Brendan Kwiatkowski Ph.D.

Brendan is an educator, researcher, and speaker specializing in the social-emotional development and well-being of boys and men. His research spans multiple disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and education. Brendan received his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Edinburgh in 2023, where he conducted a study on the emotions, masculinities, and schooling experiences of Canadian teenage boys.

He is a mixed-methods researcher and firmly believes in positive-focused and person-centred research. His approach seeks to humanize and empower participants, while also giving “voice” to their lived experiences. He is dedicated to making academic knowledge accessible to all, as well as conducting research that is transformative and practically useful in real-world applications.

Before his Ph.D., Brendan worked as a secondary school teacher near Vancouver, BC, where he taught psychology, history, biology, and social justice. In 2016, he received his MA in Special Education, during which he created and led a yearlong social-emotional intervention program for boys with diverse behavioural needs. Currently, Brendan teaches courses relating to gender and education at the university level. He is employed at the University of the Fraser Valley in the Faculty of Education, preparing aspiring educators for their future careers.

Brendan loves nature, breathwork, cold plunges, freediving, quality conversations, and music. He is also a husband and a father to his three young children.

RESEARCH INTERESTS INCLUDE:

Research + Publications

Podcast. “Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski: Emotionality of Teenage Boys.” Hey Human Podcast with Susan Ruth, November 9, 2023.

Instagram Interview. “Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski” on Unspoken, Untold Stories of Great People with Francoise Salameh. Sept. 25, 2023.

Podcast. “Brendan Kwiatkowski on Masculinity, Strength, and Vulnerability.” Mind the Gap Pod. Aug. 11, 2023.

Podcast. “#169 Embracing Healthy Masculinity: Empowering Boys and Challenging Norms (with Brendan Kwiatkowski, Ph.D.)” Men, Sex & Pleasure with Cam Fraser. June 22, 2023.

Podcast. “Restrictive Masculinity with Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski,” Filled To Flourish. May 9, 2023.

Podcast. “Episode 141: Education’s Relationship with Masculinity with Dr. Brendan Kwiatkowski,” Choralosophy Podcast. March 15, 2023.

Podcast. ‘Teen Boys’ Emotional Lives,’ ON BOYS Podcast. Feb. 2, 2023.

Podcast. ‘Episode 297—Re:masculine with Brendan Kwiatkowski,” Inglorius Pasterds. May 11, 2022. Brendan unpacks the stories behind the songs of his masculinity concept album.

Podcast. ‘Episode 80: Masculinity Needs Definitions,’ Where Do We Go From Here? September 1, 2021.

Podcast/Youtube. ‘Deconstructing Faith & “Manliness,”’ God is Grey. May 17, 2021. Watch the conversation on Youtube here.

Podcast. ‘Episode 97: Masks of Masculinity (with Brendan Kwiatkowski),’ The puddcast, January 15, 2021.

News article. ‘Study of masculine emotions by Fort Langley researcher inspires music album,’ in Langley Advance Times,  November 19, 2020.

Podcast. ‘Masculinity and Education: Brendan Kwiatkowski,’ Small Conversations Podcast, February 14, 2020.

Podcast. ‘Reimagining Masculinity: Brendan Kwiatkowski,’ Everyday Amazing Podcast, February 1, 2020.

Podcast. ‘Justice Series: The Cause of Male Violence,’ Faith and Feminism, January 14, 2020.

The Literate Pastor Blog (website is no longer online). “Part 1: Gender in Church” + “Part 2: Purity Culture” - interviewee/co-author. 2019/2020.

Podcast. “Empathy for Boys” Modern Manhood Podcast. 2018.

Podcast. "MAN" The Liturgist Podcast. 2018. Guest speaker.

Langley Advance News: "Langley Teacher Aims to Help Education System Better Understand Boys"

CBC News & Radio: "Langley high school initiative helps troubled boys talk it out" 2016.