Dr. Laurel Weldon on Democracy, Women’s Rights & Why Social Sciences Matter

In this episode of Ship of Fools, Steven sits down with Dr. Laurel Weldon, Dean of Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, for a thoughtful conversation about democracy, women’s rights, public life, and why the social sciences matter.Dr. Weldon shares her journey from growing up in the Lower Mainland to studying at SFU, UBC, and the University of Pittsburgh, building an academic career at Purdue University, and eventually returning to SFU as a scholar, teacher, and university leader.The conversation explores what it means to be a democratic and feminist theorist in plain language, why women’s rights policies matter in everyday life, and how issues like violence against women, political inclusion, civic engagement, and public institutions shape the society we live in.Steven and Dr. Weldon also discuss the role of teaching, the value of the arts and social sciences, and why these fields deserve a stronger place in public conversation.A smart, accessible conversation about democracy, education, women’s rights, public life, and the social sciences.