James L. Turk

James L. Turk is the Director of the Centre for Free Expression at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. The Centre is a hub for public education, research and advocacy on free expression and the public’s right to seek, receive and share information. The Centre organizes public events on issues related to free expression, has a blog on which many of Canada’s top experts on free expression regularly participate, is a leading advocate for legislative changes that advances free expression and the public’s right to know, undertakes research in key issues related to free expression, and is Canada’s foremost organization regarding all aspects of whistleblowing.

Immediately before coming to Ryerson in 2014, Jim spent 16 years as the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, where he was recognized for building an association that represents over 70,000 academic and general staff from across Canada, for defending academic freedom, and for his contributions to post-secondary education. Prior to his work at CAUT, he held senior positions in the Canadian trade union movement and was an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, teaching Canadian studies and labour studies.

Jim received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto, his M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, his A.B. (magna cum laude) from Harvard University, and was a Knox Fellow at Cambridge University. He has received a number of awards for his work. His most recent book is an edited collection, Academic Freedom in Conflict: The Struggle over Free Speech Rights in the University.