Dr. Joanna Lewis

Biography

Professor Joanna Lewis is a historian specializing in Africa, empire, and world history, focusing on themes such as imperialism, colonialism, and gender inequality. She explores both precolonial and contemporary periods, highlighting the impact of colonial governance and the role of Africans in shaping history. Professor Lewis is currently the Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she emphasizes multi-disciplinary approaches to research, particularly as they relate to the effects of COVID-19 on marginalized communities. Educated at Bath University and the University of Cambridge, where she was awarded a doctoral fellowship, she has taught at several prestigious institutions. Her notable publications include 'Women Somali Diaspora: Refugees, Rebuilding Resilience' (Hurst, 2021) and 'Empire Sentiment: Death and the Livingstone Myth in Victorian Imperialism' (Cambridge University Press, 2018). Professor Lewis has received several teaching awards and is actively engaged in mentoring students through supervision of undergraduate dissertations and PhD theses. Her past research includes the experiences of Somali women refugees in Britain and the examination of British imperial narratives. In her spare time, she writes about pressing cultural issues and contributes to academic discourse across various platforms.

Research Interests