Meet the Project Team

Barbara conducts research for Student Success and for the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE). Her research focuses on academic progression, closing the awarding gap and belongingness of racially minoritised students. Leads on the Diversity Mark programme collaborating with students and staff to diversify reading lists and module resources. Currently researching on the Academic Excellence Scholarship longitudinal project mapping the journey of students’ learning and social experiences. Research interests include Black middle-class aspirations for their children, critical race theory, and race in education. She is co-editor of the forthcoming book Race, Capital, and Equity: Challenging differential academic attainment in UK universities (Palgrave Macmillan). She is also co-chair of the BAME staff network.

Dr Triona Fitton is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent. Since 2018 she has split her time between teaching Sociology and Cultural Studies, and working on the university’s Student Success project within the division of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research. She has lead on several initiatives that have enhanced belonging and attainment amongst BME students, successfully halving the School’s BME/white awarding gap in 2019/20, and has a specific interest in the relationship between academic precarity and racial inclusivity in higher education.  She has also published in the field of digital learning and the teaching of ‘non-traditional’ students.

Dr Alexander Hensby is a Lecturer in Sociology in the School of Social Policy, Social Research (SSPSSR), co-director for the Centre for the Study of Social and Political Movements, and Research Fellow for Student Success. Alex’s Student Success work has informed University policy and practice on equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI), including its provision of academic and student support services, and the development of new systems and resources. He is the co-editor of the forthcoming book Race, Capital, and Equity: Challenging differential academic attainment in UK universities (Palgrave Macmillan).

Emma is a chartered information professional (qualified in 2002), who has worked mainly in Higher Education in a variety of roles focused in supporting academic liaison and related activities. Currently employed as a Liaison Librarian supporting Law Society and Social Justice at the University of Kent, recent professional interests include diversifying collections and collaborating with cross university departments to create inclusive learning spaces and events in library as community space.