Joanna Lewis

Professor Joanna Lewis is a historian of Africa, empire, and world history at the London School of Economics, focusing on imperialism, colonialism, and inequality from precolonial to contemporary periods. Her research combines interdisciplinary approaches, applying historical analysis to current issues like the impact of colonialism on human rights diplomacy and post-conflict reconstruction. She currently serves as Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security and has won multiple teaching awards, including the LSE Teaching Prize and recognition as a runner-up for LSE's Most Dynamic Lecturer in 2016.

• Education: First-class BA in Social and Political Science with History and Philosophy from the University of Bath; Master’s in History of International Relations from University of Cambridge; PhD in Colonial Kenya from Cambridge with ESRC Doctoral Fellowship
• Research Interests: Colonial governance in Africa, emotional history of British Empire, resilience in post-conflict states, Somali diaspora studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to women's history and peacebuilding
• Publications: Author of Empire of Sentiment (2018) and Women of the Somali Diaspora (2021), with articles on topics ranging from Livingstone's legacy to Mau Mau narratives and contemporary issues in post-colonial Africa
• Scientific Awards: British Academy 2020 Special Research Award Grant, LSE Teaching Prize, and multiple student-nominated teaching excellence recognitions
• Supervision: Has supervised PhD students on diverse topics including European Scramble for Africa, African soldiers in WWII, French Algerian rap, and youth guerrilla cycles in Uganda-Congo borderlands
• Current Projects: 2025 PhD Writing Workshop on well-being and neuro-diversity, research on Robert Mugabe and Britain's post-colonial legacy, and community responses to Somali diaspora challenges during the pandemic