Based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Open to remote and regional opportunities across the UK
Exploring intersections of gender, monarchy, religion, politics, visual culture, and contemporary studies — grounded in primary source analysis and critical inquiry.
🎓 Academic Background 🎓
Research Interests 📚
I hold a Certificate of Higher Education in History and Religious Studies from the University of Gloucestershire. My academic interests centre on the intersection of religion, identity, and material culture, with a focus on medieval artefacts and theological interpretation. Guided by empathy and inclusivity, I aim to make heritage collections accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.
Combining scholarly insight with hands-on experience, I bring curiosity, care, and a commitment to preserving and interpreting cultural heritage.
Future Professional Development & Continuing Growth 🔍
I am committed to expanding my expertise in archives and collections management through targeted professional development and further study. Building on my experience with the Yorkshire Natural History, Heeley City Farm, Sheffield Museums, The Poetry Archive, Holst Victorian House, and Erewash Museum, I am pursuing advanced training in collections care and archival practice.
My volunteering reflects a strong foundation in data management, object care, and public engagement. I am currently volunteering with the Yorkshire Natural History Museum to deepen my specialist knowledge of natural history collections.
Professional Goals 🎯
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Secure permanent employment in museums, archives, or heritage organisations
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Complete advanced training in collections management and archival practice
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Build on extensive volunteer experience across leading heritage institutions
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Develop expertise in digital archiving and collection databases
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Contribute to inclusive and accessible heritage practice within the GLAM sector
This ongoing development, supported by certifications in safeguarding, research data management, customer relationship management, and social media, strengthens my ability to combine technical precision with public-facing engagement.
Read my full timeline on how my studies evolved into a career in museums and heritage:
Academic Skills 🎓
Research and Analysis
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🔍 Primary Source Analysis → Object & Text Interpretation: Skilled in analysing historical letters, religious texts, artworks, and museum objects, applying findings to create accessible and engaging interpretation for exhibitions and public programmes.
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💻 Primary & Archival Research → Structured Data Management: Experienced in gathering, organising, and synthesising information from online databases, physical archives, and specialist collections — supporting essays, curatorial work, and cataloguing projects.
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📚 Thematic Research → Exhibition Content Development: Explored complex topics such as gender, religion, monarchy, trade, colonialism, and social identity, translating academic insights into clear narratives for museum contexts.
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🏛️ Historical Contextualisation → Curatorial Interpretation: Strong grounding in political, social, and cultural history, used to shape interpretation, label writing, and narrative-building within exhibitions and public-facing content.
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📊 Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis → Audience & Collections Insights: Experienced in evaluating visitor surveys, attendance patterns, and qualitative feedback to inform programming and improve exhibition engagement.
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🌍 Comparative & Cross-Cultural Analysis → Inclusive Interpretation: Analysing connections across cultures, religions, and time periods to enrich interpretive narratives and support inclusive heritage practice.
Communication and Interpretation
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🗣️ Public Presentation → Audience Engagement: Confidently delivering research, presenting findings, and adapting communication for diverse visitor groups in museum and educational settings.
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🖋️ Plain Language Writing → Public-Facing Interpretation: Transforming complex academic material into accessible exhibition text, digital content, and interpretation for broad audiences.
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✍️ Academic Writing → Reports, Briefings & Funding Support: Producing structured, well-referenced essays, research papers, and written material suitable for curatorial reports and project documentation.
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📋 Textual Interpretation → Exhibition Material Creation: Analysing literary, historical, and cultural texts to produce accurate, engaging labels, panels, and digital resources.
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📑 Citation & Referencing → Documentation Accuracy: Proficient in MHRA and academic referencing, ensuring clarity, transparency, and traceability in research and collections documentation.
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📝 Editing & Proofreading → Publication-Ready Clarity: Proofreading and editing interpretation text for exhibitions (e.g., Sheffield Museums’ New Horizons exhibition) and academic publications.
Critical and Ethical Practice
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🧠 Critical Thinking → Problem-Solving in Heritage Work: Evaluating contrasting historiographical and ethical perspectives to support balanced, responsible decision-making in museum and archival contexts.
