School of Politics and International Studies

Lecturer in Gender and International Development

What does your working day at POLIS involve?
It normally feels like juggling eight different balls, and, if anyone has tried juggling four or more, they will know what I mean. When I was a student, I had no idea what academics fill their time with when they're not teaching.

Now I know that there are a million and one to-do lists, ranging from emailing students and other academic staff, organising and arranging conference papers and panels, keeping up with the admin tasks and, of course, preparing and giving lectures and seminars. Oh, and filling out questionnaires…

Currently, my biggest challenge is organising the annual Society for Latin American Studies next Easter – along with Marie Osborne and Manuel Barcia (from the Department of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin America). While it seems like a long time away, in fact planning is well underway and we are already feeling the pressure of deadlines. It is exciting to be involved in something different, and trying to see how we can make this year's event stand out, and make it a success for Leeds. If anyone is interested, please see 45th Annual Conference of the Society for Latin American Studies.

What brought you to POLIS and the University of Leeds?
I wanted to study gender and development and after looking at a number of courses, I came to visit Leeds and met a number of the tutors here. The fact that several of them were willing to talk to me – when I was pretty clueless – left a good impression. The course itself was attractive and Professor Ruth Pearson was who I hoped would supervise my PhD.

How long have you been working at POLIS?
I came to Leeds as a postgrad in 2003, and began as a teaching assistant in 2005. I have been teaching full time for a year and, despite all this time, I feel as though I am still learning what it is like to work in an academic institution!

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the fact that each day is different and it is great when students get really heated in a discussion – it shows they are genuinely interested.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
It won't come as any surprise to many people, that what I enjoy most is running up hills! I like the fresh air, muddy feet and socialising that comes with running as part of a club and the fact that I have seen more of Yorkshire in the last year than I have done in the previous four, all thanks to travelling around to go to small and obscure races.

What is the funniest /most memorable thing that has ever happened to you at POLIS?
When the fire officer nearly started a fire – naming no names!

What are your plans for the future?
Next summer I hope to go back to Brazil to follow up my research and re-establish contacts. It would be great to get some funding to do some comparative work on gender and urban violence in the UK.

If your life had gone in a different direction, what might you be doing instead?
Being a freelance translator, based in a converted farm in the Pyrenees: mountains, sun, sea and big skies...

What's your most frequently asked question by students?
When do we get our marks back?

If you could get students to understand one thing what would it be?
Nine o'clock in the morning is not obscenely early!

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