Journalist brings global experience to BU as visiting professor

An award-winning journalist and professor has joined Brandon University (BU) as this year’s Stanley Knowles Distinguished Visiting Professor (SKDVP).

A veteran journalist, who has travelled the world to report on major conflicts, Kiran Nazish will share her experiences through public talks as well as lectures in BU classes. Nazish is also planning to conduct research into immigrant and Indigenous experiences in the western Manitoba region.

“Brandon is an untold story. There’s so much here,” Nazish said. “Every region is unique, and I would very much like to identify Brandon’s story and share it with the world.”

Nazish has worked as a reporter in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Pakistan, covering terrorism, foreign policy and conflict. She has also reported on human rights and migration in Mexico, Nepal, India and Georgia. In 2017, she founded the Coalition for Women in Journalism, a worldwide support organization based out of New York.

“Having arrived here just in time for both the recent Manitoba election and the upcoming federal election, Kiran joins us at BU at an ideal time,” said Dr. Lisa Robson, BU’s Acting Dean of Arts. “She brings not only a fascinating perspective on international matters, but also an external view on issues that are shaping our communities.”

Named in recognition of BU’s second chancellor, Stanley Knowles, the SKDVP position attracts visiting scholars with an international reputation in their discipline to the University. While at BU, the SKDVP holders conduct academic work that compares and contrasts Canadian and global public policy, with the goal of benefitting both the University and the surrounding community. The position is rotated among BU’s faculties and the School of Music.

The standard term for the SKDVP is four months, with a possible extension to eight months. Given the scope of Nazish’s plans for the role, her term has already been extended to eight months. [Update (May 2021): Nazish’s term was extended until Aug. 31, 2020.]

“Kiran has remarkable experience and knowledge to draw from, and her career as a journalist and a professor have given her the ability to communicate her insight with both public and academic audiences,” said Dr. Steve Robinson, Vice-President (Academic & Provost) at BU. “We are delighted to have her here to fill the Stanley Knowles Distinguished Visiting Professorship, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the work she will do in our community.”

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