About

Linda Mussell is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch/Ōtautahi, New Zealand/Aotearoa). Originally from Canada, she completed her BA and MPP at Simon Fraser University, PhD at Queen’s University, and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Ottawa.

Lin’s teaching and research interests are centred broadly in the political science subdiscipline of public policy. Of focus in her work is social policy, meaning policies that seek to meet or respond to human needs, in countries including New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. More specifically, her work focuses on carceral politics, policies, and institutions—those that centre dynamics of punishment, surveillance, separation, isolation, and rehabilitation. This includes studying issues of imprisonment, policing, state guardianship, and involuntary hospitalization.

The purpose of this website is to share and encourage knowledge building. Lin welcomes requests for research collaborations, community work, supervision, media and speaking opportunities, and copies of publications. Please feel free to reach out using the contact page.