Summary: Interdisciplinary scholar-performer whose research and creative work explore trans embodiment, voice, and drag aesthetics through sound technology and live performance. Drawing on trans studies, sound studies, and performance theory, I link critical inquiry with creative practice to explore performance through the lens of “trans acousticity” and collective rewilding.

EDUCATION
Ph.D., Music: Integrative Studies, University of California, San Diego 2019

M.A. Music and Culture, Carleton University 2013

B.A. (Hons.) Department of Philosophy, Queen’s University 2011

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

2023-Present Assistant Professor Tenure-Track, Harper College, Palatine, Illinois

2023-Present Adjunct Lecturer, Southern New Hampshire University, Virtual
2021-2023 Post-Doctoral Researcher, Trans+ People in Forced Labor in Canada Victoria, British Colombia
2019-2023 Assistant Professor, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
2020-2022 Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
2020 Research Assistant, University of Toronto Scarborough, Performance Ethnography Working Group, Center For Imaginative Ethnography Toronto, Ontario
2015-2019 Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Diego San Diego, California

SELECT COURSES TAUGHT

Diverse Traditions in American Music: Hip Hop, Harper College
Designed and taught lectures on hip-hop history, African-American studies, and cultural theory blended with hands-on learning using Ableton software

Special Topics in the Popular Music Industry: The Making of the Drag Industry, University of Western Ontario
Designed and taught lectures on drag history, queer theory, and cultural theory blended with a practical component, helping students navigate music technologies to make their own mixes and perform an original lip-syn

Queercore: Queer Punk Subculture, University of California, San Diego
Designed and taught lectures on queer punk history, queer theory, and cultural theory blended with a practical component, asking students to make zines about campus life and local activism

PERFORMANCE AND CREATIVE RESEARCH
Summary: My creative research operates through performance as method—using drag, noise, and electronic sound to investigate trans embodiment, sonic excess, and the social life of the voice.

Sadie (S)pins: A live electronic drag performance series exploring trans embodiment, signal manipulation, and the politics of voice in real time.
2025
Harper College Pridefest
Harper College President’s Address and Strategic Plan Launch
Harper College Summer Concert Series
WTNB, The Baton Show Lounge, Chicago

Sadie Pins: A performance practice engaging glamour, camp, and sonic experimentation to reframe transfeminine aesthetics in nightlife and gallery spaces.
Select Performances
2024
Melodramas of the Midwest, Center on Halsted, Chicago, Illinois
2023
A Christmas Pageant, Little Broken Things, Chicago, Illinois
Lip Sync Happy Hour: Halloween Show, ReBar, Chicago, Illinois
2022
Miss El Convento Rico Pageant, Toronto, Ontario
El Convento Rico Pageant Showcase
Glad Day Bookstore Drag Competition, Toronto, Ontario
2019
San Diego Trans Pride San Diego, California, Balboa Park
Chastity St. Dionne’s Charity Fundraiser for Ms. Gay Pride San Diego, The Rail
Tiger’s Charity Fundraiser for Special Delivery San Diego, #1 5th
Love Affair Queer Dance Night, Whistle Stop, San Diego, California
KC Starr’s Fundraiser for Maria Kappos Funeral Costs, #1 5th

Masc4Masc: An avant-punk collaboration using improvisation, guitar feedback, and queer storytelling to explore affect, memory, and gendered sound.
Discography
2020
"Not Another Queer Movie,” masc4masc, People Places Records (http://masc4masc.bandcamp.com/album/not-another-queer-movie) 
2018
Dawson’sCreamo demo, masc4masc, self-released.
Performances
2020
“Not Another Queer Movie,” theMusicGallery, Toronto, ON https://musicgallery.org/emergents/not-another-queer-movie/
2019
Not Another Queer Movie, B2 Art Events’ “Who Killed Cupid?,” San Diego, CA
2018
Not Another Queer Movie, Los Angeles, CA
Not Another Queer Movie, Queer Time: Two Happenings on November 5th, Ché Café CollectiveSan Diego, CA
2018
Dawson’sCreamo, IASPM Canada Conference, University of Regina (invited), Regina, SK
Dawson’sCreamo, Club DiDi, Lethbridge, AB
Dawson’sCreamo, Calgary, AB
Dawson’sCreamo, Edmonton, AB

Curated Art Events
2018
Is This A Reality Show: A Queer Comedy Cabaret at Weird HuesSan Diego, California

MISC.
2025
Faculty Band, Harper College
2024
Guitar Feedback Performance, Harper College

PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
2021
“Why Political?: Blackness and Queer Urban Geography in San Diego and Toronto” in MUSICultures 48: 29-59.
2016
“Disorienting Guitar Practice: An Alternative Guitar Archive” in Critical Studies in Media Communication: Queer Technologies in Communication 33:1.95-108.

