I am a registered adult nurse and academic based in the Division of Adult Nursing, Community and Health at the University of the West of Scotland. My professional background in critical care, including intensive care, coronary care and emergency nursing, informs my approach to teaching and research. I joined UWS in 2019 after several years as a lecturer in health and social care within the further education sector. My work is guided by a commitment to widening participation in higher education and supporting students from diverse social, cultural and educational backgrounds to succeed.

My expertise lies in feminist and sociological approaches to nursing and higher education. I explore how structures of power, class, gender and policy shape nursing knowledge, identity and practice. My research engages with questions of care ethics, autonomy and the impact of managerialism and neoliberal governance on the academic and professional lives of nurses. I am also interested in intersectionality, migration and decolonial perspectives on international nurse education, and how these intersect with women’s experiences of work, care and belonging.

Doctoral Research
Project title: Supporting mothers to succeed in higher education: A feminist exploration of the educational experiences of single mothers in nursing degrees
Institution: University of Strathclyde

My doctoral research explores how single mothers on undergraduate nursing degrees in Scotland navigate study, care and survival within higher education. Using feminist and sociological theory, the study examines how gender, class and institutional structures shape their experiences of belonging, time and care. The analysis highlights how these women sustain their education through resilience and resistance within systems not designed for caregiving students. The research contributes to feminist understandings of social reproduction and the ethics of care in education.

Other Areas of Research Interest
My wider research examines the ethical, social and political dimensions of nursing education and practice. Current interests include:

• Ethics of care and professional integrity in nursing and higher education

• Intersectionality and decoloniality in international nurse education

• Gender, policy and professional silence in academic and clinical contexts

• Violence against women and girls, and the role of education in prevention and advocacy

I co-lead the UWS Women’s Health Research Network (WHRN) with Dr Lynsay Matthews, an interdisciplinary group dedicated to advancing understanding of women’s health and well-being. The network brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to investigate and address complex issues affecting women’s health through collaborative, evidence-based, and cross-disciplinary approaches.

I am Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies degree, a third and fourth-year programme designed for internationally educated nurses. I coordinate and teach across undergraduate and postgraduate levels, leading modules including Evidence-Informed Nursing Practice, Applied Critical Inquiry, Nursing Issues and Trends, and Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls.

My teaching approach is grounded in feminist pedagogy, critical inquiry and reflective practice. I encourage students to engage critically with the social, political and ethical dimensions of nursing, supporting them to challenge inequality and advocate for compassionate, evidence-informed care. I am committed to inclusive and student-centred learning environments that value diversity of experience and promote dialogue, empathy and intellectual curiosity.