Sean Ashley

Teaching for me is a process whereby students and instructors develop together. I strive to create a learning environment where students feel safe to explore ideas within the classroom by stressing respect, understanding and the freedom to change one's mind.

I believe that teachers must be willing to change, just as we expect our students to change over the course their studies.

Religion, law, culture, inequality

Ashley, S. & Lennox, C. (2025). Chapter 8: Interviews and focus groups; Chapter 9: Field research; Chapter 11: Surveys; Chapter 13: Qualitative data analysis. In S. Hassan, R. Stevenson, C. Boydell & W. Hume (Eds.), Research Methods in Criminology: Integrating Western and Indigenous Approaches in the Canadian Context. Kwantlen Polytechnic University. https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/researchmethodscrim/ 

Ashley, S. (2023). Chapter 1: What is crime? and Chapter 8: Sociological theories of crime. In S. Hassan & D. Letts (Eds.), Introduction to Criminology: A Canadian Open Education Resource. Kwantlen Polytechnic University. https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/introcrim 

Ashley, S., & Lennox, C. (2023). Society: A Global Introduction (2nd ed.). British Columbia/Yukon Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/society2 

Ashley, S. (2022). Society: A Global Introduction. Open Education Resource. British Columbia/Yukon Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/society 

Ashley, S. (2017). Khruba holy men within Dara’ang Buddhism. In P. Cohen (Ed.), Charismatic monks in Lanna Buddhism (pp. 171–180). NIAS Press.

Ashley, S. (2016). Buddhist distinctions in the mountains of Northern Thailand. In J. C. H. Lee & M. Ferrarese (Eds.), Punks, Monks and Politics: Authenticity in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia (pp. 221–226). Rowman & Littlefield International.

Ashley, S. (2015). [Review of the book Marx and Weber on Oriental Societies: In the Shadow of Western Modernity by S. Lutfi]. Canadian Journal of Sociology, 40, 119–122.

Ashley, S. (2015). [Review of the book Durkheim: A Biography by M. Fourier]. Canadian Review of Sociology, 52, 109–111.

Ashley, S. (2014). “Sincere but naive”: Methodological queries concerning the British Columbia polygamy reference trial. Canadian Review of Sociology, 51(4), 325–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/cars.12050 

Ashley, S. (2013). Narrating identity and belonging: Buddhist authenticity and contested marginalization in Dara’ang communities of Northern Thailand. SOJOURN: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia, 28(1), 1–35. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43186945 

Ashley, S. (2012). Charisma in the margins of the state: Dara’ang Buddhism and the Khruba holy men of Northern Thailand. Anthropologica, 54(1), 71–82.

Ashley, S. (2012). Rediscovering natural dyes in Palaung communities of Northern Thailand. In M. C. Howard (Ed.), Textile Traditions in Contemporary Southeast Asia (pp. 31–37). White Lotus Press.

Ashley, S. (2011). Forward. A Journalist in Siam, by Andrew Freeman. White Lotus Press.

Ashley, S. (2008). Religion and development in Northern Thailand. In D. Wangsgard, Culture and Development in South East Asia (pp. 43–55). White Lotus Press.

CARS-SSHRC Explore Grant (Gender-Based Violence and International Student Housing), 2022.

Centre for Teaching Excellence Open Education Grant, Capilano University, 2021.

Team Award for Service and Innovation Award (Pathways Program), Capilano University, 2014.

Empowering Network for International Thai Studies Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University, 2009.

Departmental Award for Sociology and Anthropology, Mount Allison University, 2000.

Marjorie Bell Scholarship Award, Mount Allison University, 1999.