Christina Szurlej

BA (UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG), MA (UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX), PHD (MIDDLESEX)
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
cszurlej@stu.ca

Dr. Szurlej was born in Winnipeg to parents who immigrated from Poland to flee from Soviet occupation. She is the first member of her family to pursue higher education and enjoys providing academic guidance to students. She is also a proud dog mom.

She earned a BA in Conflict Resolution Studies and Political Science, as well as a Certificate in Public Policy and Administration, from the University of Winnipeg, an MA in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights from the University of Essex (UK), and a PhD from Middlesex University (UK). Before joining St. Thomas in 2015, she taught Law, Human Rights, and Conflict Resolution Studies at the University of Winnipeg, the Canadian Mennonite University, and Middlesex University. Before being appointed as Chair of the Department of Human Rights in 2024, she served as Director of the Atlantic Human Rights Centre from 2015-2024.

Dr. Szurlej’s expertise lies in international human rights law and the monitoring mechanisms of the United Nations. She is currently lead editor and a contributing author for an introduction to human rights text titled Principles and Practice: Human Rights in Canada and Internationally with Emond Publishing, available in February 2026.