Greetings/Salaams! Prior to Laurier, I was pursuing my doctoral studies in Social Work at York University, Toronto, Ontario. My doctoral research critically examined the resistance strategies and agency of LBTQ Muslim women living out their intersectional identities (race, ethnicity religiosity, spirituality, sexuality, gender identity and expression) in the Global North amongst the hegemonic norms existing in both normative Muslim and LGBTQ communities. 

My cumulative social work practice has ranged in interdisciplinary non-profit (community, clinical, youth justice, educational) settings with a myriad of individuals and communities. I bring over 10 years of clinical and community-based expertise in mental health and recovery, substance use and addictions, suicide prevention and crisis management, VAW, poverty and homelessness with many diverse individuals and communities such as LGBTQs, women, youth, children and adults. I have taught graduate and undergraduate courses at York University in Social Work, and also in the Social Service Worker Diploma Programs at Centennial and Seneca Colleges. 

In my research and teaching (pedagogically and politically), I draw on interdisciplinary critical perspectives such as: anti-colonial thought and postcolonialism, intersectionality theory, critical race and transnational feminisms, critical social work, structural and AOP social work practice and liberatory/emancipatory and decolonizing approaches. I engage mostly in the qualitative tradition and mixed methods research (ethnographic and narrative; feminist and queer methods). I am also an academic researcher with the Manulife Centre for Community Health Research (MCCHR).

In my research and teaching (pedagogically and politically), I draw on interdisciplinary critical perspectives such as: anti-colonial thought and postcolonialism, intersectionality theory, critical race and transnational feminisms, critical social work, structural and AOP social work practice and liberatory/emancipatory, decolonizing approaches. I engage mostly in the qualitative tradition and mixed methods research (ethnographic and narrative; feminist and queer methods).

My research interests and areas of expertise include community-based research, community development and clinical counselling with the following individuals and communities: LGBTQ+ Muslims in the Global North; Racialized Trans and gender-variant persons and access to healthcare; Racialized, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities; Violence against women and gender variant persons; Non-normative sexualities, gender identities and expressions; substance use, addictions, mental health and sanism; Visible and invisible (dis)abilities, neurodiversity and ableism; Social policy, service and program provision to gender and sexually diverse persons and communities; Race, racialization and imperialism; Sexual minorities and Islam; Religiosity, spirituality and social work practice; Homeless and street involved persons in sex work; and Intersectional identities, identity politics. 

At the present time, I am involved in the following research projects: 

Co-Principle Investigator, Exploring the Health, Wellness, Safety, Service Access, and Minority Stressors across the Lifecourse of 2SLGBTQ+ in the Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada: A Mixed-Methods Ecosocial Study, Wilfrid Laurier University 

• This community-based research supports the AIDS Committee Of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area (ACCKWA) undertake a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data which assesses the health, wellness, intersectional experiences, minority stressors, and social determinants of health of non-binary and racialized persons 2SLGBTQ+ people in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Funded by Catalyst Grant: Community-Led Research on LGBTQIA/2S Wellness Through an Intersectional Lens, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) $90, 061

Co-Investigator, Interdisciplinary LGBTQ/2S HEALTH Hub: Healing Through Education and Awareness in Stigma Reduction and Lifecourse Training in Health, Wilfrid Laurier University 

• The 2SLGBTQ+ Hub will serve as a national platform for training, mentorship, networking, and capacity-building for diverse early career researchers, trainees, healthcare professionals and service providers, government, and community-based stakeholders
• The aim of the Hub is to tackle a major training and capacity gap in intersectional and community-informed 2SLGBTQ+ health and community interventions, including stigma reduction and health promoting interventions and interventions with and for Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour queer communities across the lifecourse
• My role as mentor is to train 1-3 (fellows, trainees, and mentees) per year for 6 years who will be matched based on shared specific life experiences, identities, or areas of interest related to 2SLGBTQ+ health as it relates to Racialized and Queer Muslim communities in Canada
• Funded by Health Research Training Platform (HRTP) Pilot Competition, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)  $399, 277

Principle Investigator, Service Needs of Sexually & Gender Diverse Muslims and Their Families: A Partnership with Salaam Canada, Wilfrid Laurier University 

• Qualitative research examining relationships between queer Muslims and their families and kin in Canada; in partnership with Salaam Canada
• Website: https://muslimfamiliesresearch.ca/ ; Funded by SSHRC, Partnership Engage Grant $24, 204

Principle Investigator, Supporting Sexually and Gender Diverse Muslims in Social Work Project, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University 

• Qualitative research examining the unique social service and programming needs of queer Muslims in Canada; in partnership with Salaam Canada
• Website: https://ssgdmuslimssw.ca/ ; Funded by SSHRC, Insight Development Grant $41, 524

• CBRCanada Emerging Community-Based Researcher Award, Community Based Research Canada (CBRCanada) Feb. 2021 -$1000 (Competitive National Award)

I am willing to supervise graduate students in areas related to my research interests. Please contact me by email for more information.

