Keith Friedlander PhD

Keith Friedlander is the Research and Scholarly Activity Lead with the Olds College Centre of Innovation (OCCI), in addition to serving as a faculty member and communications instructor. His job is to support Olds College of Agriculture & Technology faculty as they undertake research projects, as well as helping to create more opportunities for students to experience research during their time at the College. This involves arranging training opportunities, administering internal grants for faculty and students and developing procedures for faculty to launch new projects.

Keith’s favourite aspect of working in the research division is helping early-career researchers turn an idea into an active research project, whether that involves connecting the researcher to funds or helping them develop their ideas.

His own research focuses on creative labour and representations of sexuality and gender in the North American comics industry. Keith has been an active scholar in his field for over a decade, having served as the President for the Canadian Society for the Study of Comics. His work has been published in The Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics, as well as in collections published by the University of Texas Press and University of Mississippi Press.

Keith earned his PhD in English Literature from the University of Ottawa, where he completed his dissertation on the 19th-century British writer’s market.

He lives in Calgary with his wife and two mischievous cats. When he isn’t working, he can usually be found practicing his cooking skills, drawing in his sketchbook, or enjoying a good book (or video game).