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⚖️ Ethical Research → Inclusive Cultural Interpretation: Applying ethical awareness to avoid bias, ensure respectful representation, and prioritise culturally sensitive interpretation.
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🗂️ Source Criticism → Provenance & Contextual Research: Assessing reliability, authenticity, and provenance of historical and archival sources to support curatorial and collections work.
Digital and Creative Skills
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🖼️ Visual Analysis → Exhibition Layout & Design Support: Interpreting images, objects, and visual materials to inform display planning and cohesive visual storytelling.
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💻 Digital Literacy → Online Collections & Documentation: Using digital tools, databases, spreadsheets, and cloud platforms to maintain organised, searchable, and accessible academic and heritage records.
Project and Field Skills
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📍 Archival Research → Collections Discovery: Locating and retrieving materials from archives, libraries, and databases for academic, curatorial, and exhibition projects.
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🔎 Field Observation → Enriched Interpretation: Drawing insights from museum visits, fieldwork, and site observations to support exhibition development and contextual research.
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⏰ Time Management → Multi-Project Delivery: Managing academic deadlines alongside museum roles, freelance work, and volunteering — consistently delivering high-quality outputs.
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🧍 Independent Learning → Continued Professional Development: Further developing expertise through reading, online courses, museum visits, CPD workshops, and self-directed study across heritage and natural history.
Projects 💻📚
Themes & Focus
My academic and creative projects centre on museum interpretation, material culture, and historical representation. I explore how gender, religion, and power are visualised through costume history, monarchy, and cultural memory. Many of my projects are rooted in visual storytelling and presentation, combining historical research with design and communication. Whether developing museum-style exhibition materials or analysing media portrayals of historical figures, I consistently aim to make complex histories accessible, engaging, and inclusive.
University of Gloucestershire History & Religious Studies 2021 - 2024 🎓
Museum, Heritage, Culture & Representation Projects 🌟
These projects explore historical, religious, and cultural interpretation across heritage, visual media, and global contexts. Each highlights my ability to apply analytical and interpretive skills to understanding representation and identity in cultural narratives.
2023
The Gloucester Folk Museum's "Threads: Belonging and Unbelonging"🧵
Gloucester Folk Museum Socials
I created museum-standard interpretive materials exploring Georgian and Victorian fashion and trade in Gloucestershire, as part of a university-museum collaborative project.
My work focused on:
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Women's and men's fashion from the early 1800s to the early 1900s, including the influence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on British style
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The development of mourning dress, nurse uniforms, and social identity through clothing
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Regional textile trade in Gloucester and its connection to the British Empire, the "Five Valleys," and colonial trade policies
Key Research Discovery: My research revealed that Queen Victoria's insistence on all court clothing being manufactured in Britain significantly boosted the domestic textile industry, demonstrating the economic impact of royal fashion choices and increased demand for mass-produced British textiles.
Exhibition Development Process:
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Conducted archival research on 18th-20th century Gloucestershire textile history
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Developed a PowerPoint presentation adapted for public museum display
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Collaborated with museum staff to ensure accessibility and alignment with exhibition themes
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Final presentation integrated into public exhibition (displayed September 2024)
Skills Demonstrated:
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📚 Public history & visual communication
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🧵 Material culture & museum interpretation
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🏛️ Museum collaboration & professional communication
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🎨 Adapting academic research for diverse audiences
Impact & Key Achievements 🎯
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🌟 Translated complex historical analysis into an accessible museum presentation
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🌟 Contributed research that enhanced the museum's narrative on local identity and imperial trade
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🌟 Prepared me for hands-on collections work at Holst Victorian House and future curatorial roles
2023
Mary the First of England 👑
This project critically examined England's first reigning queen through the lens of gender theory and Tudor historiography, analysing how Mary I both conformed to and defied contemporary gender ideals.