Selected Publications 

Chapters in books

1. Khan, M. (2021). Working with Muslim LGBTQ Service Users: Assessing and Locating Supportive Care and Teaching Practices. In (Ed.). S. Hillock, Teaching About Sex and Sexualities in Higher Education. Toronto, ON: UofT Press. (peer reviewed)
2. Shah, S., Khan, M., & Abdel-Latif, S. (2021). Decolonizing Muslim Same-Sex Relations: Reframing Queerness as Gender Flexibility to Build Positive Relationships in Muslim Communities. In (Ed.), N. Pasha-Zaidi, Developing a Positive Psychology of Islam and Muslims. Springer Publishing. (peer reviewed)
3. Khan, M. (2021). Sexually Diverse Muslim Women Converts: Where Do They Stand? In (Ed.), N. Pasha-Zaidi, Developing a Positive Psychology of Islam and Muslims. Springer Publishing. (peer reviewed)
4. Vance, K., Mulé, N.J., Khan, M. & McKenzie, C. (2018). The rise of SOGI: Human rights for LGBT people at the United Nation. In N. Nicol, A. Jjuuko, R. Lusimbo, N.J. Mulé, S. Ursell, A. Wahab and P. Waugh (Eds.), Envisioning global LGBT human rights: (Neo)colonialism, neoliberalism, resistance and hope (pp. 223-246). London: Institute of Commonwealth Studies/Human Rights Consortium. (peer reviewed)
5. Khan, M. (2016). Queering Islam through ijtihad. In S. Hussain (Ed.), The Muslimah who fell to earth: Personal stories by Canadian Muslim Women, (pp. 23-32). Toronto, ON: Mawenzi House Publishers. (peer reviewed)
6. Khan, M. (2016). Coming out with God in social work? Narrative of a queer religious woman in the academe. In S. Hillock and N. J. Mulé (Eds.), Queering Social Work Education (pp.186-212). Toronto: UBC Press. (peer reviewed)

Articles in refereed journals

1. Khan, M. & Absolon, K. (2022). Conversations on a Bridge: Reflections of an Indigenous and Racialized Scholar Opposing Whiteness in Social Work Education and Practices. The Canadian Social Work Review / Revue canadienne de service social (CSWR-RCSS), 38(2), 159–178. https://doi.org/10.7202/1086124ar

2. Cox, E., Warren, T., Khan, M., Wilson, C., Cameron, R., Davis, C., Coleman, T., Steffler, J., Coulombe, S., & Woodford, M. (2022). Experiences of discrimination and its impacts on well-being among racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers living in waterloo region, Ontario, Canada. Health & Social Care in the Community, 00, 1–9. https://doi. org/10.1111/hsc.1374 

3. Khan, M., Dias, G., & Thompson, A. (2021). Mapping out Indigenous and Racialized Critical Community-based Perspectives and Experiences in the Time of COVID. Intersectionalities: A Global Journal of Social Work Analysis, Research, Polity, & Practice, 9(1), 188–198. 

4. Khan, M. & Mulé, N.J. (2021). Voices of Resistance and Agency: LBTQ Muslim Women Living Out Intersectional Lives in North America. Journal of Homosexuality, 68(7), 1144-1168, doi: 10.1080/00918369.2021.1888583

5. McKenzie, C., Mulé, N.J., & Khan, M. (2021). Where Is LGBTQ+  in Ontario's Health Care Policies and Programs? Sexuality Research and Social Policy Journal, 22, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s13178-021-00577-8

6. Mulé, N. J., Khan, M., & McKenzie, C. (2019). Queering Canadian social work accreditation standards and procedures: A content analysis. Journal of Social Work Education, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/02615479.2019.1648408

7. Khan, M. (2019). A social work perspective on Indigenous knowledges, anticolonial thought and contemplative pedagogy: Thoughts on decolonization and resistance. Journal of Critical Anti-Oppressive Social Inquiry, (2). 18-46.

8. Mulé, N. J., Khan, M., & McKenzie, C. (2017). The growing presence of LGBTQIs at the UN: Arguments and counter-arguments.  Journal of International Social Work, 1-13. doi: 10.1177/0020872817702706 

Media and creative outputs

1. Invited interview on ‘Being queer and Muslim’ on Toronto’s Radio Station CIUT 89.5FM on Feb 7, 2022 at 11.00 am on ‘The Radical Reverend Show with Dr. Cheri DiNovo’. Accessed at: https://soundcloud.com/cheri-dinovo/michael-erickson-and-maryam-khan?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

2. Interview with CTV Kitchener News at 5 pm on July 8, 2021: ‘A WLU researcher has been lauded for her research with sexually and gender diverse Muslims’. Accessed at: https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?cid=sm%3Atrueanthem%3Actvkitchener%3Atwitterpost&clipId=2238195&taid=60e7604ffdc7d300011fdb34&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter ; https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2238195&jwsource=cl
3. My research was featured in a podcast released by Laurier Radio on June 14, 2021titled, ‘In Conversation: Pride, Research and Community’; also in WLU’s “Pride Guide 2021: Faculty and Administration Resource.” This initiative came from the Office of the AVP EDI.

• SK 545 Introduction to Ethical Thought and Reflexive Practice
• SK 621 Reflexive Practices
• SK 501 Approaches to Community Organizing and Group Practices
• SK 545 Introduction to Ethical Thought and Reflexive Practice
• SK 508 Reflective Group and Community Practice