Kristina R. Llewellyn, PhD, is a Full Professor with the Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement. Dr. Llewellyn is also a Professor with the Department of History and the Global Peace and Social Justice Program.
Prior to her appointment at McMaster, Dr. Llewellyn was a Professor of Social Development Studies (Renison) and Affiliated Faculty with the Department of History and the Games Institute at the University of Waterloo. She continues to be an Adjunct Professor with the Department of History and an Affiliated Faculty Member with the Games Institute at the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Llewellyn received her BA (Honours) and BEd from Queen’s University (History and English), MA from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (Theory and Policy Studies), and PhD from the University of British Columbia (Educational Studies). Dr. Llewellyn was also a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Ottawa (Faculty of Education). She teaches and researches in the fields of history, education, and civic engagement. Her work is guided by a commitment to restorative justice principles, including relationality, appreciative inquiry, democratic dialogue, and an equitable future.
Dr. Llewellyn is an award-winning author. Her books include Democracy’s Angels: The Work of Women Teachers (MQUP, 2012); The Canadian Oral History Reader (MQUP, 2015); Oral History and Education: Theories, Dilemmas, and Practice (Palgrave, 2017/18); Oral History, Education, and Justice: Possibilities and Limitations for Redress and Reconciliation (Routledge, 2019/20); and Women, Gender, and History Education: Perspectives from Ontario and Quebec (Palgrave, 2024). Dr. Llewellyn is also the author of over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Her research has been supported by over $7 million dollars in funding (primarily as PI or co-investigator) and recognized with 18 academic prizes and awards, including her selection as a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholar, Artists, and Scientists.
Dr. Llewellyn is the Principal Investigator and Director for the SSHRC-funded project entitled Digital Oral Histories for Reconciliation: The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children History Education Initiative (DOHR). DOHR is a community-driven project with the former residents of the Home and with Nova Scotia’s Restorative Inquiry to create a learning resource to teach the public about the history and legacy of institutional racism. The learning resource includes an oral history-based VR experience, historical thinking inquiries, and restorative justice principles. Dr. Llewellyn is also a co-investigator, cluster co-lead, and Executive Committee member for the SSHRC-funded project Thinking Historically for Canada’s Future. The project examines the state of and recommends changes for history education in Canada, with particular attention to historical thinking, civic engagement, and Indigenous knowledges. Dr. Llewellyn is co-leading a national review of curriculum and resources and developing an educational framework for historically-minded civic engagement.
Dr. Llewellyn is a frequent media commentator on issues related to equity, history, and education. Her engagements include the BBC, CBC, CTV, Global, and The Canadian Press, with more than 50 interviews in recent years. Dr. Llewellyn is an advocate for engaging students, educators, and the broader public in democratizing history and co-creating paths towards a more just civic future.