Rachel Woods
Food systems; power asymmetries; food sovereignty; social reproduction; climate change; social impact investing; privatization; water justice,;community-based alternatives and decolonial feminist theory.
| Degrees: | M.A. |
Before beginning your studies at the Institute of Political Economy where did you study and what program(s) were you enrolled in?
Carleton University – I did a bachelor’s in Global and International Studies with a specialization in Global Development and a minor in Communication and Media Studies.
What is it specifically that attracted you to study Political Economy at Carleton?
I was attracted to the opportunity to specialize my degree to my specific interests and maintain the interdisciplinarity that I loved in my undergrad. Political Economy also offered smaller cohort sizes, cross-listed faculty and amazing administrative support.
My areas of research interest include…
Generally speaking, I am interested in food systems, power asymmetries, food sovereignty, social reproduction, climate change, social impact investing, privatization, water justice, community-based alternatives and decolonial feminist theory.
What activities have you been involved in lately?
At the moment, I am a research assistant working on various issues of water justice and the financialization of water. I am also a part of the NGO Blue Planet Project, where I assist with social media and advocacy efforts. In my spare time, I like to do pilates, play ringette, and read!
What advice would you give to a prospective Political Economy graduate student?
Savour the process! Grad school offers so many avenues to grow and learn. Ask questions, get involved, go to socials, make time for friends and attend your professor’s office hours. Lean on your cohort and the cohorts above you. We all had to start somewhere, each coming into the program with varying backgrounds, research interests, and experiences. Grad school is equally about learning as it is about building your skills and experiences, so make the most of it!