Faculty News

The Faculty of Arts wants to congratulate Dr. Malcolm Murray (Philosophy), who has been invited to contribute to an international book on the philosophy of God. Edited by Evgeny Loginov, Moscow Center for Consciousness Studies and Faculty of Philosophy, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the collection will be published in both Russian and English. Famous (in the field) contributors include Simon Blackburn, Stephen R.L. Clark, Stephen T. Davis, Robert Kane, John Andrew Leslie, Neil A. Manson, Tim Mawson, J.P. Moreland, Paul Moser, Graham Oppy, Graham Priest, Michael Ruse, Eleonore Stump, Richard Swinburne, Bas van Fraassen, Peter van Inwagen, William J. Wainwright, Merold Westphal, and William Hasker.

Another faculty member in the spotlight is Dr. Benet Davetian (Sociology and Anthropology), who has recently been published in the Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. You can also look for his new book, The Testament, on Amazon.com starting October 15th. Dr. Davetian is working on another new book currently, In the Stillness of My Mind.

Last Monday, Dr. Jeffrey Collins (Political Science) was an election night panelist for SaltWire media where he took part in a conversation about the Green Party of Canada and the “collapse of the Green support” in PEI. In addition, Dr. Collins’ has recently grabbed more people’s attention regarding his paper on the future of Canada’s submarine fleet which points to the “changing geopolitical currents and the proliferation of new weapons among the reasons why a blue water navy needs to incorporate submarines as part of its fleet structure,”. This paper is titled Deadline 2036 – Assessing the requirements and options for Canada’s future submarine force.

Message from the Dean

Now that we are back in the full swing of teaching, I am hopeful we can resume Articulations’ activities. As you already know, Articulations is a Faculty of Arts newsletter/blog outlining our Faculty’s events, research and teaching accomplishments, on-campus and off-campus conferences, etc.   

Articulations has already proven to be a great tool when it comes to highlighting our Faculty’s many pedagogical and research achievements, as well as featuring our students’ successes. 

Once again, I invite you to report any publications, conference acceptances, events, success stories, and any other news pertinent to the Faculty of Arts to the following email: articulations@upei.ca 

News from Island Studies

After nine years as Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program and Chair of the Institute of Island Studies (IIS) Executive Committee, Dr. Jim Randall is retiring.  Upon his retirement the University bestowed upon him with the well-earned designation of Professor Emeritus. Nominator Dr. Ed MacDonald (History) wrote of Dr. Randall’s contributions to both the Institute of Island Studies and the MAIS program: “He has devoted his considerable energy and abilities to both, and both have prospered under his leadership.” 

Dr. Randall joined UPEI as VP Academic in 2010, and in 2012 he became Coordinator of the MAIS program and introduced the work/study program in 2018.  He holds the UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability, is Executive Editor of and contributor to the Global Islands Report 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, published in affiliation with the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province, and recently published his groundbreaking textbook, An Introduction to Island Studies, with Island Studies Press and Rowman & Littlefield.

Dr. Randall will continue to be part of the Island Studies family, lending his expertise to various projects, and is currently curating a series of 24 COVID-19 Island Insights papers from islands around the globe in collaboration with the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance and Island Innovation. The papers form the basis of a policy initiative that will be presented at COP-26 in Glasgow in November.


Kudos to MAIS Alumnus Patrick Augustine (2009) on receiving his PhD from the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies from Carleton University. Congratulations, Dr. Augustine!


First-year MAIS student Courtney Sark published her first poetry chapbook entitled, The Dark and Light of Island Life. Her poems deal with intergenerational trauma and mental health.

From Music to Hispanic Studies

From Music to Hispanic Studies 

Congratulations to three UPEI Music students who won awards at the recent Provincial Finals of the PEI Kiwanis Music Festival:

Olivia MacPhailRotary Club of Montague Award for Advanced Instrumental
Rena Wood Scholarship
Nicholas MurphyGlenn & Maryanne Palmer Award for Advanced Voice
UPEI Music Society Plaque
Louise & Mildred Callbeck Award
Alexandra SorensenStephen Fielder Memorial Scholarship
Louise & Mildred Callbeck Award

All three performers will be competing virtually at the FCMF National Music Festival in August.

Dr. Pamela Bastante (Modern Languages) was Guest Editor with Dr. Alma Montero on a special edition for Dieciocho: Hispanic Enlightenment (Anejo 7), Fall 2021 (https://dieciocho.uvacreate.virginia.edu/ANEJO%207/) which includes the work of 14 scholars from Mexico, Canada and Spain. She also authored one of the articles in the special edition: “INFLUENCIAS DEL ARS MORIENDI EN LA BUENA VIDA DEL PADRE LUIS FELIPE NERI DE ALFARO Y EN EL SANTUARIO DE JESUS NAZARENO”.