Jonathan Simmons, PhD, MA, BA

/JAHN-uh-thuhn SIM-uhnz/

Graduate Writing Advisor, Student Services - Writing Services

Contact

Graduate Writing Advisor, Student Services - Writing Services
Email
jssimmon@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-1129
Address
4-18 Students' Union Building
8917 - 116 St NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2J7

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

Academic Writing Development Sociology of Religion Nonreligion Indigenous Studies. Social Movements Writing Pedagogy Research Communication Graduate Education


About

As a Graduate Writing Advisor at Writing Services, I collaborate with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty across disciplines to strengthen their scholarly writing practices. Our team specializes in supporting writers through all stages of their academic journey, from course papers to funding proposals and publications.


Research

My research background in sociology, combined with experience teaching in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta, informs my approach to academic writing support. I maintain active research projects examining nonreligion and social movements in North America, with current work focusing on Indigenous experiences in Canada and New Zealand. This ongoing engagement with research and publishing keeps me closely connected to the challenges and opportunities writers face across disciplines.


Teaching

My teaching experience spans both formal classroom instruction and specialized workshops. As a former instructor in the Department of Sociology (2015-2021), I taught courses ranging from introductory sociology to specialized topics in social movements and surveillance. Currently, I design and facilitate workshops on academic writing and research communication for graduate students across disciplines, with recent focus areas including:

  • Grant and scholarship writing
  • Research article development
  • Academic integrity 
  • Sustainable writing practices and project management

Through both individual consultations and group workshops, I help writers develop practical strategies for managing complex writing projects and building confidence in their scholarly communication.

Announcements

Recent Publication:

"Indigenous Atheists in Canada: Challenging Assumptions and Navigating Belonging" in Secular Studies (2024)

New Research:

Co-Investigator on Marsden Fund project "Indigenous nonreligion in Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada" (2024-2027)

Upcoming Writing Workshops:

See Writing Services website for current schedule and registration.

Featured Publications

Free Inquiry. 2025 January;


Secular Studies. 2024 April; 10.1163/25892525-bja10060


Ajay Sandhu, Jonathan Scott Simmons

Policing and Society. 2023 May; 10.1080/10439463.2022.2160450


Jonathan Simmons

Bloomsbury Religion in North America. 2021 January; 10.5040/9781350971059.008


Jonathan Simmons, Ajay Sandhu

Secular Studies. 2020 November; 10.1163/25892525-bja10007


Jonathan Simmons

Religion and Gender. 2020 October; 10.1163/18785417-01002002


International Journal of Cultic Studies. 2019 January;


Jonathan Simmons

Secularism and Nonreligion. 2019 January; 10.5334/snr.112


Jonathan Simmons

Social Movement Studies. 2018 July; 10.1080/14742837.2018.1434500


Jonathan Simmons

Canadian Journal of Sociology. 2018 March; 10.29173/cjs29439


Jonathan Simmons

University of Alberta Libraries. 2018 January; 10.7939/R3GQ6RJ1G


Jonathan Scott Simmons

Canadian Journal of Sociology. 2017 December; 10.29173/cjs27297


Jonathan S Simmons, Stephen A Kent

International Journal for the Study of New Religions. 2015 July; 10.1558/ijsnr.v6i1.20430


Secularism and Nonreligion. 2014 May; 10.5334/snr.ap


Jonathan Simmons

The International Journal of Science in Society. 2013 January; 10.18848/1836-6236/cgp/v04i01/51361


View additional publications