Lou Raisonnier has won the 2024-2025 J.H. Stewart Reid Memorial Fellowship. The $5,000 scholarship honours the memory of CAUT’s first executive secretary.
Raisonnier is in the fourth year of a doctoral program at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. She is a visiting fellow at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics at Sciences Po Paris. Her research focuses on the French security and administrative institutions’ handling of the return of women involved with the Islamic State organization in the Iraqi Syrian zone.
She has presented her research at Sorbonne University, the Harriman Institute at Columbia University, the University of Naples Federico II, and the International Studies Association conference in San Francisco.
What drives you?
I’m proud to be a first-generation university student. I am motivated by the sacrifices my parents made for my education. Their dedication inspires me to achieve my goals, honour their efforts, and pave the way for future generations to pursue their dreams with determination and purpose.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in academia?
The biggest lesson I learned in academia is that women scholars should trust their insights and hunches. Many women, including myself, have doubted their analyses out of fear of not being intelligent enough. They shouldn’t, as their perspectives are often incredibly insightful and valuable.
Tell us about a teacher or mentor who made an impact on you or set you on your present path.
My French teacher in high school made an impact on me. I appreciated her honesty about my work. Her feedback was neither too strict nor too lenient. She encouraged me to strive for improvement and always better myself. I am grateful.
What career highlight are you most proud of?
The highlight of my academic career has been my fieldwork experience. It was incredibly fulfilling and enriching, and I believe the data set I gathered is significant. This experience enhanced my skills but also deepened my passion for my field.