Briefly, could you tell us about your background and career up to this point?
Prior to joining King’s I worked as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) in the field of Health Visiting. As a SCPHN, I was also a Practice Educator and Manager. I joined King’s in 2017 as a Senior Teaching Fellow, I assumed the role of Head of Department in 2019 and I have recently been appointed Associate Dean, EDI.
What does your new role as Associate Dean (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) involve?
My role is to develop, drive forward and keep under review the Faculty’s Action Plan, ensuring that EDI commitments are embedded across all of the Faculty’s activities. Some of this work includes progressing Staff Diversity and Development, Student Diversity, leading on the Faculty’s Athena Swan and Race Equality Charter.
What are some of the initiatives that you’re hoping to achieve within this role?
One of my key initiatives is to ensure that EDI is not treated as a standalone agenda, but meaningfully embedded across all aspects of Faculty life, from curriculum design and inclusive teaching practices to recruitment, career progression, and research priorities. I’m committed to co-creating a culture where all staff and students feel a genuine sense of belonging and are empowered to thrive. I am working closely with colleagues to understand and reduce the awarding gap through examination of data and providing targeted support.
How has your research in your Doctorate in Education fed into your approach to leadership and teaching in the Faculty?
My Doctorate in Education focuses on the educational journeys of Black women students from undergraduate through to postgraduate study and beyond. This work has profoundly shaped my leadership and teaching by highlighting the unique challenges Black women face in navigating higher education often marked by invisibility, cultural taxation, and systemic bias. It has deepened my commitment to creating spaces where their voices are heard, their contributions valued, and their potential fully realised. This research informs my drive to embed inclusive practices, challenge structural inequities, and advocate for policies that support the success and progression of Black women within our Faculty and the wider academic community.
What do you do with your time outside of work?
I spend most of my time with my family and friends. I go to a lot of Soca raves but also appreciate quiet time walking along my local canal.
What is your favourite thing about working at King’s?
My favourite thing about working at King’s is being part of a vibrant, diverse community that’s genuinely committed to positive change. I’m inspired daily by the passion of our students and colleagues. One moment that really stayed with me was after a seminar where a Black woman student approached me to say it was great to see me as a Black Head of Department and that it was the first time she felt truly seen in an academic space. That conversation reminded me why I do what I do. It’s about creating spaces where people feel they belong, where their identities are affirmed, and where they can thrive. At King’s, I feel I can bring my whole self to work where my research, values, and leadership can come together to make a meaningful impact.
Quick fire:
What’s one thing about you that surprises people?
I absolutely love 80s music! Give me a bit of Queen, Prince, Whitney, Michael or Madonna, and I’m in my element! There’s something about the energy, the fashion, and the unapologetic boldness of 80s rock and pop that I find completely uplifting. Most of the music on my Spotify is from the 80s. It’s my go-to soundtrack for everything from powering through emails to celebrating a good day.
Hidden talent?
I play the steel pan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.
Favourite way to spend a day?
Chilling with my 80s music, watching a Netflix film or reading a great book if I have the time.