Annual Scholars

2020 Annual Scholars

Julia Feliz
Critical Animal Studies Hilda Scholar of the Year

Julia Feliz is a resource activist, illustrator, and the author of works, including “Veganism in an Oppressive World (2017),” “Veganism of Color: Decentering Whiteness in Human and Nonhuman Liberation (2019),” and due in 2020, “Queer and Trans Voices: Achieving Liberation Through Consistent Anti-Oppression.” Julia is also the founder and lead content editor of Sanctuary Publishers. They are also the designer and creator of resources, such as NeuroAbleism.com, ConsistentAntiOppression.com,  VeganismOfColor.com, and NewPrideFlag.com. Julia holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in the biological sciences and most recently, was kicked out of Cornell University for their radical and open stance against racism, neuroableism, and nonbinarism in the field of science and beyond.

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Nathan Poirier
Critical Animal Studies Britches Scholar of the Year

Nathan Poirier is a doctoral student of sociology at Michigan State University, seeking specializations in Animal Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies. He has previous masters degrees in mathematics and animal studies. Research interests lie predominantly with animal agriculture and veganism, but extend to overlapping oppressions and intersectionality. His current research projects include examining the discourse, comparisons to vegetarianism, and potential cultural implications of in vitro meat; and the construction of animal welfare within animal science courses. In 2015 he organized a community-focused rewilding event in Grand Rapids, MI.

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Annie C. Bernatchez
Critical Animal Studies Tyke Scholar of the Year

Annie C. Bernatchez is a doctorate student in sociology at the university of Ottawa, Canada. Her field of interest is in social movement and critical studies, with a focus on animal liberation organizations. It is Annie’s third year in the program and she is currently writing my research proposal. The central point of interest of her thesis will be the everyday lives of animal activists within the current social context of state repression that categorizes such form of activism as terrorism. Annie will hold to a vegan standpoint throughout her thesis to advocate against such categorization. She also will use her position in the university setting to do activist work through speaking and writing.

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Kiana Avlon
Critical Animal Studies Lennox Scholar of the Year
Kiana Avlon is a graduate student in Westminster College’s Master of Arts in Community Leadership program. She has presented research on the rhetoric surrounding houselessness in Salt Lake City and the root causes of speciesism at the Western Social Science Association conference and the Annual North American Conference for Critical Animal Studies. Kiana continues to study rhetoric as it pertains to speciesism with a focus on countering ecofascism within the animal liberation movement. She grounds her research in critical animal studies, anarchism, and ecofeminism with the goal of total liberation. Her free time is dedicated to volunteering at local animal sanctuaries.

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Jonathan Dickstein
Critical Animal Studies Ham Scholar of the Year
Jonathan Dickstein is a scholar-activist from Philadelphia currently completing his PhD in Religious Studies at the University of California-Santa Barbara. He is dedicated to grassroots activism, regularly organizing for local animal liberation efforts and with Food Not Bombs-Isla Vista. Jonathan’s doctoral research focuses on Animals and Religion with an emphasis on animals in South Asian religious cosmologies and ethics. He currently teaches classes on the history of animal oppression in West and the concept of nonviolence in South Asian religious traditions. Jonathan has published on the philosophical and political aspects of vegetarianism and veganism in Philosophy East and West, Capitalism Nature Socialism, Food Ethics, Religions, and several mainstream outlets.
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Alex Hinchcliffe
Critical Animal Studies Cecil Scholar of the Year
Alex Hinchcliffe is a recent graduate in Geography from Sheffield Hallam University, and is interested in animal rights, total liberation, environmentalism and intersectionality. As an activist, he is involved in a variety of issues, from animal rights struggles, climate crisis campaigning to tackling food poverty and homelessness.
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Daniel Salomon
Critical Animal Studies Harambe Scholar of the Year
Daniel Salomon is a first year Master Student in Urban Studies at Portland State University in Portland Oregon. Salomon already has an MA in Theological Research from Andover Newton Theological School with Graduate Certificate in Science and Religion from Boston Theological Institute, as well as a BS Cum Laude from Salisbury University (with concentrations in Biology, Environmental Studies and Conflict Analysis/Dispute Resolution) and a Naturalist Certificate from the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies. Salomon is author of seven books on the environment and a contributor to the eco-ability field.  Salomon lives in Portland Oregon.

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Brandon Edwards-Schuth
Critical Animal Studies Topsy Scholar of the Year
Brandon Edwards-Schuth (he/they) is a Washington State University doctoral candidate in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education. Their research interests are green anarchism and social ecology pedagogies, radical democracy, and sound/podcast pedagogy.

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Alyssa Racco
Critical Animal Studies Miss Baker Scholar of the Year
Alyssa Racco is a doctoral candidate in education at York University. She has a master’s degree in education with an accompanying diploma in language and literacy. Her research interests include the education system’s role in furthering speciesist ideals, sociolinguistics, and language acquisition. Her current research intends to explore the anthroparcal messages transmitted to students via mandated curriculum. Alyssa is also a teacher with the YCDSB, TA, RA and Project Manager for a SSHRC Insight Grant.

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2013 Annual Scholars

• Critical Animal Studies Britches Scholar of the Year
  Anthony Belotti
• Critical Animal Studies Tyke Scholar of the Year
  Sunaura “Sunny” Taylor
• Critical Animal Studies Hilda Scholar of the Year
  Katie Gillespie

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2012 Annual Scholars

• Critical Animal Studies Tyke Scholar of the Year
  Tereza Vandrovcova
• Critical Animal Studies Britches Scholar of the Year
  Jessica Groling
• Critical Animal Studies Hilda Scholar of the Year
  Adam Weitzenfeld

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2011 Annual Scholars

• 2011 Britches Scholar of the Year
  Jenny Grubbs

• 2011 Tyke Scholar of the Year
  A. Breeze Harper

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2010 Annual Scholars

• 2010 Britches Scholar of the Year
  Laura Shields

• 2010 Tyke Scholar of the Year
  Vasile Stănescu

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