[Photograph of Lucia Lorenzi. She has long brown hair swept up in a bun, is wearing a black and grey striped shirt, and is photographed in profile, smiling.]Dr. Lucia Lorenzi (B.A. Hons, Simon Fraser University; M.A. Simon Fraser University; PhD, The University of British Columbia) is a scholar, activist, and writer based out of Vancouver, B.C. Her current academic appointment is as SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University, working under the supervision of Dr. Amber Dean. She specializes in trauma theory and Canadian literature and drama, with a broad focus on sexualized and gendered violence in literature and other media. Her dissertation project was a study of the literary and dramatic uses of silence as a subversive technique for representing sexual assault. Her current research focuses on representations of the figure of the perpetrator, with a specific emphasis on perpetrators’ own narratives. Lucia’s research has been published in West Coast Line, TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies, and Canadian Literature.
Dr. Lucia Lorenzi receiving the 2016 Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case. She is wearing a black dress and is shaking hands with former Governor General David Johnston. Photograph by MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hill
In addition to her scholarly work, Lucia is an award-winning anti-violence activist and organizer. She has blogged about sexual assault for Rabble.ca, has co-organized a community “unconference” for SlutWalk, and has been heavily involved in activism around campus sexual assault policy reform. In 2016, she served as a member of the University Expert Panel convened to advise the University of British Columbia on best policies and practices for the development of their sexual assault policy. That same year, she was recognized with a Faces of Today award for her student leadership at UBC, as well as the Governor General’s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, Canada’s highest honour for work benefiting women and girls. She has also frequently served as a panelist and media commentator.
Lucia has also worked as a graphic designer and occasional illustrator. From 2012-2016, she was lead designer and co-editor for The Word, the newsletter of the Department of English at UBC. Her illustrations have been featured in campaign materials for UBC’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Lucia’s most recent artwork will be forthcoming in The Capilano Review (Spring 2018).
Lucia M. Lorenzi, PhD 