Key Focus Areas:
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Mary's authority as England's first (official) reigning queen and contemporary reactions to female monarchy
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Her marriage to Philip II of Spain and the Queen Mary's Marriage Act (1554) as a case study in patriarchal political resistance
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Religious conflict, Protestant persecution, and the construction of her legacy as "Bloody Mary"
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How gender shaped her political options, public perception, and historical memory
Skills Demonstrated:
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👑 Critical engagement with gender and monarchy
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🕰️ Understanding of Tudor political and religious history
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🧠 Interpretation of legacy through gendered frameworks
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♀️ Interdisciplinary analysis combining history and gender theory
Impact & Key Achievements:
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🌟 Deepened understanding of how gender shapes historical interpretation and museum narratives
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🌟 Applied theoretical frameworks to analyse material culture and royal iconography
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🌟 Contributed to my expertise in the Tudor period, linking to my passion for religious upheaval and the material culture of the era
2023
Bamyan, Afghanistan: Cultural Heritage and Destruction 📿
This project examined the religious, historical, and cultural significance of Bamyan, Afghanistan, with a focus on ancient Buddhist heritage destroyed by the Taliban in 2001.
Key Focus Areas:
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Bamyan's role as a peaceful centre along the Silk Road and its significance to Buddhist heritage
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The Taliban's destruction of the Giant Buddhas and other pre-Islamic archaeological treasures
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The persecution of the Hazara people and broader implications for cultural preservation under extremist regimes
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The role of UNESCO and international organisations in cultural heritage protection
Skills Demonstrated:
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📚 Cultural history and religious studies
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🏛️ Heritage politics and historical site interpretation
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🌍 Understanding of international preservation efforts and heritage ethics
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💭 Critical analysis of cultural destruction and memory
Impact & Key Achievements:
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🌟 Developed understanding of heritage preservation ethics and the impact of political conflict on cultural property
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🌟 Directly applicable to museum work involving contested heritage, repatriation debates, and ethical collecting practices
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🌟 Enhanced knowledge of Buddhist material culture and religious iconography
2021
Sanctity of Food in Hinduism 🛕
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Completed as part of an introductory group activity during induction week, this project explored the significance of food in Hindu religious life.
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The presentation aimed to foster early collaboration, research skills, and confidence in academic communication.
Key Focus Areas:
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Prasāda – the ritual offering of food to deities
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Dietary principles such as vegetarianism and sattvic eating
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Temple food practices and their symbolic roles
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The religious significance of fasting, festivals, and food taboos
Skills Demonstrated:
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🛕 Introductory religious and cultural analysis
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🤝 Team collaboration and contribution
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📊 Slide creation and visual presentation
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🎤 Confidence-building in public speaking and academic communication
Impact & Key Achievements:
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🌟 Built foundational academic and teamwork skills before formal lectures
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🌟 Developed understanding of Hindu religious practices and material culture - relevant to interpreting religious collections
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🌟 Strengthened confidence in religious studies through peer discussion and collaborative research
2022
Reframing Columbus 🧭
This project analysed how 19th-century visual art shaped and mythologised the legacy of Columbus as a religious and imperial figure, reinforcing dominant Eurocentric narratives.
Key Focus Areas:
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Visual culture analysis of multiple 19th-century paintings depicting Columbus's voyages
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How visual representation influences historical memory and national myth-making
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The marginalisation of Indigenous peoples in colonial narratives
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Contemporary reassessments: 2019 removal of Columbus murals at Notre Dame and Vatican responses to Indigenous suffering
Skills Demonstrated:
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🖼️ Visual analysis & historical interpretation
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📚 Source evaluation & academic writing
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🌐 Cultural awareness & critical thinking
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🏛️ Understanding of how museums construct and deconstruct historical narratives
Impact & Key Achievements:
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🌟 Developed critical skills for analysing visual material culture and representation in museum contexts
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🌟 Directly relevant to contemporary museum practice around decolonisation, contested heritage, and inclusive interpretation
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🌟 Enhanced understanding of how exhibitions shape public memory and historical understanding
2022
Transgender & Intersex People in Sport 🏳️⚧️
This project traced the history of transgender, non-binary, and intersex inclusion in professional and Olympic-level sport, examining how sporting regulations affect both trans+ athletes and cisgender women.
