Mary Makinde

Mary Makinde serves as Principal Lecturer (mapped to Associate Professor) and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Law, Policing and Social Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University, while leading the university-wide Closing the Ethnicity Awarding Gap initiative. Formerly a Forensic Scientist specializing in biological trace evidence analysis, she integrates practitioner expertise into curriculum design for Forensic Investigation, Applied Criminology, and Sociology programmes.

Her research centers on forensic science pedagogy and systemic equity, with emphasis on dismantling racial barriers in higher education through unconscious bias training, allyship frameworks, and inclusive practice learning environments. She spearheads the Bridging the Gap to Leadership project to enhance placement experiences for minority ethnic students across criminal justice, healthcare, and social care sectors.

Key recognitions include:

• University Alliance Award for Bridging the Gap to Leadership (2022)
• Double Canterbury Christ Church University Diversity & Inclusion Awards (2021-2022)
• Teaching Excellence Award for work-based learning innovation in Forensic Investigation (2020)

As Strategic Lead for Closing the Gap, she develops institutional strategies to improve retention and progression for Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Mixed heritage students. Her external collaborations include forensic provider training on DNA analysis standards and cross-sector projects promoting belonging in criminal justice education pathways.