Kristin O'Donnell

Dr. Kristin O’Donnell is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Humanities at Newman University’s Faculty of Arts, Society and Professional Studies. She holds a PhD from the University of Brighton, funded by the AHRC, on the cultural politics of war commemoration during the First World War centenary. Her interdisciplinary research bridges arts, humanities, and policy, focusing on memory studies, participatory art, and heritage.

Education: BA English Literature/Social History (University of Brighton), MA Cultural History (with Alumni Excellence Scholarship and Governor’s Award), AHRC-funded PhD on war commemoration.

Research interests include cultural memory, nationalism, participatory art, and the intersection of arts/media with social justice. She collaborates with Dover Arts Development, WILPF, and the British Council to address power structures through cultural engagement.

Teaching: Leads the January intake of Applied Humanities and contributes to course development. Administrative roles include Programme Lead and membership in committees like Retention and Continuation Task Group.

Awards include the Cumberland Lodge Doctoral Social Policy Fellowship for academia-policy work. Her expertise spans heritage consultancy, film production, and policy advisory roles with organizations like the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Applied Humanities Research Centre, Memory, Narrative and Histories Research Collective (co-founder), and International Society for First World War Studies.