Patricia Paradis, Executive Director CCS; Sarah Hamill; and Prof. Annalise Acorn, U of A's 2014 Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate TeachingThe University of Alberta Faculty of Law would like to offer its sincerest congratulations to Dr. Sarah Hamill on becoming the law school's first Ph.D. graduate!
Sarah successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation at the Faculty of Law on October 18, 2013, and graduated at convocation on June 4, 2014. Sarah's dissertation, 'From Prohibition to Administrative Regulation: The Battle for Liquor Control in Alberta, 1916 to 1939' offers an innovative and insightful interpretation of the transition from prohibition to administrative control of alcohol in Alberta. In doing so, Sarah sheds light on an important moment of Canadian legal history, and offers crucial lessons for legal scholars on the ground-level operation of a controversial policy and law.
"The Faculty of Law is justly proud of Dr. Hamill's accomplishments," her supervisor, Professor Eric Adams says. "Not only has Sarah produced a fine dissertation, but she has fully integrated herself, by her diverse and impressive publication record, scholarly conference presentations, teaching, and service, into the legal academic community. Fittingly, Sarah was the first student admitted to the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law's Ph.D. program, and now she has become its first graduate. She is to be commended for her path-breaking at every step of her journey."
"I was extremely proud to see Sarah walk across that stage at this year's Convocation as the Faculty of Law's first Ph.D. graduate," says Dean Philip Bryden. "Sarah's success is just the first in what I see as a Ph.D. program that will continue to recruit strong candidates whose contributions will make all of us proud in the years to come."
The Faculty of Law would like to thank the members of her supervisory committee: Vice Dean John Law; Professor James Muir; Professor Frances Swyripa (Department of History and Classics); and Professor Eric Adams. Thanks too to the final examination committee: Professor Douglas Harris (UBC); Professor Matthew Lewans, and Professor Rod Wood (Chair). Finally, thanks are also owed to Associate Dean Steven Penney and Kim Wilson for all of their behind the scenes work in Graduate Studies.
Once again the University of Alberta Faculty of Law congratulates Sarah on this momentous achievement!
Additional reading:
Sarah Hamill's article 'Making the Law Work: The Battle for Liquor Control in Alberta, 1916 to 1939', can be read in the Canadian Journal of Law and Society, (citation: (2012) 27:2 Canadian Journal of Law and Society 249-266).
Sarah Hamill, UAlberta Faculty of Law's first Ph.D. graduate
Interview with Sarah Hamill Ph.D.
1. What was the main reason that you chose the University of Alberta Faculty of Law for your Ph.D.?
There were a number of reasons I decided to come to the U of A, the main reason was that after speaking with various faculty members and members of the administration I got the impression that I would receive a lot of support and mentorship as I progressed through the program. Also as a Ph.D. student access to a world-class library is always a big plus. The U of A Law library is arguably one of the best in the country, and of course working with some of the faculty's world-class scholars was a big draw too.
2. What would you say were the best experiences of your Ph.D.?
One of the best experiences of my Ph.D. was that I had a lot of support to pursue the various opportunities presented to me during my time at U of A Law. The faculty, particularly my supervisor Eric Adams, were very supportive of me sharing my research and ideas right from the get go. This allowed me to develop my confidence as a scholar. I also relished the chance to teach a first year class, as that allowed me to interact with a different part of the law school community.
3. What are the hidden challenges that you faced as a Ph.D. student?
As anyone who has done graduate studies will tell you, one of the biggest challenges is how isolating graduate work can be. However, at the U of A Faculty of Law I received generous support to attend conferences which allowed me to network with other graduate students across Canada. Also the chance to attend and present at faculty seminars allowed me to feel like a part of the academic community at the faculty of Law.
4. What advice would you have for incoming Ph.D. students and why they should choose the UAlberta Faculty of Law?
I like to think of graduate work, Ph.D. in particular, as joining a scholarly conversation and so my advice to incoming grad students would be that they should actively participate in this conversation. You should be going to conferences, publishing papers, to show that you are engaged and to get feedback on your ideas so that you can develop further. The U of A Faculty of Law will give you the opportunity and the tools to do these things, BUT you have to willing to take these opportunities! You have to be a self-starter and if you are, the U of A faculty of Law will support you.
5. Would you like to add anything else?
I would like to thank my exemplary examination committee, including my supervisor, Professor Eric Adams, as well as Vice Dean John Law, Professor James Muir, and Professor Frances Swyripa for all their help over the years. Off course, other faculty members have been incredibly supportive as well - in fact the whole faculty has been - but a special mention is owed to Professors Annalise Acorn, Joanna Harrington, and Bruce Ziff.
Sarah Hamill, UAlberta Faculty of Law's first ever PhD graduate, with Dean Philip Bryden.