Teaching
Dr. Helland primarily teaches undergraduate classes in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology. He was awarded the Faculty of Arts and Social Science Teaching Award for Excellence in the 2018/19 academic year. Although he is a senior member of the faculty, he chooses to teach the large Introduction to Sociology class (SOSA 1200). His view is that the opportunity to engage first-year students should be a priority of the institution and he feels this is the best way to start them on their academic path. He is deeply concerned with student retention and is a committed student advisor and mentor. His lecturers are engaging, insightful, and entertaining. Dr. Helland also teaches courses on Sociology of Religion, Anthropology of Religion, Religion and Contemporary Culture, Method and Theory in Sociology and his favorite class is Goblins, Ghosts, Gods, and Gurus, (SOSA 2291) an anthropological study of the supernatural.
Academic Positions and Education
2010-Present Associate Professor of Sociology of Religion.
2015-2016 Assistant Dean, Academic Integrity Officer, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
2009-2011 Assistant Dean, Academic Integrity Officer, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
2009 Acting Assistant Dean, Student Matters, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
2005-2010 Assistant Professor of Sociology of Religion.
2005 Postdoctoral Fellow, Gorsebrook Research Institute, Halifax, Canada.
2004 Ph.D., Sociology of Religion, University of Toronto, Canada.
1999 M.A., Comparative Religion, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.
1997 B.A. Honours, Religious Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.