In 2021, the College’s Education & Student Life Department adopted a new department structure, which created five new academic positions within the department – the ‘Academic Heads’. These positions are occupied by university lecturers and researchers, and each Academic Head is responsible for leading a team of Senior Academic Tutors and Academic Tutors, some of whom are senior students of St Andrew’s College. In addition to overseeing the delivery of subject tutorials, academic mentoring sessions and academic skills workshops – staples of the College’s Academic Program – they also contribute to the College’s innovative new courses and develop academic policy that will ensure the ongoing improvement of the College’s educational offerings.
We are delighted to introduce the College’s 2022 Academic Heads in this Q&A series.
What is your full title?
Dr Jason Chin, Head of Law.
Please tell us a bit more about yourself!
I grew up in Arlington Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington DC. I used to love to bike up and down the river and stare off at the monuments, museums, and government buildings. When I got older, I would take the train to the city just to feel like I was a part of something bigger. After undergrad at the University of Virginia (Honours in Psychology and Economics), I worked briefly as a policy researcher for the American Institutes of Research. Then, I moved to Vancouver to do an MA and PhD in psychology at the University of British Columbia. Smitten with Canada’s social democratic processes and new friendships, I decided to stay and did a JD at the University of Toronto. I then taught legal research and writing there while practicing commercial litigation at Dentons. Looking to re-join academia full time, I eventually took a job at UQ School of Law and now at the University of Syndey. My research interests are evidence law, metaresearch, psychology and law, and wrongful convictions.
What drew you to the position as Head of Law; what most interests you?
As a lecturer, a large part of my job is teaching. But most of that is very formal and situated in large classes. I rarely get a chance to directly connect students with knowledge! The Head of Law position gives me to chance to do just that.
What are you hoping to achieve as Head of Law?
My approach to teaching – and my passion – is to help students surprise themselves, to find interests in topics they wouldn’t have expected and achieve at higher levels than they thought they would. To do that, I would like to rethink the way our students approach their studies, from simply checking boxes, to both mastering those subjects and becoming thought leaders in their areas. Together with the other staff in the education office, we will create new skill building workshops, seminar series, and continue to provide individualised tutoring and mentoring!
What has been a highlight so far in this role?
The highlight has definitely been seeing one student’s reaction when he aced his first law assignment.
Could you tell us about your career path to date? What are some of your recent professional achievements and goals?
Since moving away from legal practice fulltime, I have published over 30 academic articles and been cited by the Court of Quebec, NSW Law Reform Commission, and Australian Law Reform Commission. I started a campaign to bring registered reports to Forensic Science International: Synergy, which was eventually accepted by the Editor in Chief, who named me as the registered reports editor. And, from 2021-22, I was elected the president of the Association for Interdisciplinary Metaresearch and Open Science (AIMOS).
What do you like to do outside of your work?
Outside of work, I love to go to the farmer’s market and to ferment.
Do you have any advice for young Androvians?
Young Androvians, find something you love to do and put your all into it. Don’t hold anything back.
Do you have anything else to add?
All of the staff at St Andrew’s are passionate about what they do. I’m glad to be working with them.