Practice-based experts add to SOAS mission
12 June 2020
SOAS is proud to announce our first cohort of practice-based associates, who will add to our existing external associations, such as our Honorary Doctors and Fellows and our Research Associates and Senior Fellows. Our Professors of Practice, Global Fellows, Policy Fellows, and SOAS Community Fellows, will bring their practical knowledge and professional expertise to contribute to the mission of SOAS.
This initial cohort spans SOAS’ areas of distinctive expertise and innovation – languages and literatures, sustainable and global finance, gender studies, human rights, climate and environment, and the art of collaboration.
SOAS’ research and regional Centres and Institutes bring together a networked critical mass of people working on some of the most pressing global issues of our times. They will act as hosts for many of our practice-based appointees.
In our School of Interdisciplinary Studies, practice-based appointments will amplify the School’s influence and reach. The Centre of Gender Studies will host internationally recognised champions women’s rights and international law Everjoice Win and Kaari Murungi as Professors of Practice. Sean Kidney will bring his experience in many high level fora to the Centre for Sustainable Finance , as Professor of Practice. The Centre for Development, Environment and Policy will enhance its policy engagement on climate change, sustainability and development through the appointment of Leo Horn-Phathanothai as Professor of Practice and Dr Susannah Fisher as a Policy Fellow.
Our Global Fellows will help extend SOAS’ networks and connections. Also in our School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Tom Thompson will join the Centre for Global Media and Communication as a Global Fellow. The Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy will host Global Fellow Setsuko Thurlow who will contribute to CISD’s work on nuclear disarmament and the Freeze Weapons (SCRAP) project.
Contributing their expertise to work alongside our Research & Enterprise Directorate on developing our capacity to create, inspire and learn about change, we have experts in innovation and collaborative leadership Ian McDermott , as Professor of Practice, and on monitoring, evaluation and impact and human rights Zaira Drammis , as Global Fellow.
The SOAS South Asia Institute will host literary scholar and activist Neelam Hossain , as a Professor of Practice in Literature. In our School of Arts , we are joined by world renowned musicians Kishon Khan and Reylon Yount as Professor of Practice and Community Fellow, and Dr May al-Ibrashy , restoration architect and community organiser, as a Professor of Practice in Islamic Architecture.
In our School of Finance and Management, the Centre for Global Finance will host, as Professor of Practice, Dr Patrick Njoroge , one of Africa’s leading central bank governors.
Our School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics will benefit from associations with Wangui wa Goro as Professor of Practice in Translation, Abdi Rashid Jibril as Global Fellow, and Community Fellows Mursal Hedayat , founder of social enterprize Chatterbox , and Chenjerai Shire, known by many of us for his long association with SOAS African languages.
Andrea Cornwall, Pro-Director (Research & Enterprise) comments:
“I’m delighted to welcome our new practice-based associates to SOAS. They span the worlds of policy, activism and the arts, expanding SOAS’ networks, connections and influence. I’m looking forward to seeing these collaborations take shape, providing exciting opportunities for our academics and our students to learn and engage with wider communities of practice.”