Thekla Anastasiou

Dr Thekla Anastasiou is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years and Childhood Studies at the Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University. She teaches undergraduate units and previously served as an Associate Lecturer during her PhD. Her research focuses on young children's embodied engagements with food in socioeconomically disadvantaged contexts, employing post-humanist frameworks like Actor Network Theory and New Materialisms.

• Educations:
• BA Classic Studies & Philosophy (University of Cyprus, 2005-2009)
• MSc Human Resource Management and International Development (University of Manchester, 2009-2010)
• MA Educational Leadership (University of Manchester, 2010-2011)
• MSc Educational Research (University of Manchester, 2011-2012)
• PhD in Education (Manchester Metropolitan University, 2014-2017)

Her research explores silenced narratives around food practices in early childhood settings, challenging conventional 'healthy eating' paradigms. She investigates how material-semiotic interactions shape children's food relationships in environments of poverty. Teaching experience includes community schools in Greater Manchester/Stoke-on-Trent and private tutoring in Cyprus.

Professional networks include the university's Movement Unit and international collaborations in early years pedagogy.