Professor Mark Priestley

Professor of Disability Policy; Head of School

Photo of Professor Mark Priestley

I am the Head of School of Sociology and Social Policy.

In addition to my research and teaching in the School, I am currently Scientific Director of the European Commission's 'Academic Network of European Disability experts' (ANED) and administrator of the international discussion group disability-research@jiscmail.ac.uk.

From 1999-2002, I held an ESRC Research Fellowship on 'Disability, Social Policy and the Life Course'. From 2004 to 2007, I served as Pro-dean for Research in the Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law.

Research Interests

My current research interests include international, especially European, perspectives on disability and social policy. I am particularly interested in research that links social, political and economic inequalities with the political claims of the disabled people's movement, and disabled people's lived experiences in different societies.

Teaching

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have been teaching since 1986. I currently convene the Level 2 module 'Introduction to Disability Studies', the Level 3 module 'Disability Rights in the International Policy Context', and the postgraduate research training module 'Research Strategy and Design'.

PhD Supervision

I supervise a lively group of PhD students, whose research projects vary considerably but are all in some way connected with critical disability studies. My particular supervisory interests are in student projects that contribute to the understanding and application of disability policy, particularly in European or international comparison.