Melindy Duffus

Senior Lecturer, School of Law and Social Sciences

Tell us about your career journey

I have been in Higher Education (HE) for 11 years now. I have moved through various roles from student support and research assistant to lecturer and now Senior Lecturer in Criminology. Alongside this, I have held leadership roles throughout my time in academia, most recently taking on the role of Deputy Head for the Department of Criminology and Sociology.

What areas of research are you particularly interested in?

My main areas of research span across critical criminology – specifically desistance, probation, substance use and intersectionality – and HE pedagogy, including graduate outcomes and closing student awarding and progression gaps.

What challenges have you faced in academia?

A primary challenge has been navigating the intersectional barriers that shape traditional assumptions of academic leadership, while balancing the heavy pastoral and operational demands that fall disproportionately on minoritised women in HE, against the drive to build a high-impact research profile.

What are your hopes and aspirations for completing the programme?

My primary aspiration is to sharpen my leadership skills, as I progress towards senior academic roles. I also hope to leverage the insights and networks gained through the WHEN programme to advance my academic profile through research and leadership, move towards Associate Professor, and create clear pathways of opportunity by mentoring other women like me in academia.