Rate My Professor Lise Gotell

Professor Lise Gotell is the Landrex Distinguished Professor in the Department of Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Alberta. She holds a PhD in Political Science from York University (1993), an MA in Political Science from York University (1986), and an Honors Bachelor of Public Administration from Carleton University (1985). Her academic career includes positions as Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Women’s Studies Programme at York University (1994–1996), Assistant Professor in the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Alberta (1997–2001), and subsequent appointments as Associate Professor and Professor at the University of Alberta, where she has held her current distinguished professorship.

Dr. Gotell is internationally recognized for her expertise in sexual assault law and public policy on violence against women, with research topics including women’s equality and sexual assault law. Her teaching and research focus on law and feminism in Canada. She previously served as National Chair of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF). Among her honors are the University of Alberta Community Scholar Award (2021) and the Students’ Union Award for Leadership in Undergraduate Teaching (SALUTE). She is co-author of the books Bad Attitudes on Trial: Pornography, Feminism and the Butler Decision (University of Toronto Press, 1997) and Open Boundaries: A Canadian Women’s Studies Reader (Prentice-Hall Canada, 2000; 2nd edition, Pearson Education Canada, 2005), and has published numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters on topics such as sexual consent, confidential records in sexual assault cases, and feminist legal strategies. Her work has contributed to scholarly and policy discussions on gender and law in Canada.