PhD, University of Strathclyde (Oct. 2015-present), English. Supervisors: Eleanor Bell, David Kinloch. Researching the performance of authentic selfhood in contemporary performance poetry in the U.K. context. Supported in this research by a University of Strathclyde Humanities and Social Sciences Studentship and by the St. Andrew’s Society of Washington D.C. Founder’s Prizes for 2016-17 and 2017-18.
MRes, University of Strathclyde (2014-15), English. “Narratives of Scottish History and Identity in Pro-Independence Poetry written for the 2014 Referendum.” Supervisor: Eleanor Bell. Supported in this research by a UK-US Fulbright Award.
BA, Bates College ’14. Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude. English, Dance (minor Educational Studies). Senior English honors thesis was entitled Scottish Nostalgias: Evocations of Home in the 1990s Poetry of Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, and Kathleen Jamie.
Papers & Presentations
Hour-long performance talk delivered at the Feminist & Womens Studies Association Biennial Conference. An exploration of contemporary spoken word poetry through the (overlapping) lenses of academic, programmer, and poet, delivered through a combination of traditional lecture and original poetry. (University of Strathclyde, Sep. 7, 2017)
“Authenticity and Critical Discourse in Contemporary UK Spoken Word.” Presentation delivered for the University of Strathclyde Humanities and Social Sciences Research Seminar Series. (University of Strathclyde, Oct. 25, 2017)
Presented on the panel “Beyond Story: An examination of the ‘Authentic’ in Fiction and Poetry” at the English: Shared Futures conference. (University of Northumbria, July 5, 2017)
“Live Embodiment & Authenticity in Contemporary Spoken Word.” Poetry and Performance: Embodied Poetic Experiences conference, hosted by the Centre for Poetic Innovation. (University of St. Andrews, March 6, 2017)
“Grassroots Identity and Institutional Relationships in the Scottish Spoken Word Scene.” Presentation delivered at the Outside-In / Inside-Out Conference: a festival of outside and subterranean poetry. (University of Glasgow, Oct. 6, 2016)
“The effect of mediatised publication on the field of contemporary performance poetry.” HASS: The Digital Human Conference. (University of Strathclyde, Sep. 12, 2016)
“Colonial Narratives and Victimhood in Pro-Independence Poetry written for the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum” Delivered at the University of Strathclyde Seminar Series (Glasgow, July 7, 2015)
“The Use of Performance Poetry to Encourage a Perception of Artists as Grassroots in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum” Delivered at the New Papers in Contemporary British Poetry Conference (University of Dundee, March 22, 2015)
Conference Organising
Co-organised the conference Poetic Politics: Culture and the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum, One Year On at the National Library of Scotland in September 2015, which was introduced by Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop and featured keynote presentations from acclaimed Scottish literary academics Robert Crawford and Scott Hames and performances from former Makar Liz Lochhead and acclaimed writer Alan Bissett. (Sep. 23, 2015)
