Research staff

Dr Carolyn Blackburn

Reader in Interdisciplinary Practice and Research with Families

Dr. Carolyn Blackburn worked in a range of charities and education settings before taking up an academic post. Carolyn has taught in four Universities at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Carolyn has worked on numerous research projects related to inclusion, disability and child/family wellbeing. She is...

Christopher Bolton

Senior Lecturer in Drama Education

Christopher is a Senior Lecturer in Drama Education here at BCU. Before this role he worked in a secondary school as a Drama Advanced Skills Teacher. He has a keen interest in how drama can create spaces for dialogic learning by working with reasoned imagination and the impact of the education systems on the nature of drama in...

Vanessa (Fengqiao) Cui

Research Fellow

Vanessa is currently working on ‘ Improving Learning and Teaching through Collaborative Observation’ with colleague Professor Matt O’Leary. The pilot stage of this project was funded by HEFCE Catalyst fund and now the pair is working on the publications of the pilot work as well as developing the project with international...

Dr Fadia Dakka

Senior Research Fellow, Deputy Director of CSPACE

Dr. Fadia Dakka studied International Relations (BA, MA) at Bologna University (Italy) and King’s College London (MA) before obtaining a Doctorate in Social Sciences from the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol. Her thesis examined the 2012 English Higher Education Policy reforms, theorising...

Dr Julia Everitt

School of Education and Social Work

Dr. Julia Everitt is a Research Assistant in the Centre for the Study of Practice and Culture in Education (CSPACE). Julia is interested in roles and responsibilities for learning and wellbeing beyond teachers and teaching assistants to wider influences. This includes parents, community members, the private sector, other...

Professor Martin Fautley

Professor of Education

Professor Martin Fautley is director of research in the school of education and social work at Birmingham City University. He has a wealth of experience in music education, both in terms of pedagogy, and of music education research. After enjoying many years as a classroom music teacher, he then undertook full-time Doctoral...

Dr Susan Foster-Cohen

Vising Professor

Susan has taught and carried out research in universities in the UK, USA and France. She is currently the Director of The Champion Centre, a multi-disciplinary early intervention centre in Christchurch, New Zealand. Susan’s research is carried out in collaboration with the University of Canterbury (NZ) where she is adjunct...

Dr Amanda French

Head of Department: Professional Development, Research and Enterprise

Amanda has worked in higher, further, adult education and the voluntary sector for 30 years as a lecturer, writing developer and researcher and is currently employed as Head of Department: Professional Development, Research and Enterprise in the School of Education and Social Work. Her PhD in Education: '"Through a glass...

Dr Eleni Kanira

Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education Studies

Eleni Kanira is a PhD graduate of the University of Warwick and a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Birmingham City University. She trained and worked as an Early Years teacher, co-ordinator and consultant in various Primary schools and Early Years centres and as a drama teacher in schools and Theatre spaces. ...

Professor Alex Kendall

Associate Dean Research and Business Development

Birmingham City University Associate Dean: Research and Business Development, Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences Jan 2011 - University of Wolverhampton Associate Dean, Education Jan 2004 – Dec 2010 University of Wolverhampton Principal Lecturer, Post Compulsory Education Apr 2003 – Dec...