About Carla Rice


Biography

Educator

Dr. Carla Rice currently is Associate Professor at Trent University, Ontario, Canada where she lectures in culture, psychology, and health. 

Dr. Rice has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in research methods, psychology, health, and women's studies at York University and University of Toronto. She holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, a master's degree from University of Toronto, and a doctoral degree from York University. 


Project Director

Widely regarded as a leader in the field of body image within Canada, Dr. Rice is founder and former director of numerous community-based projects. Innovative initiatives have included the Body Image Project at Women's College Hospital, the National Eating Disorder Information Centre, and Eating Disorder Awareness Week.


Consultant and Speaker

Dr. Rice is an experienced speaker and workshop facilitator. She has delivered over 100 presentations on body image and related issues to popular and professional audiences. 

Click for lectures and workshops she has conducted and for speaking and consulting services available to your organization or group.


Author

Dr. Rice is author of several academic articles on appearance and difference. She also collaborated to create popular and professional resources including: 

  • Mi cuerpo es un campo de batalla: Analisis y testimonios
  • Mon Corps est un Champ de Bataille: Analyses et Témoignages
  • Building Bridges across Difference and Disability: A Resource Guide for Health Care Providers
  • Talking about Body Image, Identity, Disability, and Difference: A Facilitator’s Manual
  • Embodying Equity: Body Image as an Equity Issue
  • Promoting Healthy Body Image: A Guide for Program Planners
Click for a complete list of her popular, professional, and academic publications, including free resources.


Awards and Honours

Dr Rice is nominee or recipient of the following awards:
  • Recipient, Trent Merit Award for Excellence in Research and Teaching, Award for demonstration of exemplary teaching and research, Trent University. 2008-2009
  • Nominee, Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2006. Top faculty teaching award for demonstration of exemplary teaching and concern for students, Trent University.
  • Nominee, Governor General’s Gold Medal Award, 2004.  Awarded to outstanding Master’s and Doctoral students who demonstrate the highest distinction in scholarship, York University.
  • Co-Recipient, Mary McEwan Memorial Award, May 2004. For outstanding women’s studies dissertation. Centre for Feminist Research, York University. Value: $1000
  • Recipient, Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), 1999 – 2000. For Ph.D. dissertation development, research, and preparation. Value: $15,000
  • Recipient, Entrance Bursary, 1994. York University. Value: $500
  • Co-Recipient, Hospital and Community Psychiatry Gold Achievement Award, 1990. For outstanding achievement in creating a continuum of services for patients. American Psychiatric Association. Value: $10,000 US
  • Recipient, Radcliffe Bursary, 1985. For travel and thesis research in England. Value: $500 US
  • Recipient, Harvard University Financial Aid Award, 1982 – 1985. Value: $8,000 US per year
  • Recipient, Jostens Scholarship, 1981 – 1982. For academic achievement and extracurricular activities. $1000

 

Appointments and Memberships

Dr. Rice currently is an Associate Professor in Women's Studies. She also is an advisor to the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty as well as a member of academic, professional, and health care organizations. Her appointments and memberships include the following:
  • Associate Professor, Women’s Studies Department, Trent University, Tenure and Promotion, July 2008
  • Associate Member, Department of Adult Education and Counselling Psychology, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Special Appointment: May 2008 – June 2008
  • Research Scientist, Institute for Women’s Health Research, The New Women’s College Hospital and University of Toronto, 2006 – Ongoing
  • Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies Program, Trent University, 2004 – 2009
  • Academic Advisor and Consultant, Dove Campaign for Real Beauty and Dove Self Esteem Fund, Toronto, New York, and London, 2004 – Ongoing
  • Faculty Member, Limited Term Appointment, Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, January 2003 – April 2003, January 2004 – April 2004
  • Course Instructor, Institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Studies, University of Toronto, January 2000 – June 2004
  • Member, Centre for Research in Women’s Health, Women’s College Hospital and University of Toronto, 2006 – Ongoing
  • Course Director, School of Women’s Studies, York University, 1998 – 1999
  • Community Researcher, Centre for Feminist Research, York University, 1997 – 2001
  • Member, Canadian Women’s Studies Association (CWSA), 2004 – 2006
  • Member, Canadian Association for the Study of Women and Education (CASWE), 2003 – 2006
  • Member, Society for Multi-Ethnic Studies: Europe and the Americas (MESEA), 2006
  • Member, International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP), 2005 – Ongoing
  • Member, Ontario Association of Counsellors, Consultants, and Psychotherapists, 2000 – 2006
  • Member, Canadian Psychological Association, 2000 – 2006
  • Member, American Psychological Association, 2001 – 2005

 

Research and Grants

Research

Dr. Rice’s research has three major areas of focus:

  • Narratives of body, identity, and difference in the passage to womanhood
  • Arts-based inquiry into everyday experiences of women with disabilities and physical differences in social and health care encounters
  • Qualitative research into girls’ accounts of body image as an equity issue within educational settings

Grants

Dr. Rice is recipient of the following research and travel grants, which have supported her body image related research programme:

  • Social Science and Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) International Travel Grant, 2006. Conference: The Fifth MESEA Conference Ethnic Life Writing and Histories. University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. Value: $860
  • Principal Investigator, Social Science and Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Internal Research Grant, 2005 – 2006. Envisioning new meanings of disability and difference. Value: $2500
  • Social Science and Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) International Travel Grant, 2005. Conference: 4th International Conference of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology. Sheffield, England. Value: $700
  • Co-investigator, Social Science and Research Council of Canada Award (SSHRC), 1998 – 1999. Community-institutional research partnerships to develop feminist research partnership protocols. Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) Proposal Development Grant. Value: $5000
  • Social Science and Research Council of Canada Award (SSHRC), 1996 – 1998. For preparation for comprehensive exams as well as Ph.D. dissertation development and research. Value: $30,000