Zibiah Alfred Loakthar

Dr Zibiah Alfred Loakthar is a Senior Lecturer in Refugee Care in the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (PPS) at the University of Essex. She serves as Co-Director of the Centre for Trauma Asylum and Refugees (CTAR) and is the PPS Inclusivity Lead. Additionally, she is a member of the university's Human Rights Centre and of the Centre for Global South Studies and an affiliate of the Centre for Migration Studies.

Her educational background includes an MA in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Refugee Oral History.

Zibiah's research focuses on social justice, equality, diversity, inclusion, refugee communities, migration, oral history, life stories, and memory. She explores trauma-care intersections through community-based participatory methods, emphasizing refugee mental health, cultural heritage preservation, and sociocultural barriers in institutional settings. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in museums, libraries, and refugee support organizations.

Analysis of her 14 publications from 2003-2023 reveals consistent thematic focus on refugee experiences through oral history methodologies, with increasing emphasis on educational inclusion and healthcare access. Her research demonstrates multidisciplinary integration across social sciences, public health, and cultural studies, particularly in documenting community-led refugee initiatives and developing trauma-informed educational resources.

No major scientific awards are documented in the source material.

She currently supervises 10 doctoral students across refugee care, psychosocial studies, and psychodynamic counselling fields, and has previously guided 4 students to degree completion. Her grant activity includes a 2022 ESRC IAA-funded project examining sociocultural barriers to mental healthcare for Muslim women in Colchester.

Zibiah co-directs CTAR and chairs the PPS Equality Diversity and Inclusion committee. Her community leadership extends to chairing Community Language Support Services (refugee charity), serving as secretary for North London Deaf Children’s Society, and trustee roles at British Schools Museum, reflecting her commitment to disability rights and educational heritage.