Welcome to my website – I am a mixed methods and interdisciplinary researcher specialising in education policy, social justice and intercultural education.

I am currently working as an associate professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Exeter.  I previously worked at the University of Oxford (2018 to 2022), the University of the West of England (2000 to 2018) and the University of Kent (1994 to 1999).

My research work is mainly focused on issues around access to higher education, especially for groups of people who are disadvantaged or marginalised in society.  This includes topics such as financial support, outreach programmes, decision-making, alternative qualification routes and the factors underpinning student success.  I have also researched around the engagement of students in internationalised universities and the concept of global citizenship, as well as having an interest in doctoral education, epistemology and the role of ‘expertise’ in society.

I originally trained as a statistician, but I now draw on concepts and methodologies from sociology, psychology, economics and social policy to inform my research, which broadly fits within the critical realist tradition.

Other roles