Graduate Student Profile
O'Neill, Rebecca B.A. (Honours), B.Ed. (Concurrent), Queen’s University
Field: United States / Canada / Cultural History
Supervisor: Daniel Bender, Steve Penfold
Thesis Topic: “Food for Thinking: The Cultural Construction of Brain Food for Children in New York City and Toronto Schools, 1941-1980”
Rebecca O’Neill’s research deals with food history in 20th century North America. Specifically, she studies school lunches in Toronto and New York City between 1941 and 1980. Her work explores the social, cultural and economic factors that contribute to nutrition and food choices within families and schools throughout the 20th century.
Rebecca is a direct-admit PhD student and holds a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. She has worked as a Teaching Assistant for HIS 271: American History since 1607 and HIS 263: Introduction to Canadian History.