Key Focus Areas:
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Historical case studies of key figures: Renée Richards, Santhi Soundarajan, Caitlyn Jenner, Chris Mosier, Quinn, and Laurel Hubbard
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Evolution of Olympic and professional sporting policies regarding gender verification
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Debates around fairness, inclusion, and the intersection of gender identity with competitive sport
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Impact on public perception and policy development
Skills Demonstrated:
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📚 Independent research & contemporary historical analysis
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⚧️ Gender studies & intersectional feminist theory
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🗣️ Communication of complex, sensitive topics to diverse audiences
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🌐 Engagement with evolving debates relevant to public programming
Impact & Key Achievements:
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🌟 Developed ability to research and present sensitive contemporary topics with nuance and respect
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🌟 Enhanced understanding of identity, representation, and inclusion - directly relevant to museum programming for LGBTQ+ audiences
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🌟 Built skills in addressing contested narratives and multiple perspectives in public-facing interpretation
2023
Image of God in The Lorax (2012) 🌱
Key Focus Areas:
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Examined the transcendence and immanence of The Lorax, depicted as a divine-like figure who descends and ascends from the heavens and speaks through nature.
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As well as The Lorax, an environmental guardian, mourns the destruction and pollution.
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Contextualise the narrative within a critique of capitalism, examining how environmental collapse results from unchecked greed and industrialism.
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Integrated analysis of the 1971 text and 2012 film, using songs like How Bad Can I Be and Let It Grow to contrast past and present values.
Skills Demonstrated:
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✝️ Theological analysis & symbolic interpretation
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🌍 Moral philosophy & environmental ethics
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🎥 Media literacy & intertextual analysis
2023
Governance & Political Legacy in Postcolonial Nations 🌍
Key Focus Areas:
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Investigated Eurocentric governance structures and their adoption post-independence
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Examined the political legacy of the British Raj on India and Pakistan
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Discussed Christian missionary influence on African governance
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Highlighted the persistence of colonial administrative frameworks and their socio-political effects
Skills Demonstrated:
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📚 Political and historical research
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🌍 Postcolonial theory and interdisciplinary thinking
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🧠 Critical analysis of global power structures
This project broadened my understanding of British Imperialism, post-colonial rebellions and revolutions, expanding on my knowledge from my A Level History British Colonial studies.
These projects demonstrate my ability to conduct rigorous academic research, interpret complex historical narratives, and communicate findings to diverse audiences—skills directly transferable to museum interpretation, collections research, and public engagement.
🧵👑📿🛕🧭🏳️⚧️🌱🌍
Papers ✍️
Recurring Themes & Methodologies
Across my academic work, I consistently explore themes of gender, religious history, and social change, often through the lens of primary source analysis. My approach combines close textual reading with critical engagement in historical and theological debates. I am especially drawn to underrepresented narratives, power structures, and the lived experiences of individuals in early modern and modern contexts. My papers reflect a strong focus on intersectionality, identity, and the ways in which religious and political ideologies shape both personal and collective memory.
University of Gloucestershire History & Religious Studies 2021 - 2024 🎓
Highlighted Papers 🌟
These academic papers examine the intersection of religion, gender, and representation within historical and cultural studies. Each demonstrates advanced research, analytical, and interpretive skills relevant to museum and heritage disciplines, exploring how narrative, identity, and belief inform our understanding of history and its presentation.
2023
The Image and Attributes of God in Christian Thought 💭
Key Focus Areas:
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Explored theological concepts of God’s image and attributes in Christian doctrine and art.
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Analysed philosophical tensions between representation, abstraction, and belief.
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Considered how depictions of divinity influence modern religious heritage and visual interpretation.
Skills Demonstrated:
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🕊️ Theological and philosophical analysis
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🎨 Iconographic and visual interpretation
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📖 Research and contextual analysis
This paper enhanced my understanding of how religious imagery informs interpretation, theology, and cultural heritage presentation.
