Current PhD Students
Ghazal Andalib
Academic Degrees: LL.B., LL.M in Human Rights Law, Advanced MA studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights, and Rule of Law
Supervisor: Professor Valerie Oosterveld
Contact Information: Gandalib@uwo.ca
Ghazal is concurrently pursuing the Transitional Justice Collaborative Graduate Specialization under the supervision of Professor Valerie Oosterveld, Western Research Chair in International Criminal Justice at the Faculty of Law, and Acting Director of the Centre for Transitional Justice (TJ). She completed her LL.M in Human Rights Law at Shahid Beneshti University in Iran and received a full scholarship to pursue her Advanced MA studies in Transitional Justice, Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. She conducted all of her research and coursework with a focus on gender issues and the empowerment of the most vulnerable groups of victims in fragile contexts. She has previously worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Iran and other NGOs. Her current research focuses on refugee women participation in transitional justice processes.
Mari Anvik
Academic degrees: Integrated Master of Laws (Bergen), LL.M. (Aberdeen)
Supervisor: Professor Alan Miller
Contact Information: manvik@uwo.ca
Mari holds an integrated Master of Laws from the University of Bergen (corresponding to a joint JD and LL.M) and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Business Law and Sustainable Development from the University of Aberdeen. During her LL.M, she focused on international environmental/energy law and comparative contract law for international business transactions. After graduating from law school, she has worked with contracting in an international environment. Mari is currently pursuing a PhD in law focused on contractual good faith from a law and economics perspective, under the supervision of Professor Alan Miller.
Silas Buowe
Supervisor: Professor Jacob Shelley
Contact Information: sbuowe@uwo.ca, buowesilas2@gmail.com, +14378719840
Silas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education (History) from Delta State University, Nigeria, as well as an LL.B and LL.M from the same institution.
A former elected member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Nigeria. Silas has transitioned to academia, currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on Health Law and Policy, with a particular emphasis on Technology-Related Medical Errors, in robotic surgery, telemedicine and electronic health records (EHRs) regulation, Legislative Drafting.
As a seasoned parliamentarian and scholar, Silas brings a unique blend of theoretical and practical expertise to his research and academic pursuits.
Kaleigh Campbell
Academic Degrees: BA (University of Waterloo), MA (University of Waterloo), MIPP (Wilfrid Laurier University)
Supervisor: Professor Stephen GA Pitel
Contact Information: kcamp243@uwo.ca
Kaleigh’s doctoral research examines private international law’s approach to dealing with cases involving cultural objects and the extent to which private international law rules ought to be modified to facilitate the restitution of cultural objects to rightful owners. Her scholarship has been published in the European Journal of Legal Studies and the Balsillie School of International Affairs’ Global Trends Report series. She has presented at academic institutions in Europe and across Canada. Her research has been recognized with grants and awards from the Province of Ontario; the Balsillie School of International Affairs; Wilfrid Laurier University; the University of Waterloo; and Western University.
Michael J. Campbell
Academic Degrees: MHR (Manitoba), CIL (Queen’s), BA (Hons) (Manitoba)
Supervisor: Professor Valerie Oosterveld
Contact Information: mcamp288@uwo.ca, x.com/Campbell_M_J , MichaelJCampbell.ca
Michael J. Campbell is a SSHRC doctoral fellow at Western Law. Michael’s research examines Canadian reconciliation initiatives, including public inquiries, apologies, and memorialization, through the lens of affect theory. As a doctoral student, he attended the 22nd United Nations PFII as an observer delegate from ASIL.
Michael completed a practicum placement at the NCTR and holds a certificate from the Global Institute for Human Rights at the University of Pennsylvania. His master’s research was funded in part by SSHRC.
Aside from his research, Michael produces a podcast called Lex Pacificatoria where he interviews experts on international law and human rights topics.
Carol Dyck
Carol holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from the University of British Columbia. She received a Masters of Arts in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey (Middlebury) Institute of International Relations, a Masters of Law in Environmental Law (University of Kent), and Masters of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management (University of Oxford). Carol's research interests lie in international environmental law and marine law. Under the supervision of Dr. Valerie Oosterveld, Carol is writing her dissertation on the legal aspects of deep seabed mining. She holds a SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral Program. Carol’s email is cdyck22@uwo.ca.
Lina Hernandez
Lina is a dedicated legal scholar currently serving as a Policy Analyst in the Priorities and Planning Division at the Department of Justice Canada. She has extensive experience in law and policy, focusing on international law, human rights, and gender issues. Lina holds a Law degree from La Universidad de la Sabana in Colombia and a Master of Law from Western Law, where she is pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Professor Valerie Oosterveld. Her research emphasizes international law, women’s rights, human rights, and the impact of mainstreaming gender in peace negotiations. Additionally, Lina has taught Business Law, Industrial Relations, and HR Strategic Project Management at Fanshawe College. Recognized as an emerging thought leader in law by Women in International Security (WIIS) in 2020, she has also received the Legal Policy Excellence Award and the 2024 Department of Justice National Awards for her significant contributions to the field.
