ÌÇÐÄTV

I am proud to be the first teaching-focused Professor in the History Department.

My scholarly specialisms are in interdisciplinary nineteenth-century American and British histories and American studies pedagogies. My PhD considered the role of lynching during the era of slavery, and the intersections of race and manhood in the lives of white men in the American South. My second project investigated the representation of slavery in twentieth and twenty-first century American cinema. My current projects include: the history of an incident of sexual violence in a rural community in England; the editing of a collection of essays about teaching American Studies in Britain; various pieces of writing about decolonisation of both history and American studies; and the editing of a special retrospective issue of the Journal of American Studies.

I am a committed teacher and educator, and am a Senior Fellow of the . I teach African American history and the history of whiteness, and I am committed to anti-racist pedagogies. In 2020, my module 'America in Black and White?' won the inaugural . I am one of the facilitators of the Tackling Racial Inequality at ÌÇÐÄTV Staff Development Programme, which in 2022 was both a Runner Up for the ÌÇÐÄTV Social Inclusion Staff Award and Commended in the ÌÇÐÄTV Awards for Teaching Excellence Collaborative Awards. In 2023 I achieved a Postgraduate Award in Interdisciplinary Pedagogy, with Distinction.

I am an Alumni Fellow of the ÌÇÐÄTV International Higher Education Academy. I have served in various administrative roles for the History Department, including Director of Student Experience, Study Abroad Coordinator, Director of Final Year Studies, Chair of the Social Inclusion and Diversity Committee, Student Voice Lead, and Examinations Secretary.

From 2022 to 2025 I was Chair of the , after three years as Vice-Chair of the organisation and Chair of the Development and Education Subcommittee. From 2017-2023 I managed the . In 2019, I was the lead organiser of the first inaugural Teaching American Studies Conference held at ÌÇÐÄTV. In 2020 I established the , which I led until 2025.

From 2011 to 2018 I served on the committee for the , including as Secretary from 2012-2016. I also served on the Memberships Committee for the from 2022-2025.

In 2022 I was elected as a .

I would be willing to discuss potential PhD supervision with students interested in the history of US slavery, whiteness and white supremacy, the American South, lynching or racial violence, or sexual violence. I am interested in projects focused on either the US or Britain.

Academic Profile

• 2025 onwards: Professor, University of ÌÇÐÄTV
• 2019-2025: Associate Professor, University of ÌÇÐÄTV
• 2017-2019: Senior Teaching Fellow, University of ÌÇÐÄTV
• 2015-2016: Director of International, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Canterbury Christ Church University
• 2013-2016: Senior Lecturer in African American History, Canterbury Christ Church University
• 2012-2013: Lecturer in African American History, Canterbury Christ Church University
• 2010-2012: Lecturer in History, University of Glasgow
• 2009-2010: Teaching Fellow, University of ÌÇÐÄTV
• 2006-2009: PhD in History, University of ÌÇÐÄTV
• 2005-2006: MA by Research, University of ÌÇÐÄTV
• 2002-2005: BA in History, University of ÌÇÐÄTV

Teaching

• HI2B7-15 African American History and Culture (not currently running)
• HI2J9-15 Everyday People: Writing Nineteenth Century British and American Lives
• HI3B1-15 America in Black and White? Contemporary US Race and Racism in Historical Context
  Winner of the (2020).
• HI3J9-30 Whiteness: An American History (not currently running)

Research Publications

Edited Collections, Journal Special Issues, and Forums

• Forthcoming, Journal of American Studies Special Issue: Celebrating 70 Years of American Studies in Britain

Articles and Book Chapters

Pedagogic Publications

• Forthcoming: 'Solomon Northup in the Classroom' (with Liana Beatrice Valerio), in Matthew Hughey and Leonora Masini, Captive Images: Transatlantic Slavery Cinema and Critical Pedagogy (Routledge)
• Forthcoming:
• 'Variable Assessment Format', ‘Guidance and Warnings’, and ‘Negotiated Curriculum’ in ÌÇÐÄTV Wellbeing Pedagogies Library (2020)
• 'Student-Designed Digital Projects for Public Engagement', 'Exploring Race & Racism in American History with Group Podcast Project', and 'Using Mentimeter to Encourage Student Participation in Lectures and Seminars' in ÌÇÐÄTV Digital Pedagogy Library

Other Publications

• ‘The Nat Turner Rebellion, in Tim Lockley (ed.) Routledge Encyclopaedia of Race and Racism (forthcoming, Routledge)
• 'Next Steps: Technology' Modern History Review, 23:1 (September 2020)
• 'Next Steps: Study Abroad' Modern History Review, 20: 3 (February 2018)
• ‘Slaves on Screen: Depictions of Slavery in American Film’ Modern History Review, 19:1 (September 2016)
• ‘Slavery is Dead! Fighting for freedom after the American Civil War,’ Modern History Review, 17:2 (November 2014)

Public Engagement and Media

• 'I Can't Breathe: Expert Comment on the Minneapolis Protests' (May 2020)
• Interviewed by Inspire FM; BirGün Gazetesi; Voice of Islam Radio; UniLAD.