Michelle La works as a qualitative analyst on the ScholCommLab’s Review, Promotion, and Tenure Project. She is a master’s anthropology candidate at Simon Fraser University, located on the traditional and unceded territories of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), and Kwikwetlem First Nations. Her graduate research investigates the economic practices and spaces of sneaker reselling by focusing on risk and speculation amongst traders in Metro Vancouver.

Since 2013, she has been involved in academic research projects that have focused on work disability policy; labour precarity and history; maternal and global health; Inuit housing policies; and urban waterfront history and renewal. The wide range of these projects is reflective of Michelle’s zeal for tackling complex issues through multidisciplinary critical inquiry.

Through the ScholCommLab, she hopes her work can contribute to fostering diversity by amplifying non-western knowledge systems and scholars that have been traditionally marginalized for recognition in academia. In addition to research, she is also passionate about teaching at the university level. In her spare time she enjoys listening to podcasts on history, science, and culture; reading current affairs and non-fiction; and catching up on sleep or work.