EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Applied Social and Policy Sciences

• Ciaran Acton
• Amber Crozier
• Jen Hamilton
• Gillian McNaull
• Linda Moore
• Tawanda Nyawasha
• Karl O’Connor
• Heather Quiery

School of Art

• Siobhán Bereen
• Brian Dixon
• Conan Hickland
• Grainne McMenamin
• Mike O'Callaghan
• Celeste Owens
• Lucy Smyth
• Jill Spratt
• Alice Tennant

School of Arts and Humanities

• Stephen Butler
• Therese Charles
• Karen Coyles (MA History student)
• Frank Ferguson
• Majella Gallen
• Nicola McCay
• Victoria McCollum
• Leanne McCormick
• Adam Melvin
• Jessica Ní Dhóráin
• Nerys Young

School of Communication and Media

• Juliana Gerard
• Helen Jackson
• Maggie Long
• Giuliana Monteverde

School of Education

• Jessica Bates
• Una O'Connor Bones
• Carol Grogan
• Liz Lees
• Clare McAuley
• Orlagh McCallion
• Paul McFlynn
• Kristen Nicholson
• Anne Rowan
• Sammy Taggart
• Claire Woods

School of Law

TBC

Disability, Arts and Humanities Showcase

Join us for a showcase of disability-focused research, practice and lived experience from across our faculty. On 11 December (Belfast campus), the Disability, Arts and Humanities showcase will explore disability through historical, cultural and social perspectives, examining how disability is represented, understood and experienced, while challenging stigma and promoting social justice.

The programme features presentations spanning history, literature, education, social work, workplace neurodiversity, disability rights and lived experience, alongside contributions from University staff networks and external partners. BSL interpretation and a quiet room will be available throughout the event.

• Register for the Disability, Arts and Humanities Showcase

Good Relations Week

During Good Relations Week (12-18 October 2026), Jennifer Jackson-Smyth and the BAME+ Network hosted the relaunch of the Cultural Café. The Cultural Café will provide an informal and welcoming space for staff and students from diverse backgrounds to come together, share experiences and build intercultural connections across the Ulster community. The session, which also took place during Black History Month, this session celebrated the perspectives, stories, interests, traditions and cultural heritage of Black staff and students.

In Coleraine, Gabriel Guarino (History) convened the Garífuna International Forum, providing an opportunity to get acquainted with the extraordinary history, language, and artistic expressions of the Garinagu. This forum brought together diverse perspectives to honour a rich heritage, examine historical and anthropological research, and discuss how community memory adapts within an evolving global landscape.

EDI and Teaching

At the start of semester one, the Faculty Steering Group rolled out a presentation on Acceptable Student Behaviour at all student inductions, intend to tackle harassment, bullying and sexual harassment. With support from the Student Success Centre, we are also populating teaching spaces with sensory packs to improve the experience of our neurodiverse students. In October, Ian Miler convened a faculty-wide training session on digital accessibility.

Campus Spaces

To promote belonging and inclusion across our three campuses, a number of spaces for staff use are now available. These include new parenting rooms (for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, resting during pregnancy); professional hubs (for staff to work while visiting other campuses), a staff quiet room and social spaces.

• Parenting Rooms – Belfast (BA-02-A3-001; BC-00-46); Magee (MD015B); Coleraine (H128A).
• Professional Hubs – Belfast (BD-03-045); Magee (Block MF x 2); Coleraine campus (Block L x 2).
• Staff Quiet Room – Belfast (BC-05-108).
• Social/Staff Spaces – Belfast (BC Level 6 (former Vert Café)); Coleraine staff common room (next to main entrance).

• Monitor processes, polices and professional requirements related to EDI, particularly in relation to Athena Swan, Race Equality Charter Action Plans, and other related activities.
• Promote awareness and understanding of EDI principles and practices.
• Policy Development and Implementation: We keep under review how existing policies and practices can be effectively shared and aligned.
• Support and Advocacy: We develop, implement and share best practice in EDI initiatives for underrepresented groups.
• Training and Education: Working closely with the central EDI teams, we co-organise training sessions and educational programmes for staff and students on EDI topics.
• Planning and Reporting: We produce annual action plans and annual reports.

If you have an idea, suggestion or query relating to EDI in our faculty, please fill out this short MS Form, and we will get back to you shortly.