Fiona McConnell

Professor Fiona McConnell is a leading political geographer at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the School of Geography and the Environment and St Catherine's College as a Tutorial Fellow. Her career spans institutions like Newcastle University (as Lecturer) and Trinity College, Cambridge (Junior Research Fellow).

Education:

• BA in Geography, University of Cambridge (Fitzwilliam College)
• PhD, Queen Mary University of London

McConnell's research explores governance beyond the state, focusing on stateless communities, diplomacy in marginalized spaces, and geographies of peace. She pioneers concepts like liminal geopolitics and diaspora diplomacy, examining how marginalized groups engage in statecraft and redefine legitimacy.

Her recent publications reveal trends in digital diplomacy, self-determination, and legal geographies. Collaborations with scholars like Costas Constantinou, Elaine Ho, and Liam Saddington highlight her interdisciplinary approach.

Scientific Awards:

• Philip Leverhulme Prize for Geography (2019)
• Back Award, Royal Geographical Society (2022)
• British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2017)

McConnell supervises doctoral students in areas including contested sovereignties, digital mediation, and peacebuilding through natural resources. She leads the Gobi Framework project (2018–2021) on sustainable mining in Central Asia and co-founded the Model UNPO teaching initiative.