Past Chairs
Since 2001, there have been 11 Chairs in Finnish Studies at Lakehead University. These individuals have come from a number of post-secondary institutions in Finland and have represented a wide range of academic disciplines.
Dr. Oula Seitsonen of the University of Oulu was the eleventh Lakehead University Chair in Finnish Studies during the 2022-2023 academic year. During his time at Lakehead University, he taught a course for the Department of Anthropology entitled Modern Conflict Archaeology and conducted a research project entitled “Finnish-Canadian homestead research in the footsteps of archaeologist Sakari Pälsi.”
Dr. Aappo Kähönen served as the tenth Chair in Finnish Studies during the 2020-2021 academic year. During his time at Lakehead University, he offered courses for the Department of History and conducted a research project entitled “Mobilization, Participation and State relation: Case of a Finnish Community in Canada, 1900–1960.” Dr. Kähönen has taught a wide variety of courses at University of Helsinki and has given courses in University of Warsaw and in Moscow Lomonosov University (MGU). Dr. Kähönen currently works for the Finnish National Archives.
Dr. Kari Alenius of the University of Oulu served as the ninth Chair in Finnish Studies during the 2019-20 academic year. The Head of the Department of History, Culture and Communications and as the Head of Transcultural Encounters Research Centre (TCERC) at the University of Oulu, during his time in Thunder Bay, he taught courses for the Department of History and conducted research on the birth of the Canadian image of Finland in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. More information about his work can be found at https://www.oulu.fi/university/researcher/kari-alenius
Dr. Jaana Laine was the eighth Chair of Finnish Studies during the 2018 winter term. During her tenure, she taught courses in the Faculty of Natural Resources Management and Department of History and conducted research on the human-forest relationship, focusing on Finnish Canadians in Northwestern Ontario. She is current a professor at LUT University.
Dr. Lauri Sikanen of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) in Joensuu was the seventh Chair of Finnish Studies during the 2017 fall term. While at Lakehead University he organized a visit from Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Kai Mykkänen, the Finnish Ambassador to Canada, Vesa Lehtonen and the Embassy's Counsellor for Commercial and Trade Affairs, Jarno Valkeapää. They attended a Biomass North Forum, organized by Dr. Sikanen, where several Finnish forestry companies participated. Dr. Sikanen taught in the Faculty of Natural Resource Management and conducted research on international technology and "know-how" transfer in the forestry sector.
Dr. Antti Häkkinen of the University of Helsinki held the position as the sixth Chair of Finnish Studies during the 2010-2011 academic year. A Professor of Economic and Social History, Dr. Häkkinen taught two courses in Finnish history for the Department of History and undertook community-based research on contemporary and historic Finnish immigration.
Dr. Hanna Snellman (University of Helsinki) was the fifth occupant of the Chair in Finnish Studies. She is currently a Professor and Vice-Rector of internationalisation, partnerships, and social interaction at the University of Helsinki. In 2007-2008, Dr. Snellman worked in the Department of Anthropology in collaboration with History and Northern Studies. She taught an interdisciplinary course for the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology called Finns: a Northern People between East and West.
Dr. Annikki Kaivola-Bregenhøj, a retired Professor and Chair of Folkloristics at the University of Turku, was the fourth occupant of the Chair in Finnish Studies. She and her husband Carsten Bregenhøj, an archivist at the Ostrobothian Archives of Traditional Culture, co-taught a course entitled "Oral Culture in Finland and Scandinavia."
Dr. Lassi Heininen from the University of Lapland was the third occupant of the Chair in Finnish Studies. Dr. Heininen and his wife Mari and their son Tarmo were at the Lakehead during the winter term 2002. He taught in the Department of Sociology. During his tenure at Lakehead, Dr. Heininen also interacted with several local Finnish community organizations and engaged in research activities associated with his research interests in northern studies.
Dr. Tatu Leinonen from the University of Oulu was the second holder of the Chair of Finnish Studies. He was associated with Department of Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and taught a course in Mechanical Engineering in the fall term of 2000. Dr. Leinonen taught Industrial Noise and Vibration Control. During his term as Chair, Dr. Leinonen also guest lectured in other academic units at the University.
Dr. Kari Hakapää from the University of Lapland was the first occupant of the Chair in Finnish Studies. Dr. Hakapää and his wife Liisa were at Lakehead in the winter term of 1998. He taught a course on International Law and Development in the Department of Political Science, and his wife taught in the Department of Visual Arts. Dr. Hakapää also led a student excursion to the United Nations general meeting in New York.