Book Chapters:
2025
“Trans/cending Performance: Trans Perspectives on Queering Popular Music Research.” In Handbook of Popular Music Methodologies, Mike Dines, Shara Rambarran, Gareth Dylan Smith (eds). Intellect Press

Public Scholarship:
2021
“‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and lip-synching: A once controversial practice is no longer taboo.” The Conversation Canada. Published August 31st.

Currently Under Review (Expected Dates)
2026
“Toward a Trans Acousticity: Rewilding the Transgender Voice,” Transgender Studies Quarterly
“My Favorite Mistake: Fugitive Pedagogy, Learning Against and Beyond the Institution,” Serving OUR Communities: Trans Autoethnographies in Music Education, Routledge
“‘Public Relations’: A San Diego Case Study in Drag, Tourism, and Urban Development.” Iconic: Drag Infrastructures and Queer Worldmaking, eds. Catherine Evans and Nino Testa. University of Delaware Press

PRESENTATIONS

Recent Invited Talks:
2025 “Queer Circuits: Trans Histories in Electronic Music.” Harper College.
2024 “Melodramas of the Midwest,” Lyric Opera. Chicago, Illinois.
2024 “Miss Tillie: Beyond the Photo,” Gerber Hart Library & Archives. Chicago, Illinois.
2024 “Faculty Showcase: Sadie Hochman-Ruiz,” Harper College.
2024 “Spotlight: Bodily Autonomy,” Harper College.
2020-23 “Drag Fashion”: WS 2164A Gender and Fashion. University of Western Ontario. London, Canada.
2021  “Verdado talento: The depiction of drag performance, transgender labour and professionalism in Casa de las Flores.” IASPM Canada Speaker Series. Virtual
2021 “Trans in the Academy,” Society of Graduate Students, University of Western Ontario 
2021 “Beauty and Transfemme Empowerment,” Social Science Students’ Council Womxns Empowerment Brunch. University of Western Ontario.

Panels Chaired:
2025 “Queer Music Modalities,” American Musicological Society
2024 “Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in Music Education” Professional Development Seminar (Curated and Moderated) 

Select Conference Presentations:
2024 ““Female Impersonator Needn’t Fake Again”: Transitioning Technological
Frameworks in Drag” presented at the 2nd International Trans Studies Conference at Northwestern University 
2019 “A Trans Studies Perspective on Research Methods and Writing” presented at the International Association for the Study of Popular Music conference at the University du Québec au Montréal
2018 ““Why Political?”: Race and Class in Queercore Subculture” presented at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
2017 “Queercore: Queer Punk Subculture and Urban Geography” presented at ECHO Conference at UCLA
2016 “Queercore: Queer Punk Subculture and Urban Geography” presented at International Association for the Study of Popular Music Canada Conference in the University of Toronto
2015 “Disorienting Guitar Practice: An Alternative Guitar Archive” presented at The Electric Guitar in Popular Culture Conference at Bowling Green University
2014 “Disorienting Guitar Practice: An Alternative Guitar History” presented at University of Toronto

Podcasts
2025 “The Rusical Episode,” Once More, With Feeling Podcast: When TV Breaks into Song. Podcast. Virtual.
2020 “Dungeons & Drag Queens (ep. 142)” Who Invited Her? Podcast.
2020 “Sadie Hochman - Why Political?” What, Like It’s Hard? Podcast.

Trans Health Presentations
2024 “Trans Day of Remembrance,” Endeavours Health, Virtual
2020 ‘Beauties Trans Services.” PFLAG. Hamilton, Ontario
2020 “Glow Up: A Makeup Series for Trans Women.” Compass Community Health. 

HONOURS, AWARDS, GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

2025 Elke Weinbrenner Award for Student Engagement, Harper College
2023 Lynch History Grant, Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, University of Toronto
2021-2 Postdoctoral researcher, Trans+ People  in Forced Labour in Canada, Chair of Transgender Studies, University of Victoria
2020 Research Assistant, Performance Ethnography Working Group, University
of Toronto Scarborough
2018 Dean’s Travel Grant and GSA Travel Grant to tour dawson’sCreamo
2014-15 Award for TA Excellence, UCSD Music
2010-11 Maurice Dubin Memorial Prize in Composition, Queen’s School of Music

SERVICE, EQUITY, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
2025-Present Co-Advisor for Pride Club, Harper College
2025-Present Faculty Development Committee
2025-Present American Musicological Society LGBTQ Study Group, Member
2024-Present Faculty Mentor, LEAD Program, Harper College
2024-Present Chair of the SAFE (LGBTQ+) Employee Resource Group
2023-Present Co-ordinator of Trans Tea Time, Harper College
2023-Present CultureArts Committee, Harper College
2021-24 Awards Coordinator, International Association for the Study of Popular Music Canada Executive Committee