.

I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by creative minds: actors and directors, musicians, professors, writers and playwrights. Their optimistic views of the world and imaginative approaches to problem-solving inspire most of my work. One lesson I learned from my parents that applies directly to sport ecology, is that it’s possible to use the ‘fun’ thing (art, sports) as vehicles for understanding ‘hard’ or ‘scary’ things (relationships, injustice, or in my case- climate change). Art and sport are culture-makers and culture-reflectors, so they are particularly poignant sites in which to observe and influence social change.

THE FORMAL STUFF

I did a post-doc in strategy at the University of British Columbia (see my Research page for more information on this!)

I earned a PhD in Kinesiology (emphasis in sport management) from the University of Minnesota in 2020.

I also hold Master’s degrees in International Event Management (University of Brighton, 2015) and Natural Resource Science and Management (University of Minnesota, 2018). My undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Ottawa in 2014.

AWARDS

·       Rising Alumni Award, University of Minnesota (June 2022)

·       Forbes 30 Under 30 2021, Sports (December 2020)

·       Corporate Knights 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership (November 2020)

·       30 Under 30 in Environmental Education – North American Association for Environmental Education (Sept 2020)

·       Best Paper Award w/ Dr. Tim Kellison – European Association for Sport Management (Sept 2020)

·       Outstanding Graduate Research Award - Natural Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (June 2019)

·       Minnesota Women’s Philanthropic and Leadership Council, Graduate Award (June 2018)

·       Finalist – Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Three Minute Thesis (April 2018)

·       Winner – University of Minnesota Three Minute Thesis (December 2017

INTERESTS & OTHER

I spend my free time reading, skiing, and cooking. When I grow up, I want to be everybody’s favourite dinner party host.