William Shankley

Dr William Shankley is a Lecturer in Sociology, currently affiliated with the Department of Sociology. Previously, he held roles at the University of Nottingham as an Assistant Professor, the University of Liverpool for postdoctoral research in law, and the University of Manchester in sociology, where he remains an honorary fellow. His research focuses on migration, critical whiteness studies, and asylum frameworks in the UK. He co-authored State of the Nation, examining ethnic and migrant inequalities using empirical data.

Shankley’s academic contributions include studies on Polish migrants’ residential decisions, trauma-informed research methodologies with asylum seekers, and the Windrush Scandal’s impact on belonging. He also explores modern slavery among migrant laborers and gender dynamics in migration. His work bridges sociological theory with participatory methods, emphasizing marginalized communities’ lived experiences.

Teaching responsibilities include coordinating dissertations (SOCI403, SOCI301), social research methods (SOCI247), and modules on social change and policy (SOCI103). He has held roles at the Cathie Marsh Institute (CMI) and contributed to international development projects in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

Shankley’s research trends emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to migration, racialization, and policy impacts. His publications analyze spatial segregation effects on mental health, harassment in ethnically diverse communities, and post-pandemic asylum procedures. Collaborations focus on participatory methods, asylum frameworks, and racialization processes among migrants.