Jonathan Simmons, PhD, MA, BA

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.

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.

Secular Studies. 2024 April;

---

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

---

Social Movement Studies. 2018 January; 10.1080/14742837.2018.1434500

---

Canadian Journal of Sociology. 2017 January;

---

International Journal for the Study of New Religions. 2015 January;

---

International Journal of Science in Society. 2013 January;

---

View additional publications