Ari Kaplan
Ari Kaplan, BA Hons (McGill), LLB LLM (Osgoode) is a PhD student at Western Law researching Law and Emotions (supervisors: David Sandomierski and Thomas Telfer). Ari wrote Canada’s treatise Pension Law (Irwin), winner of the Walter Owen Book Prize for outstanding new contribution to Canadian legal literature cited seven times by the Supreme Court of Canada. He is principal of Kaplan Law, Canada’s leading pension and benefits dispute resolution law firm. Ari is also a certified instructor of mindfulness meditation and leads wellness workshops for trustees, students, and communities. His book Toronto Method Mindfulness Handbook: Six Lessons in Embodied and Compassionate Meditation (Friesen), is accredited by the Law Society of Ontario for professionalism and EDI. In 2025, Ari is teaching Canada’s first for-credit course on Law and Emotions, which he designed, at University of Ottawa, Common Law. kaplanlaw.ca
Lisa Macklem
Academic Degrees: BA (University of Guelph), JD (Western with a concentration in IP and IT), LLM (Southwestern Law School – Specialization in Entertainment and Media Law), MA (Western – Media Studies)
Supervisor: Professor Samuel Trosow, Professor Bassem Awad
Contact: lmackle2@uwo.ca
Lisa’s research focuses on digital content delivery, IP, and the Entertainment Industry. She focuses on issues of access, copyright, and technology. "Fair Dealing, Online Teaching and Technological Neutrality: Lessons From the COVID-19 Crisis,” cowritten with Samuel Trosow in the Intellectual Property Journal Vol. 32, Iss. 3 (Sept 2020) and was cited in York University v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright), 2021 SCC 32. Her chapter “Public Interest, Human Rights, and Copyright: The Road Less Travelled?” is forthcoming in Future of Global Intellectual Property Systems. Lisa has been interviewed on Canadian and Indian television and Canadian radio on numerous issues touching on the intersection of the Entertainment industry and the law, AI, the Online Streaming Act, and copyright. Most recently, she was cited by The New York Times on Canadian Media suing OpenAI. Lisa is a member of the OBA, CBA, ABA, and BHBA.
Ross R-S Pey
Academic Degrees: BA Law (Hons) (Cantab), LLM by Research (Edinburgh)
Supervisor: Professor Randal Graham
Contact Information: rpey@uwo.ca, LinkedIn
Ross specialises in statutory interpretation (including comparative statutory interpretation). His thesis maps the current approach to statutory interpretation in the UK. In Edinburgh, he analysed the interpretation and operation of Brexit legislation that sets out the post-EU legal landscape. Additionally, Ross retains an interest in and has given presentations on tax law (specifically tax avoidance) and the conflict of laws. Ross was also a Visitor to the Faculty of Law of the University of Cambridge and a Visiting Scholar at the Yong Pung How School of Law at the Singapore Management University. Ross also taught EU law in Edinburgh.
Mary Ppasiou
Academic Degrees: LLB (UCY), LLM (UWO), Qualified Advocate (CY)
Supervisor: Professor Jason Neyers
Contact Information: mppasiou@uwo.ca
Mary specialises in contract law, with a particular focus on construction contracts. Her current research examines the remedies for delays in the performance of construction contracts and analyses the legal framework governing public and private procurement of construction contracts in Canada.
Mary contributed as a co-author to Fridman’s The Law of Contract in Canada, 7th edition. Mary was also awarded the 2023 Harvey T. Strosberg Essay Prize (by Irwin Law) for her essay titled “The (Un)Enforceability of Class Action Waivers in Canada”.
Joel Welch
Academic Degrees: B.A. History (Brock), M.A. Journalism (Western), J.D. (Western)
Supervisor: Professor Randal Graham
Contact Information: jwelch2@uwo.ca
Joel Welch is a lawyer and holds a J.D. degree (law) and a M.A. degree (journalism) from Western University along with a B.A. (1st Class Honours) (history) from Brock University. For his PhD, Joel is exploring how science fiction can be useful to policymakers as they address problems arising from emerging technologies with an emphasis on outer space. Professor Randal Graham is supervising Joel’s dissertation.
Previously, Joel served as a police officer and investigator with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, retiring at the rank of Sergeant. In 2012, he was awarded the QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal for community service and has been an Ordinary Member of the Royal Canadian Legion since 1993.
