I am a lecturer in Sociology as part of the social sciences team in the school of applied sciences. My principal research interests are in the sociologies of personal relationships with a particular interest in gender and emotion.
My research to date has looked at couple relationships, masculinities and emotion, feeling rules, working parents managing in Covid-19 related restrictions, hosts of Ukrainians and sexual health education.
I have recently become an Associate Director of the Centre for Research in Families and Relationships (CRFR) and look forward to encouraging connections between the centre and Edinburgh Napier.
I was part of the team who won the Colleague Recognition Award 2024 for 'Learning and Teaching' for changes made to Introduction to Sociology module. I was also part of the team who won the 'Public Services Award' at the Proud Scotland Awards in 2024.
I have been nominated for, shortlisted for or won a ENSA teaching award every year since starting at Edinburgh Napier University, a testament perhaps to my genuine love of teaching and respect for our students.
I completed my PhD in 2015 hosted by the Centre for Research into Families and Relationships (CRFR) at the University of Edinburgh.
For several years I was part of a working group at the Scottish Government developing key messages around the topics of Consent and Healthy Relationships.
Research Interests
I am primarily interested in personal relationships (couple and family), in how they operate, how they feel and how power operates in these relationships.
I am currently working on a research project funded by the British Council to tackle Gender Segregation in STEM subject in high school education in Ghana.
The sociology of emotion is a rapidly growing area which I am particularly interested in, both in terms of the underlying forces they have in shaping our experiences of the world, but also in how they are simultaneously within us yet formed in interaction.
If you are interested in examining these areas with me please do get in touch by email.
Teaching and Learning
I am the programme leader for our Social Sciences BA degree in Hong Kong where I have the pleasure of teaching and working with fantastic colleagues locally. I am now highly experienced in managing a trans national education (TNE) programme including achieving local accreditation and ongoing programme design.
My main areas of research informed teaching are in the sociologies of gender, intimacy, emotion and identity more broadly.
In 2024 I was shortlisted for the 'Exceptional Learning Experience' award and nominated for the best lecturer/tutor award.
I received the ENSA 'Best Academic Student Support' award for the whole university in 2019.
I was awarded the Above and Beyond award for 'Outstanding Student Experience' for the whole university in 2018.
I was awarded a fellowship from the Higher Education Authority (FHEA) in 2015.
