Faculty and Research Associates

Dr. Bains is the Director of the South Asian Studies Institute (SASI) at the University of the Fraser Valley and an Associate Professor in Social Cultural Media Studies, College of Arts. Dr. Bains’ critical analysis of India’s multilingual policy and planning has fueled her interest to study the impact of language, culture, and identity on South Asian Canadian migration, settlement, and integration. Her research includes and intersects cross-cultural education with a focus on anti-racist curriculum implementation; race, racism, and ethnicity; identity politics; Sikh feminist ideology; migration and the South Asian Canadian diaspora, and Punjabi Canadian cultural historiography.

Dr. Bains has considerable years of professional experience in community development and has worked extensively with organizations in the areas of cross-cultural mental health, immigrant women, youth and families, board development, diversity, equity, inclusion, cross-cultural development, women’s rights, and socio-religious interfaith dialogue. She serves the community as a diversity educator, community developer, and community activist in the field of anti-racism and immigrant settlement integration. She is a consummate community advocate and volunteer and has assisted numerous community organizations in their development and growth. Dr. Bains continues to serve on numerous committees and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.