Leah Phillips

Leah Phillips is Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for BA English and MA Literature for Children and Young Adults at Plymouth Marjon University's School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research examines how YA fiction impacts marginalized readers, challenging narrow cultural constructions of girlhood through mythopoeic fantasy. She holds a PhD from Warwick, MSt from Reading, and BA from Open University.

Research deconstructs representations of adolescent female bodies in speculative fiction, arguing for inclusive models of girlhood. Forthcoming monograph analyzes heroines who subvert traditional myths. Phillips founded the YA Studies Association (YASA) and serves on editorial boards including the International Journal of Young Adult Literature.

Teaching spans literary theory, research design, and transformative texts. Professional activities include committee roles for the Children's Literature Association and advocacy for diverse representation in youth literature.