Dr. Jessica Hawkins

Biography

Jessica received a BA in European Studies with German and Italian from Lancaster University in 2005 and completed a Master's in International Development: Poverty, Conflict and Reconstruction at the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester in 2009. She went on to earn her PhD in Development and Policy from the Institute. Jessica worked as a Teaching Assistant and course convener at the Global Development Institute from 2010 to 2014 before starting her lectureship in Humanitarian Studies at the Humanitarian Conflict Response Institute in August 2014. Her research interests lie in historical sociology and the formation of camps, exploring the concepts and themes underpinning modern forms of incarceration and refugee camps. Specifically, her PhD focused on power relations in Uganda, examining military political power and the state's provision of services in the context of intrastate conflict. Jessica is particularly interested in supervising PhD projects related to historical sociology of state formation and humanitarianism, especially in East African contexts. As HCRI's Undergraduate Programme Director, she oversees undergraduate teaching and is involved in various modules, emphasizing the historical context of humanitarianism and displacement, researching the complexities of teaching difficult subjects related to violence and conflict.

Research Interests

Experience