Advisory committee

 

Mr. Daniel Downes

I am a second year student of Sociology at the University of Nottingham. I grew up in Kent which is where I went to school and also got involved with a drama group. It was always my ambition to become an actor after I finished school but found that I enjoyed learning so much that I couldn't give up the opportunity that I had to come to the University of Nottingham.

My love for books and all things readable has led to me acquiring the reputation amongst my closest friends as being 'bookish' a label that I secretly embrace. Deepest in my heart is my passion for religion, which is why I am delighted to be involved with this project.

 

Ms. Amreen Hussain

I am a practising Muslim from Nottingham, currently working as a Community Centre Co-ordinator for Nottingham City Council. This involves working and supporting volunteers from to manage community buildings within their local communities.

I graduated in BA (Hons) Social Sciences in 2004 and I am currently in my final year, studying MA Youth work and Community Development, part-time at De Montfort University. My research focus for this course has been Inter faith Dialogue and particularly the perceptions of Muslim Community representatives about their perceptions about dialogue between Muslim and Christian communities.

I have also given talks to students and more recently to the police about Women's rights and responsibilities in Islam from a personal perspective. I have an interest in learning about people's interpretation of Islam to their lives and how people construct these views.

 

Dr. Jagbir Jhutti-Johal

Jagbir is a specialist in Sikh Studies, women's issues and laws affecting ethnic minorities. Her current research interests include a comparative study of the Guru Granth Sahib and the Quran in relation to crime and justice, and issues affecting Sikh women such as domestic violence, forced marriages and honour violence. She is a member of the Family Justice Council's working group.

Jagbir is also involved in Standards and Ethics in Northamptonshire County Council and Police Authority. Her recent publications include 'Ethnic and Cultural diversity in the Indian Subcontinent' in Dhavendra Kumar (eds) Genetic Disorders among People from the Indian Subcontinent (Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004), and 'The Sikh Grand Narrative', in A.R. Gatrad et al. (eds), Palliative Care amongst South Asians (Quay Books). Her forthcoming publications include a book entitled Modern Introduction to Sikhism.

 

Rev. Glenn Martin

Glenn was ordained in the Anglican church some 25 years ago. He served his curacy in an ecumenical project in Lordswood, Chatham , Kent. From there I entered into full time hospital chaplaincy working for 10 years in two psychiatric hospitals in Derby and Sheffield. This was followed by an 8 year stretch as Professional Development officer for training and education for hospital chaplains and looking at Spirituality in the NHS. I also conducted many training days on Multi faith issues in the NHS.

Currently I am now a parish priest in the Southwell and Nottingham diocese. My personal interests have been in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction leading retreats and seeing people on a 1-1 basis. Also I was part of the Diocesan Sexuality Group in Sheffield diocese looking at all issues and aspects of sexuality.

 

Prof. Sally Munt

Sally has been researching in LGBT Studies and Queer Theory for over 20 years and has previously published 8 books in Cultural Studies, primarily in sexuality, class, and emotion. She grew up in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and has lived in Brighton (the 'gay capital of Europe') since 1985.

She is Professor of Cultural Studies and Director of the Queer Spiritual Spaces project, based at the University of Sussex (see http://www.queerspiritualspaces.com/  for further information). Sally is also a practising Cognitive Psychotherapist.

 

Sivakumari Ramachandran

I graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Sociology in 2009. My academic interests were political sociology, sociology of culture and sociology of the body, particularly the social construction of feminine beauty.

I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in law at the University of Bristol. My ambition is to work in the fields of human rights, criminal intelligence and miscarriages of justice. 

 

Dr. Sharon Smith

Sharon Smith was a sociologist of religion whose research interests were in notions of 'difference' and diversity (particularly multiculturalism, class, gender and sexuality) and their implications for faith communities and spiritual practitioners.  Her doctoral research at Goldsmiths, University of London, examined Western Buddhism in East London, with particular attention paid to minority groups such as people of colour and working class individuals.

She was a member of the Queer Spiritual Space(s) project team at the University of Sussex and as such researched queer Buddhists in London. Previously she worked as a community worker as well as an equal opportunities advisor.

Sadly, Sharon passed away on 13 March 2011, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The research team gratefully acknowledges all the encouragement and assistance Sharon gave us consistently. Read a tribute to Sharon written by Andrew and Sally (another Advisory Committee member).