Department of Politics

Mattigan MacLean (on leave)

Mattigan is an MA student of Political Science as a part of the inaugural Jarislowsky cohort, supervised by Dr. Alex Marland. Her research interests include the trajectory and trends pertaining to political careers in Canada. Currently she is studying the increasing number of former political staffers seeking elected office in Canada at the federal level.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Arts General Degree comprising three minors in history, sociology and political science from Mount Allison University. During her time there she also assisted with research concerning indigenous fishing rights in Canada and disability politics in Canada.

She currently works as a member of the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Gulf Regional Communications Team, as well as being a research and teaching assistant for Dr. Alex Marland.

Her passion for political science began in middle school with kitchen table talks with her dad. She believes strongly in the benefit of studying and understanding the dynamic landscape of our own political system and is passionate about sharing those findings to inspire others to ask important questions and seek answers.

Carol Scott

Carol Scott is from London, Ontario. Following her undergraduate career at Huron University in London, Ontario, Carol fulfilled roles in various professional fields, including journalism and partnership management. Her MA thesis will focus on the connection between national identity and authoritarian governments in Rwanda.

Grace Craig (2026)

Grace Craig successfully defended her MA thesis, “Consumption and Choice: Exploring Disintermediated Media and Canadian Political Leaders,” in July 2026 under the supervision of Dr. Alex Marland. Craig interviewed younger and older adults about how they obtain information about Canadian party leaders. She found that people critically evaluate political communication, weigh its costs and benefits, are cautious about online information, and continue to value traditional news sources.

Nicholas Graham (2026)

Nicholas Graham successfully defended his MA thesis, “Closing Boat Harbour: How Putting ‘The Economy’ First Polluted Pictou for Profit,” in August 2026 under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Biro. In this thesis, Graham explores why the Nova Scotia government in 2020 passed legislation that would result in the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Boat Harbour, Pictou County, after supporting the mill for more than a half-century. He found that a constellation of factors were at play, including a changing legal landscape with respect to Indigenous rights, shifts in the political culture regarding environmental protection and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, an increasingly influential local opposition, and a changing economic landscape. Nick has gone on from his MA to enter the Political Science PhD program at Carleton University.  

Mitchell Miller (2026)

Mitchell Miller successfully defended his MA thesis, “Strong Mayors, Centralization, and Municipal Democracy: Exploring How the Centralization of Municipalities May Impact Nova Scotian Municipalities,” in July 2026 under the supervision of Dr. Alex Marland. Miller interviewed mayors, councillors, and local government officials about strong mayor powers. His provocative conclusion: on balance, granting mayors more power could be good for Nova Scotia municipalities. Mitchell began his JD at Dalhousie's School of Law in Fall 2026.

Mae Graham (2026)

Mae Graham successfully defended her MA thesis, “The Presentation of Personalization: A Case Study of Instagram Use by MLAs in Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick,” in July 2026 under the supervision of Dr. Alex Marland. Graham analyzed Instagram posts by provincial legislators in three provinces, finding that MLAs posted more about themselves than about their party leaders, challenging assumptions that centralized parties tightly coordinate political messaging and suggesting that parliamentarians retain considerable autonomy on social media.

Daniel Saunite Filho (2026)

Daniel Saunite Filho successfully defended and submitted his MA thesis, "Co-designing decolonizing learning opportunities: inspiring Canadian students to engage in epistemic resistance to advance truth and reconciliation" in 2026 under the supervision of Dr. Cynthia Alexander. His research focuses on Indigenous Peoples in Canada and human rights, with a particular emphasis on reconciliation. Daniel graduated with honours in Law (Bachelor's degree) from Claretiano University (Brazil) in 2019 and is a member of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB).

Ruby Harrington (2026)

Ruby Harrington successfully defended and submitted her MA thesis, “Mothers as a Policy Response: A mixed-methods policy analysis of Canada’s response to the 2022 infant formula shortage” in December 2025 under the co-supervision of Dr. Erin Crandall and Dr. Lesley Frank. Harrington’s thesis investigates how mothers in Canada filled the policy gaps related to the 2022 infant formula. To answer this question, Harrington takes a mix-methods approach and leverages multiple data sources, including a policy analysis, and original interview and survey data. Ruby currently works at the Nova Scotia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and is the co-author of the CCPA’s 2025 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Nova Scotia. To learn more about Ruby's experiences as a student at Acadia University, check out this story.

Gillian Brown (2025)

Gillian Brown (she/her) completed her MA in Political Science at Acadia University as part of the university’s inaugural Jarislowsky cohort, supervised by Dr. Alex Marland and supported by a Jarislowsky studentship in political leadership and media studies in Canada. Her research falls within the subdiscipline of Canadian politics, with particular interests in political communication, the relationship between government and the news media, the Canadian media landscape, and its implications for democracy. Gillian’s MA thesis examined the evolution of the relationship between provincial press gallery reporters and political leaders across Canada’s Atlantic region. This includes a study of the development and implementation of provincial media management strategies and communications techniques before and after the arrival of COVID-19. Gillian began her PhD in Political Studies at Queen's University in Fall 2025.

Chelsea Saulnier (2021)

Chelsea Saulnier completed the Political Science Master Program at Acadia University, concentrating in Constitutional law, Indigenous rights and social justice. "I completed my undergraduate degree here at Acadia in 2016 and when I decided to go back to school I knew that Acadia was the only spot for me. The sense of community that the faculty and students provide during and after you have completed your studies is one of a kind. The students and faculty genuinely care and believe in your success. While completing my undergraduate I worked for the Native Council of Nova Scotia as team leader and for the New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council as assistant program coordinator." Saulnier is now a Senior Policy Analyst with the Government of Nova Scotia.