Dr. Ann-Kathrin McLean

Dr. Ann-Kathrin McLean’s research explores the relationship between collective memory, Holocaust remembrance, and sites of trauma. Understanding this relationship is crucial as we see a revival in fascist populism worldwide. Specifically, she focuses on how Millennials engage with memorial sites and transfer a new form of (post)memory, namely the Zone of Transitional Memory. In the 21st century, history mediation assists in learning, understanding, analyzing, and developing memory into remembrance, bearing in mind that stories initially shared by first-hand narratives will become embedded in commemorative activities and tours at memorial sites. To help mitigate memory loss across generations, McLean investigates how visiting a site of memory impacts a more embodied form of remembrance and influences a reflexive self.

McLean has experience in several tourism sectors, including accommodation, food and beverage, events, festivals, and live theatre. She has been the production manager for international performing arts productions at the most prominent European theatre festival and obtained hotel industry experience in the Middle East. She encompasses strong administrative and project management skills from working in both the not-for-profit sector as well as higher education for over 10 years.  

She taught at Capilano University in Vancouver, in the School of Tourism and currently teaches in the School of Business at Camosun College, Victoria. At Royal Roads University (RRU), she has teaching experience in both undergraduate and graduate-level programs. She has designed courses and curricula and has experience facilitating online, on-campus and blended course formats. A key focus in her teaching and learning approach is to embed digital technologies to enhance learning opportunities and innovation in education. Competencies such as empowering learning, creating inclusive and accessible spaces as well as enabling personalized approaches to content creation and problem-solving are core domains within her teaching philosophy. With a particular focus on interactive and engaging learning activities and challenges, she brings a facilitative approach to her teaching and is honoured to have received the Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award – category new teacher – as well as a teaching with technology grant to expand on creative, technology-enabled learning and assessment designs.  

With her recent completion of her doctorate, she is passionate about growing both her local and international research networks and scholarly contributions. McLean is co-president of the Young Researchers Network (YRN), an official entity of the European Community Studies Association Canada (ECSA-C). Through this role she is providing networking and research opportunities for emerging scholars within European Studies here in Victoria and nationwide. In addition, she is dedicating her research passion to a forthcoming book chapter, journal articles as well as an applied research project in collaboration with the team from a Holocaust site of memory in Wolfratshausen, Germany.  She is thrilled to have been nominated to join the Academic Council for a 2-year term and is looking forward to connecting.