About

I am a childhood sociologist and Lecturer in Education within the School of Education and Social Policy, and co-convener of the Childhood and Youth Research Group. My research focuses primarily on identity in childhood and youth, the lives and experiences of vulnerable and marginalised children, and their relationships with the institutions and organisations that care for and support them. Having begun my career focusing on education and early childhood, I have spent the past few years researching the lives of children receiving social care services with a focus on children’s rights, agency, identity, and their voice in policy and practice development. I also take a deep interest in the conceptualisation and experience of well-being in childhood, youth, and young adulthood; in particular, how issues of agency and participation intersect with subjective well-being. I teach at undergraduate level within the areas of childhood identities and rights, as well as research methods and academic skills, and currently supervise three PhD candidates. I hold a diverse range of research methods within my experience, but primarily focus on qualitative and creative approaches.

I am co-leader of the R:Ideas Research Staff Association, a committee member of the SPRIG Social Policy Research and Innovation Group, and of the CSESP Athena Swann Committee at Cardiff Met. Externally, I sit on the leadership committee for the WISERD Well-being Research Network, hosted by the University of South Wales, the CRIG Care Research Interest Group Wales, hosted by Swansea University, and am a founding board member of the Tai Ffres Youth Housing Project, a United Welsh/Llamau initiative.

I am interested in supervising postgraduate students studying diverse aspects of childhood experience and identity, but particularly those who focus on well-being, participation, and identity/subjectivity. I also welcome academic collaboration on these issues.