Biography

Dr. Kate Ashley has a B.A. (Hons.) in English and French from Acadia University, where she was awarded the University Medal in French. After her undergraduate study, she completed an MèsL at the Université de Rouen before earning an M.Phil. in European Literature from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. In 2023, she was awarded a J.D. from the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, where she received prizes in Torts and Dispute Resolution.

Dr. Ashley’s research focuses on the history of the novel and nineteenth-century literary movements, as well as literary relations between France and Britain. She is the author of Robert Louis Stevenson and Nineteenth-Century French Literature: Literary Relations at the Fin de Siècle and Edmond de Goncourt and the Novel: Naturalism and Decadence. She is also the editor of Prix Goncourt, 1903-2003: essais critiques and co-editor of Carver Across the Curriculum. While nineteenth-century fiction remains her primary focus, she has recently begun research projects related to education law and language law.  

Dr. Ashley has a keen interest in university governance and labour relations. At Acadia, she has served as Acting Head of Languages and Literatures and as Assistant Dean of Arts. She has also been a member of the AUFA Executive and served on grievance committees at Acadia and elsewhere. She values academic and public service and advocacy work. Currently, she is Vice-President of Canadian Parents for French-National, serves on the Board of the Scottish Studies Society of Canada, and is co-editor of reviews for the International Review of Scottish Studies.