Dr. Melissa Lovell

Biography

Melissa Lovell has 15 years of research experience in community and political advocacy within higher education. She completed her PhD in Political Science at the School of Politics at ANU in 2012. Her teaching experience includes courses in political ideas, social policy, political theory, and introductory political science at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra. Currently, she serves as the Convenor at the Freilich Project, focused on the study of various forms of bigotry and the promotion of diversity and inclusion. Lovell's qualifications include a Ph.D., a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), and a Bachelor of Social Science. Her research interests involve the application of critical interpretative theoretical approaches to understand the underlying assumptions in social policy challenges, with particular focus on Australian Indigenous Affairs. Her research has explored the disempowering consequences of colonial and neoliberal government concepts of citizenship across several policy domains, including social security legislation, criminal justice, education, and health policy. Presently, she is working on a research project that investigates the politics of Indigenous childhood, analyzing the assumptions related to Indigenous deficits that underpin arguments within child welfare.

Research Interests

Experience