Academic Wintering: Embracing Warmth, Inclusion and Renewal in Higher Education

In the neoliberal university, where efficiency and productivity often overshadow the needs of the human body, winter can intensify existing challenges. For those who don’t fit the mold — including racialized, queer, menstruating, neurodivergent, or disabled academics — the colder months can feel particularly unforgiving. Yet, amidst these pressures, small acts of care and collective knowledge offer powerful forms of resistance.

This collection asks: What are your academic wintering practices? How do you and your students navigate the colder, darker days? What small comforts or creative strategies make teaching, learning, and simply being at the university more bearable — and even joyful — during this season?

Through personal reflections and shared strategies, this open-access book reveals how educators cultivate warmth, resilience, and connection within the academic community. It explores how wintering — slowing down, adapting, and embracing rest — can foster more humane, sustainable practices in higher education.

Authors & Editors:

Dr Sandra Abegglen, PhD, is a Researcher in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on online and hybrid education, collaborative pedagogies, creative teaching and learning practices, and fostering inclusivity in educational settings. Recognized for her innovative and impactful work, she has received awards for her transdisciplinary and international collaborations, which bridge diverse disciplines and perspectives to enhance educational outcomes.

Kelsea Costin is a graduate of BA Sociology from the University of Westminster and is currently a Master’s student in Cultural Studies at SOAS, University of London. As a member of the Pedagogies for Social Justice project, she is passionate about implementing collaborative and relational approaches to teaching and learning in higher education. Her time as a Research Intern and Academic Support Intern at the PSJ have largely contributed to her interests in student-staff partnerships and decolonial and anti-racist work in universities.

Dr Annapurna Menon, PhD, is a Teaching Associate at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield. She joined the Department in September 2022 after finishing her PhD at the University of Westminster in June 2022. Her doctoral research focused on the coloniality of postcolonial nation-states, specifically studying the Indian nation-state’s exercise of power in Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir. She has also published on topics relating to Hindutva, right-wing politics, militarisation, gender, and activism.

Dr Fabian Neuhaus, PhD, is an accomplished academic and researcher specializing in spatial planning, urban design, and community development. His work focuses on exploring the intersections of urban environments, social equity, and digital technologies, with a particular interest in how community-driven approaches can support resilient and inclusive cities. He has contributed to numerous international projects and publications, offering insights into the living conditions of vulnerable groups in urban spaces and developing strategies to enhance the quality of life in diverse communities. He also advocates for inclusion in design education and educational pedagogies.

Graphic Design:

Bridgette Crabbe is a Filipino-Canadian interdisciplinary designer with a passion for transforming spaces into vibrant, immersive environments. Her expertise spans graphic design, branding, photography, trend forecasting (an extreme generalist perhaps) and urban design. Bridgette holds a Bachelor of Design from MacEwan University and has dipped into the world of the advertising industry. Currently pursuing a Master’s of Planning (MPlan) at the University of Calgary, Bridgette is driven by a vision to create impactful, experiential spaces that combine visual design and the built environment to inspire connection.