Teaching

I bring more than a decade of experience teaching across universities, colleges, and secondary schools in Canada. My approach combines historical research, experiential learning, digital tools, and public-facing assignments to help students develop critical thinking, analytical depth, and the ability to connect historical questions to contemporary social and global issues. Across in-person, hybrid, and online environments, I have designed courses, curricula, assessments, and collaborative projects. My teaching emphasizes inquiry, accessibility, and applied learning, with students producing podcasts, digital projects, research publications, and community-engaged work for audiences beyond the classroom.


Adjunct Professor
Historical Studies Department, University of Toronto Mississauga
Sep 2021 – Present

Designed and taught undergraduate courses across multiple year levels and delivery formats, with student evaluations ranging from 4.0 to 5.0/5.0.

Developed curricula, assessments, and experiential assignments integrating archival sources, oral histories, digital projects, and community-based learning. Partnered with local organizations and guest contributors to extend learning beyond the classroom and connect historical research with public audiences.

Courses have included:

  • Introduction to Diaspora and Transnationalism II
  • What is Canada?
  • Canada: A Short History of Here
  • Diasporic Canada
  • Immigration to Canada

Assistant Professor (LTA)
History Department, Mount Allison University, New Brunswick
2025 – 2026

Taught approximately 100 students across upper-level courses with a focus on transnational and global histories, with enrolments exceeding capacity in several courses and roughly 40% of students continuing into second-semester offerings.

Designed and led experiential, public-facing projects and guided student-led podcasts, digital research, peer-reviewed publications, and conference-style posters in collaboration with community partners. Co-created the Mount Allison History Student Works platform with Dr. Dani Inkpen to showcase this work beyond the classroom.

Courses included:

  • Modern Canada
  • Migration in Canadian History
  • Canada after 1871
  • Canadian Working Class and Labour History
  • New France

Humanities Instructor
Philopateer Christian College, Mississauga, Ontario
2023 – 2025

Adapted ministry-approved curriculum to deliver university-preparatory humanities and social sciences courses for in-person and online learners, including English, social sciences, law, world issues, and religion. Integrated digital learning tools, led project-based learning tied to contemporary civic and global issues, and delivered skill-building workshops. Supported students in establishing the school’s Model United Nations program and served as faculty advisor.


Adjunct Professor
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sheridan College
2022 – 2023

Developed and taught interdisciplinary courses in world history and philosophy of religion across online and hybrid formats, emphasizing ethical reasoning, accessibility, and connections between historical inquiry and contemporary societal issues.

Courses included:

  • Philosophy of Religion
  • Intersections of World History

Course Director and Teaching Assistant
Department of History, York University
2014 – 2020

Designed and taught an upper-level seminar in Canadian social and cultural history and previously led tutorials in global and comparative history. Achieved consistently high evaluations, above faculty average. Responsibilities included curriculum development, assessment, seminar facilitation, skills development workshops, and course administration.

Courses included:

  • Themes in Canadian Social & Cultural History
  • Culture and Power in the Americas
  • The Twentieth Century: A Global Perspective


Testimonials

“I graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honoured Bachelor of Arts with distinction, and I will be traveling to the London School of Economics to pursue my Master’s degree in International Relations. I want to express my sincere gratitude for your excellent teaching and generous support in my research projects and graduate school applications for the past two years, as your assistance has helped me greatly in pursuing my success and future development. I wish you and your love ones all the best! Sincerely”. — Q.

“Dr. Michael Akladios has served as a professor, advocate, and mentor in such profound ways. He exhibits a positive rapport with students, building an atmosphere of trust and openness that cultivates community and intellectual risk-taking. He utilizes a variety of approaches to encourage student collaboration, evaluation, and critical discourse. He encourages students to take an interdisciplinary approach and methodology when tackling aspects of assignments, which is always helpful. I developed critical thinking skills when taking interdisciplinary viewpoints. Dr. Akladios encouraged me to apply for MA and Doctoral fellowships. I brainstormed ideas with Dr. Akladios regarding my SSHRC application and I was successful in receiving SSHRC doctoral funding. Dr. Akladios was responsive to my learning needs and concerns. He was always accessible outside of class hours to answer questions about assignment guidelines. He is an exemplary mentor to students because he always answered his emails and was willing to discuss themes of Canadian history outside the course syllabus. I received a Bachelor, and Master’s degree and started the Ph.D. because of Dr. Akladios’ role in my learning development. His passion for teaching and supporting students inspires me to become more involved in the York University community.” — S.

“Before taking his course, I felt ambivalent about Canadian immigration. Professor Akladios successfully changed my perspective. He taught the course as a guided accompaniment to each student’s individual historical curiosity. Each student’s essay was different because the course encouraged individual investigation alongside thought-provoking lectures. I also really enjoyed the classroom discussions he facilitated. I noticed that more students than usual were comfortable participating. In fact, some of these classmates were in my other classes too, but I only heard them speak in Professor Akladios’ class. Every student, regardless of attendance or participation, was respected and valued. Finally, I must acknowledge the guidance Professor Akladios provided me after the completion of the course. I reached out to him to inquire about an essay prize. He not only encouraged me to enter but enthusiastically submitted my paper on my behalf. My paper was published in the Undergraduate History Journal, largely due to the excellent feedback I received. Professor Akladios is a top-notch historian, educator, and a really kind person.” — M.

“Despite my academic background in sociology and human geography rather than history, I received exceptional support in analyzing primary sources and developing historical perspectives. Dr. Akladios fostered an inclusive environment and encouraged independent analysis, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement with immigrant histories—especially those of women. His scaffolding approach to the research project, along with insightful feedback, allowed me to write a paper I am proud of, currently under review for publication. Outside the classroom, his guidance during office hours helped shape my research question, and even after the course ended, he continued to support me by writing a letter endorsing my paper for publication. I am immensely grateful for his ongoing support and mentorship.” — T.

“Professor Akladios would conduct primary resource analysis workshops, where he would give us students the tools to interpret archival material like a historian. This created a sophisticated and seminar-like classroom environment, which is impressive when done amongst a class of more than 50 students. Furthermore, I am relatively quiet and shy, and sometimes it is not easy to share my thoughts in lectures. Occasionally, I would email Professor Akladios my thoughts on reading materials or a lecture discussion from class. This way, I got to show my engagement with the course materials he assigned. Professor Akladios’ lectures and demonstrations were in-depth and engaging, and I felt confident in how I would go about them throughout the semester. Professor Akladios was very attentive. After every class, there would be a lineup of students, and he would speak to each of them, one at a time, with his full attention. Professor Akladios has been extending his guidance and support well after the course’s end. He has been a critical contributor to my choice to pursue a career in academia, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to take his course.” — N.

“I appreciated how understanding and approachable you are with questions. It’s very clear that you are passionate about what you’re teaching, and you are willing to put in the effort to make sure we understand the material. Also, just as a fun fact, I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this course has opened so many conversations up with other people. I work in the service industry and I often bring my schoolwork with me and more than once I’ve been working on work for this class and when I’ve told customers what the course is about they have been very intrigued and eager to tell me about their different views on the ideas of diaspora and immigration in Canada. I feel like this course has given allowed me to really use my knowledge out in the real world and gain a better understanding of immigration. Thank you”. — H.

“Thank you Dr. Akladios for all your efforts with the kids and the Model UN experience. I just want to let you know that your presence in our kids’ lives has a tremendous impact. Very grateful that N. is getting mentorship and guidance that is shaping her in the way she is becoming to be. Lots of lawyers, politicians and public speakers will come out of PCC because of you. Thank you!” — Mrs. R.