2023
Queenship and Gender: Queen Mary I 👑
Key Focus Areas:
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Investigated gendered power and propaganda in the reign of Queen Mary the first of England, and the challenges she faced as she was the first official queen of England
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Examined religious and political narratives shaping perceptions of female sovereignty.
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Analysed historiographical debates on queenship and identity.
Skills Demonstrated:
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👑 Gender theory and historical research
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📚 Critical analysis of primary sources
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🧠 Interpretation of identity and legacy in historical narrative
This paper deepened my understanding of how gender and religion intersect in shaping political and cultural history.
2021
Reframing Columbus 🧭
Key Focus Areas:
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Analysed portrayals of Christopher Columbus through post-colonial and visual theory.
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Explored how colonial myth-making influences heritage interpretation.
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Investigated curatorial practices promoting decolonial narratives.
Skills Demonstrated:
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🌍 Post-colonial theory and visual analysis
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🏛️ Museum and heritage interpretation
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📜 Cross-cultural research and evaluation
This paper developed my ability to apply decolonial perspectives to historical and curatorial contexts.
History 🏛️
A collection of essays spanning medieval politics to early modern exploration—each paper grounded in critical analysis, historical insight, and transferable skills in research and presentation.
History Papers (2021-2024)
Gender & Monarchy
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👑 Queenship and Gender: Queen Mary I (2023) - Tudor politics, gender theory, and the construction of "Bloody Mary"
Material & Social History
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🏭 Industrial England Through Outsider Eyes (2022) - Primary source analysis of Robert Southey's observations
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🎩 Gender & Victorian Social Hierarchies (2022) - Class, gender norms, and individual agency in 19th-century Britain
Religious History
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👻 Post-Reformation Belief & Fear (2023) - Ghosts, doctrine, and superstition post-Reformation
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⛪ The Call for Reform: Causes of the English Reformation (2022) - Clerical corruption, printing press, and doctrinal conflict
Political & Intellectual History
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📜 Power and Pragmatism: Machiavelli's The Prince (2022) - Early political theory and realpolitik
Visual Culture & Representation
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🧭 Reframing Columbus (2021) - Colonial myth-making, Indigenous erasure, and visual narrative
Primary Source Analysis
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🪖 Letters from WWI Trenches (2021) - Correspondence analysis, memory, and wartime trauma
Gender & Contemporary Studies
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🏳️⚧️ Transgender & Intersex Inclusion in Competitive Sport (2021) - Historical case studies, feminist theory, intersectionality
Religious Studies 📖
A collection of essays and research exploring themes in religion, belief, and society. These papers examine traditions from antiquity to the modern era, reflecting both critical analysis and transferable academic skills.
Religious Studies Papers (2021-2024)
New Religious Movements
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🕯️ World-Rejecting Typologies (2021) - Jim Jones, Moonies, and sociological frameworks
Comparative & Global Religion
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✝️ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Gloucestershire (2021) - Local Mormon history, Gadfield Elm Chapel
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🛕🕍 Belief, Practice, and Diversity in Global Religions (2022) - Hinduism, Judaism, diaspora, and identity (included field visit to Cheltenham Krishna Mandir)
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📖 Representations of Jesus in Abrahamic and Secular Thought (2022) - Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and secular perspectives
Theological Analysis
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💭 The Image and Attributes of God in Christian Thought (2023) - Theological shifts across Christian traditions
Skills developed across all papers:
Primary source evaluation, academic argumentation, MHRA referencing, historical contextualization, comparative analysis, critical engagement with scholarship, and clear communication of complex ideas.
🏛️🏡⛪
Kirk Hallam Community Academy - Sixth Form
A Level Coursework 2019 - 2021 🗂️
A pair of extended research projects exploring history and literature through critical and interdisciplinary approaches. These works examined Cold War politics and feminist theory in contemporary literature, while developing transferable skills in research, analysis, and academic writing.
A Level Coursework (2019 -2021)
Foundational research included:
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☭ Stalin's Suspicions of the Western Allies (History) - Cold War geopolitics
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🎺 Trumpet by Jackie Kay (English Literature) - Feminist gender theory and socio-political analysis
☭🎺