Temitope Oriola, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Terrorism studies policing and use of force and kidnapping.

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About

• Professor of Criminology & Sociology
• Associate Dean Research, College of Social Sciences and Humanities (Faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Law)
• Former Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies), Faculty of Arts
• Former Special Adviser to the Government of Alberta on Police Act Review  
• Past President, Canadian Sociological Association (CSA)
• Former president, Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS)
• Member, Board of Directors, Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
• Former Joint Editor-in-Chief, African Security
• Former Chair, University of Alberta Press Committee
• Former Interim Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Alberta
• Columnist, Edmonton Journal

Temitope Oriola is an internationally recognized scholar in the field of criminology and terrorism studies. He has established a strong reputation as an expert on police reform. A public intellectual engaged in impactful work, Oriola's research has garnered national and international recognition as well as awards from community-based organizations. Professor Oriola served as special adviser to the Government of Alberta on Police Act Review and produced recommendations that were passed into law through The Police Amendment Act, 2022. A recipient of the Governor General of Canada Academic Gold Medal (first presented in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin), Oriola’s book Criminal Resistance? The Politics of Kidnapping Oil Workers is one of a small number of book-length sociological investigations of political kidnapping in the English language. Professor Oriola’s research focuses on policing & use of force by police, terrorism studies, and resource-related conflict (involving tactics like political kidnappings). Publications from his research appear in leading scholarly journals, such as Sociology (the flagship journal of the British Sociological Association), the British Journal of Criminology, African Affairs, Critical Studies on Terrorism, African Security, Third World Quarterly, Review of African Political Economy, Criminal Justice Ethics, and Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, among others.  Oriola regularly contributes to public scholarship through keynotes, op-eds, media interviews and expert opinions. His expert perspective has been engaged by thinktanks and/or media organizations in countries like Australia, the US, Canada, Nigeria, Senegal, South Korea and China, etc.  

Awards & Recognitions (selected)

• Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for ‘exceptional qualities and outstanding service to our province in the field of Advanced Education and Public Service.’
• J. Gordin Kaplan Award for Excellence in Research, the University of Alberta’s ‘most prestigious research award, given to scholars who have achieved national and international recognition for their scholarly achievements’.
• Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations (CAFA) Distinguished Academic Award for  'Recognizing an academic staff member, or group of staff members, who through their research and/or other scholarly, creative or professional activities have made an outstanding contribution to the wider community beyond the university.' 
• Gerald L. Gall Human Rights Award 'For outstanding contribution to and demonstrated excellence in the protection and promotion of human rights in Canada through legislative change.' 
• Arts Research Excellence Award (Associate Professor Category), Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta.
• Rosalind Smith Award, National Black Coalition of Canada for 'Exceptional and prolonged service from individuals or groups from the Black Community working in any profession.' 
• Honour Award, University of Alberta Alumni Association for 'significant achievements and contributions over a number of years by University of Alberta alumni to their profession and/or their community.' 
• Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship, Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Institute of International Education (twice)
• Professional of the Year Award, Diversity Magazine, Alberta.
• Kathleen W. Klawe Prize for Excellence in Teaching of Large Classes, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta.
• Governor General of Canada Academic Gold Medal (first presented in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin, Canada's third Governor General)

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Research

Professor Oriola is currently working on a number of research projects. For example, he is principal investigator of a national study on 'The School Resource Officer (SRO) program in Canada' funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Centre (SSHRC) Insight Grant. [$285,958]. Co-investigators are based in universities across Canada. Oriola is also PI on another SSHRC funded study, 'Failure to detonate: Gender and inchoate suicide missions' (with Andy W. Knight). 

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Teaching

Oriola teaches courses such as "Power, Inequality and Crime"; "Sociology of Terrorism", "Criminology"; and "Youth, Crime and Society", among others. 

Temitope Oriola

UK. 2021 April; 120 (479):147-175

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Temitope Oriola

2020 September;

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Temitope Oriola, Kevin Haggerty, Andy W. Knight

African Security. 2013 July; 6 (1):67-96

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Medinat Abdulazeez, Temitope Oriola

Third World Quarterly. 39 (1):19

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Temitope Oriola

Review of African Political Economy. 43 (149):18

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Temitope B. Oriola, Olabanji Akinola

Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 41 (8):595-618

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Oriola, Temitope B., Heather Rollawagen, Nicole Neverson, Charles T. Adeyanju

Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice. 58 (4):530-564.

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Temitope Oriola

Criminal Justice Ethics. 35 (2):24

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Temitope Oriola, Kevin Haggerty

Sociology. 46 (3):540-548

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Temitope Oriola

British Journal of Criminology. 52 (3):21

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Temitope Oriola, Nicole Neverson, Charles Adeyanju

Social Identities. 18 (1):65-83

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Temitope Oriola

Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 40 (2):23