About me
I am a Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology and Counselling at the Open University (UK) and an Associate Researcher at the Electoral Psychology Observatory at the London School of Economics (UK).
My interest in social psychology, as a lens through which to view the world and its socio-political wonders, emerged while I was completing my BSc. in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). One particular semester I was enrolled in a introductory course to Social Psychology, while simultaneously working as a Research Assistant for the UCLA Middle & High School Diversity Project, a joint longitudinal study between UCLA’s Department of Education and Department of Psychology. This semester, I was introduced to the work of Goffman and Mead in my lectures, and engaged in data collection and literature reviews aimed at understanding the psychosocial benefits of racial/ethnic diversity in schools as part of my RA job. These experiences combined led to a growing interest in understanding the intersection of how we think, feel and see the world, and the role of relevant others, societies, cultures and institutions in shaping these processes. Shortly after graduating from UCLA in 2013, I jumped the pond to the UK to begin an MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology at the LSE. During my MSc, my research interests crystallized into a curious focus on understanding phenomena that sit at the intersection between history, psychology and politics. In particular, my MSc dissertation, which received the Hilde Himmelweit Award (2014) focused on exploring intergenerational differences in collective memory of war in a post-conflict context, discussing the implications of the silencing of criticism and diverging perspectives on the past.
To some extent it was from this project that my PhD thesis developed. My doctoral work applied theories of identity and group dynamics to examine the role of history, power and national identity in the process of supranational integration. More precisely, my work explored the tensions between historical continuity and political change in Serbia, as prospective EU member-state. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methods, the thesis illustrated the importance of a multi-level understanding of political change, as both a process understood and experienced through the everyday lives of citizens, and as situated in a larger, international context where national politics become shaped and constrained by larger international power-relations.
My current research projects can be divided into three, interlinking strands; 1) research on how different conceptualizations of national identity shape political attitudes and behaviours, 2) research on recognition and its implications for intergroup dynamics and selfhood, and 3) research on perceived collective continuity and its strategic mobilization in the promotion of, or resistance towards, change.
When I’m not trying to juggle the many responsibilities of an academic career I spend a lot of time trying to juggle the many responsibilities of being a social human, including travelling to visit family, spending time with friends in London and spending countless hours on the hunt for the best coffee in the city.
Education
London School of Economics
2018
PhD in Psychology
Committee: Caroline Howarth (adviser), Ilka Gleibs & Steve Reicher.
Dissertation: Continuity in times of change: the role of power, history and national identity in the context of supranational integration.
London School of Economics
2014
MSc in Social & Cultural Psychology
University of California, Los Angeles
2013
BSc (Hons) Sociology
Grants & Awards
Horizon Europe Grant
2023-2026
OppAttune: Countering Oppositional Political Extremism through Attuned Dialogue
Co-I alongside PI Kesi Mahendran (Open University). Funded by the ERC (Horizon Europe) and UKRI.
Open Societal Challenges Grant
2023-2024
Promoting better political dialogue and electoral engagement through argumentation technologies
Alongside Co-I Professor Anna DeLiddo (Knowledge Media Institutie, OU) the aim of this project is to explore how design features of argumentative technologies can be leverage to improve experiences with political disagreement and increase commitment to sustain dialogue.
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
2021-2023
Research Wales Innovation Grant
Co-I alongside Dr. Eleni Andreouli and Dr. Kesi Mahendran on project "Educating young citizens in Wales: political engagement, citizenship and democracy from the perspectives of citizens-in-the-making."
European Association of Social Psychology
2020
Collaborative Research Grant
PI on project "Recognition of Belonging? Testing and expanding the Ingroup Projection Model" alongside Amena Amer (Greenwich, UK), Reşit Kışlıoğlu (Middle East Technical University - Northern Cyprus Campus) & Mihaela Boza (Al I Cuza University, Romania)
London School of Economics
2019
Excellence in Education Award
COST IS1205 Summer School
2015
COST Trainee Grant
Split, Croatia
London School of Economics
2014
Doctoral Studentship
London, UK
Hilde T. Himmelweit Prize
2014
Highest MSc Grade
London School of Economics and Political Science, UK